The Official Twin Snakes Thread (screens inside)

[A Black Falcon]

http://www.gamespot.com/gamecube/action/...26058.html

Konami has announced that the official title for the GameCube Metal Gear game is Metal Gear Solid: The Twin Snakes and that it's currently in development at Silicon Knights, the development team behind Eternal Darkness. The game will feature revamped graphics, but it will contain the original Metal Gear Solid storyline. Metal Gear Solid: Twin Snakes is being developed under the supervision of Hideo Kojima and Shigeru Miyamoto.

“I am tremendously excited to introduce a unique Metal Gear Solid experience to a new audience of gamers as well as collaborate with my mentor in game design, Mr. Miyamoto, on Metal Gear Solid The Twin Snakes for Nintendo GameCube,” says Hideo Kojima, vice president, Konami Computer Entertainment Japan, Inc.

“Mr. Kojima and I have spoken about this project for some time, and I’m excited our ideas have matched so perfectly,” adds Shigeru Miyamoto, senior managing director of Entertainment Analysis and Development Division, Nintendo Co., Ltd. “It’s this shared passion for game creation that has allowed us to collaborate to bring a special Metal Gear project exclusively for Nintendo GameCube.”

Metal Gear Solid: The Twin Snakes is scheduled for release later this year in North America, but it will be on display at E3.

http://www.planetgamecube.com/previews.c...ile&id=249

Metal Gear has been always proven to be a hot property. Essentially selling the PS2 before it was even released, Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty had captured the hype and the imagination of people years before it was even playable. On the original PlayStation, Metal Gear Solid: Tactical Espionage Action was considered a powerful killer app and was a hit with both critics and gamers. Combining compelling gameplay, an interesting plot coupled with professional voice-acting, and cinematic cutscenes, the game was an instant hit among PSX owners. Many Nintendo fans wished for the same action, but they were never offered a comparable experience on the N64.

Fast forward to the year 2003, and things have suddenly changed. A few months ago Mr. Miyamoto let it slip that there was indeed a Metal Gear Solid game in development for GameCube. Since then everyone has been wondering if this title is an entirely new game, a port of MGS2: SoL, or a remake of the original Metal Gear Solid.

The answer will probably come as a surprise. Nintendo's biggest coup from Konami stars none other than the world-renowned Solid Snake in a remake of the original Metal Gear Solid. Not only will the graphics be redone, but it has been rumoured that the game will utilize GBA connectivity for things such as Snake's radar and Codec. But here's the real kicker: the title is in development not in KCEJ, and not even at NCL. The team of people who have been assigned this difficult task is Silicon Knights, the creators of Eternal Darkness. Being that Silicon Knights is a second-party, it’s clear that Nintendo is putting up considerable cooperation and investment to bring Metal Gear Solid to the GameCube.

Graphically, the game is supposed to mirror the jump in quality that the Resident Evil remake saw, and knowing the sound aficionados at SK, the MGS will probably be redone in Dolby Pro Logic II. The game is still going to be published by Konami, but the title will be featured prominently at Nintendo's press conference and booth at E3. It's understandable how much Nintendo will be pushing this title, as it marks the first time since the NES that the Metal Gear series has graced a Nintendo platform.

Metal Gear Solid plays differently than most action titles. Controlling the world-famous spy Solid Snake, players are encouraged to sneak past the enemies instead of fighting. Snake has many moves and tools at his disposal, most significantly a radar that helps track enemy movement. By using this information along with his natural skills, Snake must infiltrate a supposed nuclear waste facility in effort to stop a band of terrorists from launching a nuclear weapon. By using weapons and items he finds on dead guards, or in the back of empty trucks, Snake will gather a considerable arsenal to combat the great number of opposing enemy soldiers.

