It's a very good day to be a Konami fan. Today as part of its pre-E3 conference, Konami announced the Metal Gear Solid HD Collection and the Zone of the Enders HD Collection. Metal Gear Solid HD Collection will contain Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty, Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater and Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker. The Zone of the Enders HD Collection will pack Zone of Enders and Zone of the Enders 2. Both collections have been optimized and rebuilt for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360, with new user interfaces for the HD resolutions, redrawn art, brand new Trophies/Achievements, right analog stick and rumble support, and improved audio.
Metal Gear overlord Hideo Kojima pointed out that while Peace Walker is part of the Metal Gear Solid HD collection, it is not part of the PSP Remaster series. Another feature both collections support is Kojima's new "lifestyle" called "Transfarring." That is not a typo -- Transfarring. Using this system, PlayStation players can have one save that works with PS3 and PSP copies of certain games. Konami announced Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker as the first (and so far only) Transfarring capable title. Start your Peace Walker game on the PS3, copy the save to the PSP, play on the go, and then copy it back to the PS3 to pick up where you left off. No word was given as to what would happen if you earned a Trophy while using the PSP (a system which doesn't support Trophies). Also, the Zone of the Enders HD Collection is said to support Transfarring, but no PSP versions of these games were announced. Kojima said that he was looking to bring Tranfarring to the NGP, so perhaps that is where we'll see the ZOE plan come together.
The Metal Gear Solid HD Collection will be available this November, while the Zone of the Enders HD Collection will be coming in 2012.
Check out the videos at: http://ps3.ign.com/articles/117/1172179p1.html
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As part of its 2011 Pre-E3 Show, Konami and videogame maestro Hideo Kojima announced a cool little feature called "Transfarring", where console and portable versions of games can exchange save files to let gamers take their play session anywhere they want. Start the game on the big HD screen, hit "Transfarring" to move over your save, and continue the game on your PSP or NGP. This functionality is currently exclusive to PlayStation versions of games that carry the "Transfarring" logo.
The first game to utilize "Transfarring" will be the Metal Gear Solid HD Collection, which (in addition to MGS2 and MGS3 from the PlayStation 2) includes a graphically upgraded port of Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker, formerly a PSP exclusive. The two versions of the game can be played interchangeably, so you can lead your Militaires Sans Fronti�res at home or on the go.
The second game to utilize "Transfarring" will be the Zone of the Enders HD Collection ... and this is where things get hazy, because while "Transfarring" makes perfect sense between the portable and console version of Peace Walker, there is to date no PSP version of Zone of the Enders. Kojima was quite clear in identifying "Transfarring" as a feature in the PS3 double-pack of Z.o.E. (he was also clear that this feature is not included in the Xbox 360 version of Zone of the Enders HD Collection, which should be obvious anyway since "Transfarring" is currently only available on PlayStation machines at the moment), and the "Transfarring" logo is indeed listed on the box of the game.
So, if there is no portable version of Zone of the Enders to connect to, what is that "Transfarring" feature supposed to do? Konami has not provided an answer quite yet, but there are only a handful of possibilities...
POSSIBILITY ONE: Maybe there is a portable Zone of the Enders in the works, but for whatever reason it was not revealed in this Konami Pre-E3 Show. This seems to be the most likely answer (and the most desired, of course,) and assuming that is the case, we'll venture a guess that it would be the second game of the series that would see a port since it was the more acclaimed and requested game of the two (it seems unlikely that both games would be released on PSP since this HD Collection satiates a lot of the desire for a Zone of the Enders comeback. It's unknown if that remake would be on regular PSP (which is still drawing fans in Japan) or the upcoming NGP, but with the Zone of the Enders HD Collection shipping in 2012, the companion game might be more suited for the new system. (Plus, good luck getting all those 2nd Runner missiles flying around on a PSP screen...) Rumors of a PlayStation Portable version of Zone of the Enders date back to 2006, but so far, nothing has been confirmed.
An image from the PS2 version of Z.o.E. The 2nd Runner. Desire it in portable form.
POSSIBILITY TWO: PS2 games are on their way to NGP, and Zone of the Enders is one of them. It has been long rumored that Sony Computer Entertainment would begin selling downloadable PS2 games (despite the tremendous challenge of emulating PlayStation 2's hardware,) and although game publishers left and right are eagerly remixing their old PS2 games as PS3 collections, selling the originals in portable form could be big for Sony's next-generation portable. Kojima did mention something like this plan in the show as his Step 2, to "bring PS2-class games to PS3 and NGP and allow 'Transfarring' between those platforms." The hurdles to accomplish this, however, are massive, and Sony has not announced yet any such initiative for PS3 or NGP.
