[catisfit]

Hi all – Firstly, we’d like to thank you for helping us make the launch of Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots a tremendous success, with a special thanks to the many of you who attended our midnight launches to support it. It was great to meet so many of you in person, and the some of the MGS related costumes were truly spectacular. We had a lot of fun, and we hope you did too.

Of course, the launch of MGS4 is just the beginning – with it now in your hands, surely you are finding that there is much to discover within the game itself. It’s packed with so much, in fact, that there is bound to be new revelations, strategies, and details in the coming months as everyone makes their way through every nook and cranny. Add in Metal Gear Online, with its endless and deep multiplayer game play, as well as new downloadable content forthcoming - there is truly so much more to come, with our continued support of MGS, that will extend well through this year.

With that, we are happy to reveal a very special surprise, upon the PLAYSTATION Store update tomorrow (Thursday June 19th) we will be releasing the Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots Database!

The MGS4 Database is a free, downloadable interactive application that contains the official knowledge base of everything that is Metal Gear, reaching all the way back to the very beginning of the franchise. Including complete storylines, character profiles, relationship diagrams, and much more! The MGS4 database is a great way to catch up for someone new to Metal Gear, as well as a useful resource for any veteran of the series, with complete official details on every aspect of the intricate Metal gear lore.

The MGS4 Database also contains a special feature – if you want to make use of the database, but have not yet fully played through MGS4 yet and are worried about spoilers – all MGS4 spoilers are “blacked out” until you’ve beaten MGS4. Give it a try!

But that’s not all, within MGS4, check out the EXTRAS option of the main menu (if you haven’t already). There’s already new, free downloadable content available for the game - with new camouflage and a new music track for the in game iPod. There will be more forthcoming, so be sure to check this often!

[Mark Hodgkinson]

That's excellent stuff. I've only dabbled with the series, prior to this installment, so it will be great to get some background as I'm loving MGS4

On a side note, I'm now regretting my decision to get the 40GB model when I had the chance to get a 60 but there was me thinking that BC wasn't important to me

[winstano]

Of course, when they said "The Playstation Store", they actually meant "The US Playstation Store" *rolls eyes*

[catisfit]

Originally Posted by winstano

Of course, when they said "The Playstation Store", they actually meant "The US Playstation Store" *rolls eyes*

It takes all of 2 minutes to set up a US account, if you haven't done so already. I don't even see the difference in regions any more, they're all just "the Store" to me, I check what's new on each one once a week, best of all worlds

[winstano]

I've got a US account, but my mate who's a metal gear nut hasn't I've tried explaining how to sort it out but he doesn't think it'd be worth it... He'll probably change his mind now

It's just that a hell of a lot of people won't know about the US store, and after possibly hearing about the database, they'll want to download it... But then can't. Sony need to stop this whole localisation mess out

[catisfit]

Originally Posted by winstano

I've got a US account, but my mate who's a metal gear nut hasn't I've tried explaining how to sort it out but he doesn't think it'd be worth it... He'll probably change his mind now

It's just that a hell of a lot of people won't know about the US store, and after possibly hearing about the database, they'll want to download it... But then can't. Sony need to stop this whole localisation mess out

It would be nice, wouldn't it. I don't think it's that simple unfortunately.

There are language issues (I bet the MGSDB on the US Store doesn't have all the European languages in it for example), that would only get worse if people were able to freely browse, download and purchase Japanese language only titles (imagine the backlash when people keep buying games they can't read/play!). Some publishers may demand release in certain regions only at any time. The purchasing backend may also be specialised in different regions to local currencies and not support purchasing in any other currency.

I think we'll have to stick with the fact that (to their credit) Sony made the PS3 region free for games, and that we have a "backdoor" (a known and unofficially supported one ) into other regions for extra downloads.

[iddqd]

There is a slight problem with using the database from another store, it utilises your save game to hide the spoilers etc, and that's where the conflicts will arise. Basically you can't use a PAL save on the US database etc

[catisfit]

Originally Posted by ziggysays

There is a slight problem with using the database from another store, it utilises your save game to hide the spoilers etc, and that's where the conflicts will arise. Basically you can't use a PAL save on the US database etc

Can't you copy the save from UK to US account?

[Fifty]

Originally Posted by ziggysays

There is a slight problem with using the database from another store, it utilises your save game to hide the spoilers etc, and that's where the conflicts will arise. Basically you can't use a PAL save on the US database etc

Brilliant.

And there's probably little chance it'll be on the European store next week.

Maybe they'll keep it from us until E3 'for a treat'.

[winstano]

Originally Posted by catisfit

It would be nice, wouldn't it. I don't think it's that simple unfortunately.

There are language issues (I bet the MGSDB on the US Store doesn't have all the European languages in it for example), that would only get worse if people were able to freely browse, download and purchase Japanese language only titles (imagine the backlash when people keep buying games they can't read/play!). Some publishers may demand release in certain regions only at any time. The purchasing backend may also be specialised in different regions to local currencies and not support purchasing in any other currency.

Oh aye, I get all that... But watching the MGS Making of Blu-Ray etc, it's quite clear to me that Europe's being once again considered as a secondary market Everything on there was "Released in Japan in... And the US in..." All the more irritating is the fact that it's all multi-language already (You select it at the beginning), and yet it's not showing on the EU store?! Sort it out Sony!

As has been mentioned though, the fact the database uses your save data (As I've just found out) to black out spoilers etc is just ultimately very annoying. The database is up on the Japanese store, and despite having an English Language option I can't go through the MGS4 story thanks to not having a Japanese save file, and I can't really be bothered to find one online, copy it to a memory stick, copy it to the PS3 and then put it in the right place just to view something that should be there in the first place...

[catisfit]

Originally Posted by winstano

All the more irritating is the fact that it's all multi-language already (You select it at the beginning), and yet it's not showing on the EU store?! Sort it out Sony!

Well that's inexcusable

At least we got MGS4 in a simultaneous worldwide release (and Europe had an open MGO beta, unlike the US )

[winstano]

There are some crumbs of comfort I guess... The EU Special Edition was (IMHO) superior to the US one, despite the rather inflated (yet expected) price... And as you mentioned the EU beta for MGO (Which I rarely played in the end due to it being launched around the same time as GTAIV ), but it's absolutely shocking that the multi-language database hasn't made it to the EU store, which needs the language support more than the other stores...

[catisfit]

Having downloaded this from the US store, it turns out that it contains about 6 languages and not all the ones which would (presumably) be required for EU release.

Anyway, latest news is the EU version of the Metal Gear Solid Database will be released this Thursday

[BradleyLove]

To be honest, I'm thoroughly disappointed with the MGS Database thus far.

If reams and reams of text and a clunky UI are your thing, you'll love it!

Personally, I was hoping for a more interactive experience. Some character art, characters models and renders, movie clips, sound bites and so on....

Instead just reams and reams of text with the odd low-res image. Very disappointing.

[sco101]

You can download it of the European Store now

[grey fox]

I got excited about the database because it tracks how much progress you have made in terms of percentage of the content you have read so I thought it would unlock something. I am sad enough to have gone through it completely, but I'm afraid I was wrong

[Fifty]

I've got multiple game saves at the moment, but whenever I load the database up it says it can't detect and files. Do you have to complete the game for it to do anything ???

[Shaunio]

Originally Posted by Fifty

I've got multiple game saves at the moment, but whenever I load the database up it says it can't detect and files. Do you have to complete the game for it to do anything ???

Yes, it looks for a completed game save file.