Gameplay revolves around Snake avoiding soldiers by ensuring he isn't seen, heard, or caught on camera. Enemies have blind spots that can be exploited, and they can also be distracted by knocking on walls. Alternatively, you can hide behind walls and then pounce on the enemies, snapping their necks. This level of violence netted a Mature rating for the PSX original, and we can probably expect no less for the remake.

The story is a major part of the Metal Gear Solid games. A reluctant Solid Snake has been forced into helping his old commander, Jim Campbell, in turning back a terrorist threat on a nuclear waste disposal plant. Members of FOX-HOUND, his former squad, have rebelled and are now threatening to launch a nuclear missile with the giant Metal Gear mech. Since Snake is the only one who has taken out the mechanical beast multiple times, Jim Campbell and the Pentagon essentially blackmail the old secret service agent into complying. The story is told through frequent radio conversations and real-time cut-scenes.

We’re still gathering intelligence on this Metal Gear Solid remake. Expect hands-on impressions and plenty of commentary from Silicon Knights president Denis Dyack at E3.

Wow... now THAT is surprising. Silicon Knights is remaking MGS...

[Sacred Jellybean]

That's awesome! Not as cool as an original franchise, but sweet nonetheless.

I was too lazy to even skim the article... this isn't a remake of MGS for PSX, is it?

[Sacred Jellybean]

Oh... it IS a remake. Suddenly, I find myself caring less.

[A Black Falcon]

But its Silicon Knights... :)

[OB1]

This is so awesome! MGS1 with a graphics engine better than MGS2! Aren't you all happy that this isn't MGS KiDz or MGS2: Substance??!!!

Oh and I really must give credit to Games Are Fun for breaking this story last December. These guys keep on getting 'em. MGS, Earthbound 0, everything. Do you trust them now DJ??

[Nintendarse]

Some people at GAF are going to be very upset...

But for all of us that loved Eternal Darkness, this is great news. Silicon Knights is a really smart group of people that puts everything into its products. It'll be cool to see them adapt to a game that really emphasizes something completely different from Eternal Darkness. I loved Eternal Darkness, but it's presentation, animation, and action were not it's strengths. These are the very things that MGS has traditionally shined in. I'm really looking forward to this remake.

[OB1]

Why would they be upset??

[Sacred Jellybean]

Yes, it's cool that it's Silicon Knights. It would have been cooler if the game were Silent Hill.

Oh well, I guess this is good for Nintendo's image. If this game has cool extra features, I *might* pick it up. I'll admit that although the game hardly sparks my interest, I'm still eager to see what it looks like in motion.

[A Black Falcon]

What's wrong with remakes when they are better graphically and improved in other ways over the original? Especially on a new platform...

[OB1]

Geez, this is incredible news and only two of us are excited?? What's wrong with you people!

[Sacred Jellybean]

It's a game that I've been playing for about 2 years now on my PSX. I'd be more excited if I were fanatical about the game, but I'm not, so this doesn't excite me.

[OB1]

Good grief. What did you expect? MGS3, GC-exclusive? You people have to have more realistic expectations. The bottom line is that the Gamecube is getting an exclusive MGS game! Not even MS got an exclusive MGS game. They just got a port of MGS2. We're getting a major remake of MGS1! This could very well be much better than MGS2.

You should be celebrating, not complaining!

[OB1]

Geez, read this interview from February. Look at what Dyack said! The man pretty much confirmed a MGS remake and nobody caught it!! Hahaha!!

If you look at games that I personally find very appealing, like Metal Gear Solid, they have huge amounts of flash and they've got the content as well. So I think that's the direction we're going to go in next time.

That's hilarious! That sly bastard!

[Great Rumbler]

Hahaha!! I remember reading that quote and I would never have thought that was what he meant!!

I am very excited about this remake! Sure, it is a remake of an older game, but so was RE on the GC and it was way different from the PSX version. Also, I really liked MGS2. If they combine the gameplay of the past two MGS games with there great storytelling as in ED this could turn out to be a very awesome game.

I've got faith in you Dennis!!

