Game Informer Addresses Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zero's Short Length

Game Informer: Yesterday we revealed that the March issue of Game Informer features a 20-page blowout with new details on Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes, The Phantom Pain, and series creator Hideo Kojima himself. Among the new information, we also had four hours of playtime with Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes. Reports have been appearing discussing the prologue chapter’s length, and we want to clarify the context of what we actually experienced.

[-Foxtrot]

Oh I guess someone got in trouble for being truthfull....now I guess they are trying to clean up their mess.

[cyguration]

Gamestop saw the pre-orders drop.

Gamestop CEO "Someone get Damage Control 2.0 underway!"

[X-Com flashing red lights blare at the GI headquarters]

Game Informer EIC "Guys we just got an emergency call from Gamestop! Get that Damage Control 2.0 up pronto!"

Game Informer Editor "Captain! We're giving her all she's got! The servers are over capacity from the previous news! We need more power! We can't change the gamer perception on our own!!!"

Game Informer EIC " *sighs*... submit a damage control post to N4G"

***

short time later

***

Gamestop announces record pre-orders for MGS Ground Zeroes

[KonsoruMasuta]

They didn't really change anything. They confirmed that they watched the credits roll after two hours. All they said here was that the they didn't get to play every mission during their time there.

[ChipChipperson]

If I'm not mistaken didn't they also kinda address this and say the same thing in their earlier article, I think it was Game Informer who did that one also, about how they beat Ground Zeroes in 2 hours, but that didn't include side ops and the exclusive missions?

By the way, I'm not trying to bash anyone for their opinion or persuade anyone in purchasing or not purchasing this game, it's just reading this article was like reading the other article from yesterday, I mean, there really isn't anything new in this piece that we already didn't know.

[Conzul]

Remember how some of us paid $60 for The Force Unleashed 2.

Remember how THAT was beatable in 2 hours? Hate that kinda thing. Don't have the cash to take that kind of risk.

[porkChop]

They're not "cleaning up" anything. All they're saying is that the main story is in fact under 2 hours. They're saying there are also 5 side missions but they don't know how long those missions are. They could be 5 minute missions. They could be 20 minute missions. Maybe more, who knows. Still, $40 is an extremely high asking price. Even $20 for current gen digital is a bit high. GZ should realistically be $15 or under.

[Ratty]

Possibly. Just get it for 15$ when it drops in price then?

[rdgneoz3]

Wait a few months and you'll see it drop to $20. Hell, a bunch of games for next gen are going on sale lately for like $20 to $30 off. But yah, $40 (I prefer a disc I can bring over a friends) for a 2 hour demo is a bit much. $20 more and you can get Infamous SS or Titanfall, both of which will give you a lot more content for your buck.

[DasBunker]

At this point i'll just wait and get it with phantom pain when i get a PS4. i was gonna get GZ for PS3.

[Heisenburger]

"...now I guess they are.."

Or you could, idk, just read the damn article.

I for one will not be giving them a penny. Back when Kojima disrespected Hayter like he did I swore I'd only buy used. This egomaniac won't get one single penny from me again. But I'll buy MGS V eventually to try it.

[Ogygian]

Disrespect Hayter by hiring a real actor to take his place, seeing as the game is using facial mo-cap?
Sorry I don't see a problem with that. I actually want Big Boss to act believable, so that the custcenes appear to be of AAA quality, and not like they're from some dodgy B-movie.

[Razmossis]

Keifer Sutherland, real actor? pfft, mate go watch some good TV.
Start with The Wire

[dcj0524]

@spart so why didn't the japanese voice actor get replaced too? Hmmmm.......

[DragonKnight]

@spartanlemur: First of all, Keifer Sutherland is not a real actor. He sucks. He used to be good, but not anymore.

Secondly, they didn't change the Japanese V.O. for mo-cap, so that's a cop out.

Third, Keifer Sutherland refers to Big Boss as "this character", and shows no actual passion or even interest in the role he's playing or the character in general.

David Hayter would clearly be the better choice because he's spent over a decade honing his craft for Snake and Big Boss. He knows them inside out because he's lived them. The Big Boss and Solid Snake you know today, the one you say you "actually want to act believable?" The only reference for believable you can use is the base that David Hayter built. Without Hayter, you know nothing about Big Boss' personality. How can you say Sutherland will do it better then?

[Heisenburger]

@Spartan I have no problem with Kojima choosing to replace Hayter. But to disrespect a man who once gave half of his paycheck so that they would have the budget to hire the original cast in the MGX Twin Snakes remake is unacceptable.