POSSIBILITY THREE: The least exciting option: the "Transfarring" option in the Zone of the Enders HD Collection is just for transferring game saves between the PS3 remake and the old PS2 version of the game. That would be a quaint bonus for long-time fans of Z.o.E., but we'd be confused why this would be spoken of as a feature since you can't do "Transfarring" back and forth between PS2 and PS3 (and aside from that initial upload, why would you want to?) No mention was made of "Transfarring" your old MGS2 and MGS3 saves off your PS2 in the Metal Gear collection, so we're doubting the worst option is the truth.
"Transfarring" between PS2 and PS3/NGP. Why bother, unless...
POSSIBILITY FOUR: The NGP or PSP can use "Transfarring" for a bonus feature not yet announced in the Kojima Productions' HD Collections. What could that feature be? Your guess is as good as ours at this point.
http://psp.ign.com/articles/117/1172361p1.html
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Acclaimed video game director Hideo Kojima unveiled new technology codenamed the "Fox Engine" as part of Konami's 2011 Pre-E3 Show. This next-generation, multi-platform gaming engine will power a new project from Mr. Kojima, which is said to be something new from the designer after over a decade focused on directing Metal Gear Solid games.
No specific title was shown on the "Fox Engine", as Kojima still wants to keep the project under wraps. Instead, a technological showcase was presented showing the engine running in realtime using test assets that may or may not be related to the game. The demo featured a young boy running through a jungle similar to that seen in Metal Gear Solid 3, only with a tremendous jump in scope, effects and detail. In addition to the boy, there is a horse and a dog seen in the environment, both with realistic detailing rather than stylish interpretation.
The demonstration was run using an Xbox 360 dev kit, but the engine is built to run on PC, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and other advanced gaming platforms. Kojima himself is directing a game on the "Fox Engine" that is planned for release across multiple platforms and with "Transfarring" (a new PS3-to-NGP cross-connectivity feature) enabled. Work on this Kojima Productions original engine was begun shortly after the completion of MGS4, with further development informed by the development of Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker. The technology is, in part, made to provide a complete development suite for Konami developers, allowing for great-looking titles on reasonably shorter development schedules, according to Kojima.
For video: http://ps3.ign.com/articles/117/1172411p1.html
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Now, obviously remastered/remakes/rereleases/ports are a heavy trend these days, but I think they're getting at an advantage with this. I believe that the Z.O.E collection is a way for them to see how many copies it will sell in order to make the ultimate decision of producing a new Z.O.E game. So for the love of good games, buy it when it's out. Also, finally Peace Walker will be playable with the second analog stick in function. Wouldn't mind playing another Metal Gear before..well, Kojima makes another Metal Gear. Chances are the Fox Engine will be used for a new IP that might be reminiscent of or similar to Metal Gear in one respect or the other anyways.
Good time to be a game enthusiast.
Metal Gear overlord Hideo Kojima pointed out that while Peace Walker is part of the Metal Gear Solid HD collection, it is not part of the PSP Remaster series. Another feature both collections support is Kojima's new "lifestyle" called "Transfarring." That is not a typo -- Transfarring. Using this system, PlayStation players can have one save that works with PS3 and PSP copies of certain games. Konami announced Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker as the first (and so far only) Transfarring capable title. Start your Peace Walker game on the PS3, copy the save to the PSP, play on the go, and then copy it back to the PS3 to pick up where you left off. No word was given as to what would happen if you earned a Trophy while using the PSP (a system which doesn't support Trophies). Also, the Zone of the Enders HD Collection is said to support Transfarring, but no PSP versions of these games were announced. Kojima said that he was looking to bring Tranfarring to the NGP, so perhaps that is where we'll see the ZOE plan come together.
The Metal Gear Solid HD Collection will be available this November, while the Zone of the Enders HD Collection will be coming in 2012.
Check out the videos at: http://ps3.ign.com/articles/117/1172179p1.html
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
As part of its 2011 Pre-E3 Show, Konami and videogame maestro Hideo Kojima announced a cool little feature called "Transfarring", where console and portable versions of games can exchange save files to let gamers take their play session anywhere they want. Start the game on the big HD screen, hit "Transfarring" to move over your save, and continue the game on your PSP or NGP. This functionality is currently exclusive to PlayStation versions of games that carry the "Transfarring" logo.
The second game to utilize "Transfarring" will be the Zone of the Enders HD Collection ... and this is where things get hazy, because while "Transfarring" makes perfect sense between the portable and console version of Peace Walker, there is to date no PSP version of Zone of the Enders. Kojima was quite clear in identifying "Transfarring" as a feature in the PS3 double-pack of Z.o.E. (he was also clear that this feature is not included in the Xbox 360 version of Zone of the Enders HD Collection, which should be obvious anyway since "Transfarring" is currently only available on PlayStation machines at the moment), and the "Transfarring" logo is indeed listed on the box of the game.