[OB1]

Also, this is SK's first time making a MGS game so why not start by remaking the PSX one? It also means that they don't have to spend as much time on it as they would if it were 100% original. And we really want to see Too Human as soon as possible, right?

[A Black Falcon]

I don't have MGS, and haven't played it much, and this version is going to be quite different anyway...

Oh, it it'll be great to see what SK does with it... ED was amazing, but very, very different from MGS...

[OB1]

Judging by the title "Twin Snakes" and the artwork from the game(showing both brothers next to each other) I bet you'll be able to play both sides of the story, i.e. Snake's side and Liquid's side. That would kick ass.

[OB1]

And how cool would it be if they were to make a cel-shading style that looked a lot like Shinkawa's incredible art? Imagine this in 3D:



It would be incredibly difficult to pull off, but maybe they could do it...

[Dark Jaguar]

Now this is very interesting... A remake done in the style of REbirth for the cube of a game I love. I'm gonna enjoy this.

Hmm, the people who made that sanity game remaking a game that messed with your mind anyway.

Well, checked IGN's article and a few quotes are interesting. Seems Miyamoto's ideas seem to match Kojima's ideas pretty perfectly. That's not a surprise given they both have always thought great games can tell a great story.

[Great Rumbler]

Originally posted by OB1
And how cool would it be if they were to make a cel-shading style that looked a lot like Shinkawa's incredible art? Imagine this in 3D:



It would be incredibly difficult to pull off, but maybe they could do it...

I don't know...I think they should just stick with realistic graphics instead of doing something radical like that.

[A Black Falcon]

Uhh... did we need that picture for the 3rd time in the same thread? :)

Oh, and I agree -- keep it realistic looking. I doubt it could be done as well celshaded...

[OB1]

But it would be so cool! MGS2 is a very bland-looking game, and making it even more realistic may not be a good thing. Add some style to the game! Cel-shading does not equal cartoony, people. If they were to successfully recreate the incredible concept art from the game in 3D then it would be very mature, serious, and just plain incredible-looking.

[Great Rumbler]

Originally posted by OB1
But it would be so cool! MGS2 is a very bland-looking game, and making it even more realistic may not be a good thing. Add some style to the game! Cel-shading does not equal cartoony, people. If they were to successfully recreate the incredible concept art from the game in 3D then it would be very mature, serious, and just plain incredible-looking.

I just don't think they could make the cel-shading good enough for the way you want. But, yeah, it would be pretty cool IF they could do it.

[A Black Falcon]

It would be unique, that's for sure... but I'd still rather see it realistic looking. Since I don't think they could do it on the level you want... and anyway, they almost certainly won't...

And improving the graphics is one big thing they'll be doing...

Oh, and yeah, that name does seem to imply 'multiple playable characters'. Should be interesting...

[OB1]

I said it would be great if they could pull it off. If not then forget about it. But it would certainly look a lot better than the regular bland MGS look.

[A Black Falcon]

Bland? Sure MGS2 doesn't have topnotch graphics but they aren't THAT bad... and this one should have much better graphics anyway.

[OB1]

I'm talking about the characters and environments. The whole look of the game is very plain.

[Dark Jaguar]

I wouldn't say the characters look plain, but I must agree with you that the environments looked plain. It was just nothing but yellowish big shell for most of the game, and it didn't change until later. Fortunatly that area looked pretty cool.

However, MGS had a much more diverse appearence overall. You went from a burning furnace to an icy tundra and such. If they added some jungle area somewhere, you'd have the 3 stereotypical video game regions! With that in mind, and the added power of the GCN, this should look like a good game. Let's just hope it doesn't end up looking like Eternal Darkness. That game looked "good enough" sure, and a few of the environments actually looked very nice indeed, but the characters just don't look nearly as good as the characters in MGS2. However, I wholy suspect Silicon Knights will indeed improove their skills and find all sorts of better techniques to really make this game shine.