There is a way you do things. Be a man and have a lunch with Hayter, or call him. Be a man and tell him that you're choosing to go a different direction. That you appreciate the work he's put into it, ECT.

You don't treat another man like that. Perhaps that's a cultural thing. But from where I'm from, where my moral compass points, that behavior is incredibly disrespectful and downright rude.

@Lord_Sloth I agree. I don't believe choosing to replace him was disrespectful. I feel like most people should know what he did, or didn't do, by now.

[Lord_Sloth]

I don't think Kojima meant any disrespect to Hayter by recasting Big Boss. I think he's just further establishing that they (Big Boss and Solid Snake) are different people.

[DragonKnight]

@Lord_Sloth: They may be different people in terms of life experience, but Snake is a literal clone of Big Boss. That means, barring some discrepancies based on life experiences, Big Boss and Solid Snake are pretty much the same. They likely approach situations the same, they certainly sound the same because they are physically the same. Short of retconning MGS so that Snake isn't a clone of Big Boss, logically speaking Kojima CAN'T make them different people without ruining his own story.

[SnotyTheRocket]

Do you have anything positive to say? Ever? You haven't played the game, and I haven't played the game. Don't jump to conclusions because one dude beat it in 2 hours. It depends on how you play. Que the "you're and idiot for defending a two hour game! It's not worth the money" arguments.

[Stringerbell]

Me thinks sometime in the near future this game will be bundled in with MGS V as some 'GOTY Edition'. Hold off on this one...

[HappyWithOneBubble]

Me thinks too.

[Ratty]

I'm pretty sure it's already bundled with it. As in not as a special bundle but the actual standard package.

[Inception]

@phoceenatic

You made a good decision mate, because i'm very positive that GZ will be bundled with PP. Just look at previous MGS or collections that Konami doing all this past years:

- MGS 1 had MGS Integral bundled with VR mission
- MGS 2 had substance with more content
- MGS 3 had subsistence bundled with MGO and more content
- MGS Essential Collection (MGS 1-2-3)
- MGS HD collection (2,3,peace walker)
- MGS the legacy collection (1,2,3,4,peace walker, graphic novel)

Only Peace Walker and 4 that doesn't have their own bundle. So yeah, i'm very positive there will be GotY or substance or something that will bundle GZ & PP.

[RenegadeRocks]

This is already part of. MGS V . This is the first mission of MGS V, the prologue. When u get MGS v , GZ will be the opening mission in there too.

[zalanis]

I agree. thing is, the game on these mgs titles, im talking actual interactive gameplay here, has never been long. the cut scenes are longer then actual gameplay. its the reason a GRAPHICAL BEAST like mgs4 tanked. ppl want to play not watch a $60 dollar or $40 dollar movie. you guys buying?? then dont forget the POP-CORN!

[porkChop]

Tanked? roughly 6 million units sold does not in any way whatsoever equate to tanked. The game was a huge success early in the PS3's life.

[Ratty]

Except the gameplay in MGS is also always awesome so I end up replaying it a lot. I can tell you I PLAYED a lot more of EVERY MGS title than just watching cutscenes. In other words my gameplay time>cutscene watching time. Well maybe except Portable Ops. Still played a lot of it.

If you're the kind of person that plays through the main story of a game then never touch it again it's your decision. Just don't judge the game and the people who like it.

[RenegadeRocks]

You, sir, are a misinformed one. There are more new mechanics in each MGS game than studios put in new IPs. MGS sells due to its gameplay, not due to its cutscenes.

The only people who can't appreciate MGS are the ones who cannot wrap their head around its gamelpay. They want super easy stuff which rewards them for just pressing a button. In MGS, u actually have to play it, not just spamL2+R2 and move on.

[Pillsbury1]

I start thinking about then I hesitate to get it. I think about it some more and then come to the conclusion that this is going to set up the story that leads up to the events in phantom pain, which is going to be an important part of the story...

[Ratty]

You could also wait for Phantom Pain and play it then. I'm getting it now. I don't think anyone's forcing anyone to get it.

[AutoCad]

lol at kojima..
this game should $10-15.

[zalanis]

for the record i was agreeing with to the first comment

[4ShotKing]

I'll wait for this game to drop in price to $15 and then I'll pick it up, but $40... Hell no

[The_Klank]

Kojima tweeted this out.

https://twitter.com/HIDEO_K...