So, if there is no portable version of Zone of the Enders to connect to, what is that "Transfarring" feature supposed to do? Konami has not provided an answer quite yet, but there are only a handful of possibilities...
POSSIBILITY ONE: Maybe there is a portable Zone of the Enders in the works, but for whatever reason it was not revealed in this Konami Pre-E3 Show. This seems to be the most likely answer (and the most desired, of course,) and assuming that is the case, we'll venture a guess that it would be the second game of the series that would see a port since it was the more acclaimed and requested game of the two (it seems unlikely that both games would be released on PSP since this HD Collection satiates a lot of the desire for a Zone of the Enders comeback. It's unknown if that remake would be on regular PSP (which is still drawing fans in Japan) or the upcoming NGP, but with the Zone of the Enders HD Collection shipping in 2012, the companion game might be more suited for the new system. (Plus, good luck getting all those 2nd Runner missiles flying around on a PSP screen...) Rumors of a PlayStation Portable version of Zone of the Enders date back to 2006, but so far, nothing has been confirmed.
POSSIBILITY TWO: PS2 games are on their way to NGP, and Zone of the Enders is one of them. It has been long rumored that Sony Computer Entertainment would begin selling downloadable PS2 games (despite the tremendous challenge of emulating PlayStation 2's hardware,) and although game publishers left and right are eagerly remixing their old PS2 games as PS3 collections, selling the originals in portable form could be big for Sony's next-generation portable. Kojima did mention something like this plan in the show as his Step 2, to "bring PS2-class games to PS3 and NGP and allow 'Transfarring' between those platforms." The hurdles to accomplish this, however, are massive, and Sony has not announced yet any such initiative for PS3 or NGP.
POSSIBILITY THREE: The least exciting option: the "Transfarring" option in the Zone of the Enders HD Collection is just for transferring game saves between the PS3 remake and the old PS2 version of the game. That would be a quaint bonus for long-time fans of Z.o.E., but we'd be confused why this would be spoken of as a feature since you can't do "Transfarring" back and forth between PS2 and PS3 (and aside from that initial upload, why would you want to?) No mention was made of "Transfarring" your old MGS2 and MGS3 saves off your PS2 in the Metal Gear collection, so we're doubting the worst option is the truth.
"Transfarring" between PS2 and PS3/NGP. Why bother, unless...POSSIBILITY FOUR: The NGP or PSP can use "Transfarring" for a bonus feature not yet announced in the Kojima Productions' HD Collections. What could that feature be? Your guess is as good as ours at this point.
http://psp.ign.com/articles/117/1172361p1.html
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Acclaimed video game director Hideo Kojima unveiled new technology codenamed the "Fox Engine" as part of Konami's 2011 Pre-E3 Show. This next-generation, multi-platform gaming engine will power a new project from Mr. Kojima, which is said to be something new from the designer after over a decade focused on directing Metal Gear Solid games.
No specific title was shown on the "Fox Engine", as Kojima still wants to keep the project under wraps. Instead, a technological showcase was presented showing the engine running in realtime using test assets that may or may not be related to the game. The demo featured a young boy running through a jungle similar to that seen in Metal Gear Solid 3, only with a tremendous jump in scope, effects and detail. In addition to the boy, there is a horse and a dog seen in the environment, both with realistic detailing rather than stylish interpretation.
The demonstration was run using an Xbox 360 dev kit, but the engine is built to run on PC, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and other advanced gaming platforms. Kojima himself is directing a game on the "Fox Engine" that is planned for release across multiple platforms and with "Transfarring" (a new PS3-to-NGP cross-connectivity feature) enabled. Work on this Kojima Productions original engine was begun shortly after the completion of MGS4, with further development informed by the development of Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker. The technology is, in part, made to provide a complete development suite for Konami developers, allowing for great-looking titles on reasonably shorter development schedules, according to Kojima.
For video: http://ps3.ign.com/articles/117/1172411p1.html
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Now, obviously remastered/remakes/rereleases/ports are a heavy trend these days, but I think they're getting at an advantage with this. I believe that the Z.O.E collection is a way for them to see how many copies it will sell in order to make the ultimate decision of producing a new Z.O.E game. So for the love of good games, buy it when it's out. Also, finally Peace Walker will be playable with the second analog stick in function. Wouldn't mind playing another Metal Gear before..well, Kojima makes another Metal Gear. Chances are the Fox Engine will be used for a new IP that might be reminiscent of or similar to Metal Gear in one respect or the other anyways.
Good time to be a game enthusiast.
Thats the game that rocketed mgs into the mainstream.