Oh, and yes, cel-shading like that WOULD look great, but this game's style has already been decided with it's first release. Save this type of style for a later MG game.

[OB1]

Oh, and yes, cel-shading like that WOULD look great, but this game's style has already been decided with it's first release. Save this type of style for a later MG game.

What is that supposed to mean? Just because MGS1 didn't use cel-shading (which is impossible on a PSX, btw) doesn't mean that the remake has to be the same.

And as you know, ED was originally a 64 game so that's why it doesn't look great on the Gamecube.

[Nintendarse]

I have to admit that an MGS that could do cel-shading on that scale would really impress me. And it might look fresh enough (and beautiful enough) to catch he eye of MGS fans.

However, I think it would be foolish to encorporate cel-shading into every major franchise. That would ruin the whole idea of cel-shading: giving a fresh and unique graphic style.

[OB1]

That's like saying that there are too many bump-mapped games out there. Cel-shading is simply a different way of texturing, and developers have barely scratched the surface of what is possible with this technology. Sure right now it seems like a gimmick what with all of the crappy cel-shaded third-party games flooding the market, but if SK could pull off that amazing MGS artwork in three dimensions using cel-shading then I would be in heaven. I doubt it'll happen, but it's nice to dream about.

[Sacred Jellybean]

Also, this is SK's first time making a MGS game so why not start by remaking the PSX one? It also means that they don't have to spend as much time on it as they would if it were 100% original. And we really want to see Too Human as soon as possible, right?

What? How does making a MGS remake ensure Too Human coming out sooner? Do you mean, "and we really want to see a SK game out as soon as possible"?

[Great Rumbler]

I think he's saying that if they were making a full-blown sequel instead of a remake it would take them longer to finish making Too Human.

[Laser Link]

[Great Rumbler]

:D

[OB1]

Wha? I can't see anything in LL's post.

[Sacred Jellybean]

Ahh, I get it...