Will still pick it up, I'm just a sucker for anything Metal gear.

[cemelc]

Dont take me this the wrong way but i dont think kojima will put: 'yes its 2 hours for 40', thats dmg control.

[Sokol]

I love Metal Gear series however there should be re evaluation of the price if this is true. We will find out soon enough, sadly I'm holding off with the purchase until I see some more information.

[ChipChipperson]

Yeah, I mean if they just drop the price 10-25 dollars(it would be great if this was around the $20 range though), people would be much happier. I understand, they want money, but getting this much negative press now, well I mean as fans, we don't want the franchise getting hurt like this.

[TheDevil15inallofus]

I might help bring about the gaming apocalypse by supporting this type of thing, but I'm not cancelling my pre-order. I'm waiting a couple years to pick up a PS4 and will ride out the rest of the PS3 life cycle.

So, I either wait two years for the full MGS V experience or I actually get to play a new one after waiting like 6 years. I'm saying, "Game on!"

[Blac585]

i already cancelled my pre order on amazon should of known something was wrong when i saw the 39.99 price

[TomahawkX]

this is a money grab, no other way to justify it. They want money for a bloody demo. This is coming from a hardcore MGS fan that bought MGS Legacy Collection and MGS HD Collection Limited Edition and MGS Essentials Collection.

[yewles1]

It's not even a demo, it's an overpriced introductory tutorial.

[Chapter11]

They still managed to beat the main quest in 2 hours. Will 5 side missions really add that much more gameplay? Sorry, I'm still going to wait for a price drop.

[DevilishSix]

The new GI article stated their second playthru was even shorter because they skipped cutscenes, so that means there isn't even 2 hours of gameplay. I want the game but i will wait a couple months and grab it for 20.

[solidboss]

every body needs to vote with their wallets on this one. as much as i dislike kojima for how he acted over replacing david hayter this has gone way to far. his head is so far up his ass that he and konami think they can get away with this just by the brand name alone. DO NOT BUY THIS GAME PEOPLE. if you simply must then BUY IT USED. that way not one single $ goes to kojima/konami and they see the error of their ways. also for anyone thinking the side ops will increase the games value we have already seen most of what this "game" has to offer. we already seen the story mission in both day and night. how about the mission to retrieve the fox emblem patches? or the mission to find the sony cassette tape? all this game is, is a glorified demo set in ONE STAGE with different variables set in either daytime or night time THATS IT. vote with your wallets people!

[imt558]

Bring back David Hayter and i will pay 40$ for a 2 hours game. :)

[jessupj]

This.

Replacing Hayter was the single worst thing kojima could have done to the franchise.

I'm a long time MGS vet and I'm still fuming over that.

This $40 for a 2 hour campaign is just more turd icing on the turd cake.

[WitWolfy]

I hope this comes back to bite Kojima in the ass, it just feels like his taking advantage of his fanbase now thinking we'll buy anything he throws our way!!

Well think again buddy boy!

[RosweeSon]

At the end of the day 2 hours isn't exactly an epic but this is a triple A game big budget blockbuster I've seen arcade games and dlc charged between £10-12 that barely lasts an hour sometimes, but one thing with these games is re playability, another run on another difficulty and a few runs for collectibles such as the dogs tags from the old one of they are still in it, at least they are open about it by letting us know up front, could be worse could be bundled in with a game that no one else wanted ( I actually enjoyed the first zone of Enders a lot) but all the second hand games with their metal gear solid 2 Demo's missing implies to me not everyone agreed but that was about £30 for zone of the Enders and you got a barely 1 hour long demo that turned out to be one of the better hours of the game as you were snake, as we all know Raidens a bit of a flake, all will become clear once it's all released sometime in 2015/2016 hope it's not too long otherwise I'll be busy on my hover board a la back to the future ;)

[assdan]

I'll pay 30 bucks for a 10 hour game, maybe. This is only because I really like MGS, and it seems to have a lot of replay value.

[Npugz7]

Ripoff!!!!

[bornsinner]

how could they NOT see a game only being 2 hours long a problem? have people gotten stupid over the years or is it that they know because it's mgs it will sell anyway?

[Hozi]

Konami gave them 4 hours at most to play the game guys...that means they literally had to speed run through the game if they wanted to finish it.

[KingDadXVI]

I know that I am really going to piss some people off but IMO this poor lame beast of a game should have had a bullet put between its eyes years ago.