[code]
XS. 0
.: 7 .
, M X XMMZ. .
SMMMMMZ ,MM8,S8MMMBr. ;
:iMMMB@WMM WMrZBS;8MM . ;
:M S .Z i . .: XM B
8MiWMMMMMMa M,MM.72:2X MMB8M@X
WM:X.M BB :WM8XMXM0WXa 87 XX ;a2
MB SM B@MMi i0MMM2S M a i2M , .
a7 MMMMMMMMMM2@ ;,:.,:MMM;M@@7W8
ra ,ZMMMMMM ZZ 88MM8aB7i 0 ,XZZ;:Z ,MWBMMM
:MMMrM0 ,2; ;M MBMMMX@ :: Z i M@2 :X MWMX2
i i8Z0WMBMMMMZMMMWaMMMM2MMM@MM8 MWrMi,MM2. ;i
.MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMaMMMMa22Si 8M: MMMMMMXiZ:M87Z2,XMM M.M Mi7@MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM0
M7MM@MMMMMMM MM@MMMM,2 M .X0a. 7;@rSXSMMMMW2a:Z MMW iSM2 77M WZr7 220WB@@@;MMMM@MW@MMMWM@M;
MSWa8BMaMM@MMMMMMMM0.S 2BM :X M i: .MMMMMa a078MMMM WrZMMM;a SMMSMMMWMWWMMMMMMWMMMMBW0@@MMMM7
@@MMMM SMMMM@MMMW. WMMX70MMMS MZXS Z8MMZBWWMMM .,8X; :;B B rM 7M2MaMMM7BMMMMWMBB@MMMMMM@B 7MX
MMM00@,aMMWMM@MMWX7MMMWM Ma@M2 MMMMM@M@@M7; ;2@@;:i, :,W;XM@iZMMMS r@MM XMMMM0ZWMMMMM@W0WBMWMZZM
MM@W8MMMaMiWMM@MMMMMMMMM2 7 MMWMMM: XBM :M ,22r: BXX ,7 @; WMMM r.BMM MMMMMMMMMMMMM@MMMMMMMMMZ
M@MM8MMM Z8M@ZMMMMMMMMMM MM W0Z ZMMBZWM i r 7M7r7ZMM:rM22X i 0SXMM:MMMMMMM 0ZM@MMMMMMB@BM@M
MMM@MMMMMMMMMXMMMMMMMMM8.M M8 aZZMMM Br : iaMMS ZWir S,i WMa08ZM WMM7ZW MMMM@MZMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMB
MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMWMMMMM MM r MrM@22 MMM 2 BMMMX M BBM:: M MMMW S ZMMMr XBMM7:WMMWMMMMW:MMMMWMMB
MMMMM :MMMMMMMMMMMBX X ::M ; 8iXM2MM: 2 a 2 B S.MMM ;MSrW M2i, ia r. ; MMMMMMMMMMX8MMMMMM
:M;:7 :r77X 288MaSWa, . MMMMrM MMMMM M7MMMMM 27 SMMMMM2rX;
M0 Mi: @MMMMMMM a@:a X MX .MMMMM:SS @BMMMMa8MMM MMMMS7aa;7i
MM 0M . Ma8MM8 8W iW.:r: Mr M0 M 7MBBM 0MM M W .MMMSX8M@7a
X S7 S2B: S SMW i ,,,. M; MZSXB XMMMiirMX 7 XrZM:.. @MMMMMMZ2;
MZ SX; MWBMSM@ .. M WMMM ZMMMMSM8BMZ . MMMMMW,ZM
MMMM MM MMaMXMM@MSXSZZZa r 8M BMM22 :MMMBMMMS8M aMW MMMW .MMM8
MMSMMS MXM, W SM0M@S2MZ.M :Z;MMX XM8ar M. M . 2MMMMMi aMMr ZMMr
MMM M MB@MMrMMMMB2 ;,;7 MMM0 0M, .MMMMMMB.7 MX2r ZMMMMMMM . MM2. XMM
7MM SMM MM8MM2MMMMM0Mr7XX MZMMMi MX @r7;X0:ir:M2BB: M@2 8M: .. i Mri:r
MMM WM@X,7M8aSBM MMMM i7S72MM MM MMMir2X7Br;7rBM@0 M :; 7MMBiir8:7
, MMMMMMMMMMMM SMMM XXX7:MM.@Mr MrZi:;SaZZM,@ SMMBM M ,,,, aMMMS .BW; : r
MMM 02SMW0 MMZ,rXXX.MMMMX BX;iXSS880 M X2MWB8 M .,.,ir B WMMa Z:S X
M@M WSrM :@Ma ....a ZM7r28Mr880 XM MMM0MZ M ra..,7i ZMM0 r7M
WMM ,X;M. M@XMMMMM0M :78 2Ma:SBa.ZMM rBMX 80M .. M iMM:S2M8
XMM M MMXMMMMX2; ;WM MSZ88.0@MMM ZM8 B0BM: ..2 B 2MM7S70
:i,: ;MZMSr WMX MMZBMMMB 0MMMMMM :MZ . 0@M7 i rMX:;SX
MM MMMM, :M0 ;0 BMZ@MMW:iMMMMMMM 0Mi MMM, ,@MM W@i7SM
M ZMM7, MM ;X . , MMMaM;.MMM0@MM 8W. , MM 8MMMr :W;77M
Wi MMMa MM XM W X X MMB0B B 0MMM8M WM .:. ; rMMMM rM rrM
XW MMi MMa :M 0,2 MMMMM ,MMMMr MW ., 8M,iSi MMMM0M7rrM
8M; 0MMMMSZM rM;XM2aM WMM Z , 0i@@X; iM@MM8.;rM
0M XMMMMMar M.MMMMaMM M 0M0.rMM@ MMMMMM880MM .iM
MM0 MiZMMi ;;MMMMMMM,. aM . MMMMMMMWMMM@Z@MM2WXZ
MMM M7..2M XX M MMMMa2 ; iMMMMMWMMM BMMMMM,
rMM M8: ,M.2@ MiMBMWM S MMMMMMBMM@MMM
M M8MM2@MM8r iBMM W ,MMMM8BBMMM
M 2Z MB @MMMX; r, . MMMM0BMMMM
M .Z,MM 0MMWM B MM X rZ2@Z22a Z,
WM W;WM ZMMMM X2BM :MMMMM0WB@ M
M B WM ZaMMM ;MM WMMMMMMM@2M: MMM@
Mi , M@ S.BM MM @MMMM70 ,; MMMB
M MMM; r;rM rMM M. MM i0
M ;M2M. ;M M M
M M0X M@M2 S.,M rM
M0 MMM MWMS Z M.
Sr MBa MWMW Z : 2BZ0B
MX MS7 MMM M M Xa @a
iX ; iM : B;7M a M
7 SWB70MMMM8: MMa :M M0Ma;M
XB M0 :BZa8Xra2r MMMMMS@MM ;2 7M@S8MB
[/code]

[OB1]

Ha, that's really cool.

[A Black Falcon]

Hmm... so now that pic's here 5 times. Really needed!

Oh, and that text-picture is cool... how do you do it? Does a program make them, or must it be done by hand?

As for cel shading while it COULD look good I'd just rather see it done in a (better looking) realistic style.

[OB1]

That's because you hate anything artistic.

[Private Hudson]

Good news.

What's the bet that it sells like shit, and therefore giving Konami less incentive to make more games (particularly MGS) on the GCN?

(which is impossible on a PSX, btw)

Isn't Fear Effect (PSX) creditted as the first ever game to use Cel-Shading?

[Dark Jaguar]

A while back, like a year back, during the Shiggy phase I think, someone posted a link to a program that would turn any image into ascii via some algorythm. You had to adjust some stuff to get a decent image or you just wouldn't be able to see the shape correctly. It is likely what was used to make that.

Yeah, I know OB1, but I'd just like the "solid" saga of Metal Gear to have the same visual style is all. When the next MG series comes out (if that poster on the wall of that cubicle in MGS2 is any clue, it'll be Metal Gear... dang I forget what it was called but it sounded cool), then maybe they should go for that style.

Then again, you yourself stated that it's too ambicious just yet to try to make something that looks like the artwork. In fact, I suggest waiting until the next generation before even trying it.

[A Black Falcon]

Yeah, I remember that program... that's why I was asking...

And I don't see why wanting it to be good looking realistic style means I hate art.

[Sacred Jellybean]

Hudson: that looks like cel-shading indeed, but do you notice that the shading on that girl's face is identical in all of the pictures? Perhaps those are colored polygons creating that effect, but it doesn't look like it's true shading, where it changes depending on where the character is compared to the light.

And yep, I used the same program that geoboy posted during the Shiggy craze. :) I couldn't render that from scratch if I tried.

[OB1]

Oy, don't you know what cel-shading is, Hudson? Simply giving a model some flat textures ala Fear Effect does not make it cel-shaded. The textures have to move, always look a certain way when facing the camera so that it always has the appearance of a 2D cartoon.

Anf ABF, you really do seem to hate a lot of games that use a very artistic visual style. Are you really a robot?

[A Black Falcon]

Like what? What kind of games are you talking about?

[Darunia]

Both Futurama and Family Guy use cell shading, I realized the other night.

[OB1]

ABF: Like Wind Waker, ICO... and some other stuff.

[A Black Falcon]

Uhhh... Ico? I've never said anything about it -- good or bad. I just haven't really played it -- not something I can do anything about.

[OB1]

Yeah I know. But they use this great sketch-like cel-shading style for the characters that looks very different from most cel-shaded games.