MGS4 29 hours long

[QUOTE="MaximumD"]

[QUOTE="Tamashii-sosaku"]1/3 of the whole game is cutscenes? I would have thought with what the current gen of consoles could do we would see develpers moving away from relying on cutscenes and actually letting us play all those cool looking sequences Tamashii-sosaku

It's base on a story, something lems don't understand. Anyways, this will be one of the best MGS game ever.

So Mass Effect doesn't have a story then? I'm not a "Lem" by the way. I own a 360 (Currently RROD) and a PS3. I just happen to able to be critical of games whatever platform they're on. Maybe that's a concept you can't quite grasp when you live in a world of black and whites where anyone critical of a game or system has to be a fanboy of some sort.

Im not defending the other guy but your ealier post was baseless. What game with a story doesnt have non-playable cutscenes?

[QUOTE="thrones"]

[QUOTE="Tamashii-sosaku"]1/3 of the whole game is cutscenes? I would have thought with what the current gen of consoles could do we would see develpers moving away from relying on cutscenes and actually letting us play all those cool looking sequences Tamashii-sosaku

You'd think that. But all games still do it, from Gears of War to Call of Duty 4. :|

Except that CoD4 and Gears did a pretty good job of making its best moments interactive. e.g. the helicopter crash in the ghillie mission or the berzerker crashing through the wall in Gears. Scripted but atleast they're interactive to some degree. Can't really see the point of maing such overly long cutscenes in a median that's supposed to be interactive. Or atleast make some attempt to keep players in control and involved.

I'm also not a huge fan of MGS cutscenes. Tend to just be over endulgent and tedious. Alot like the scenes in Devil May Cry. It's like the sort of rubbish CG designers come up with for their first project. Absolutley zero understanding of what actually makes a good action scene. It has nothing to do with how many camera cuts you can make in under a minute. Like a guitar player who just plays solos constantly and has no idea how to actually piece a together and actual song or even just something approaching a melody.

While I whole-heartedly agree with your assesment, the lengthy story-driven cutscenes are what makes MGS relatively unique as a game. And people actually enjoy that aspect of the game (though I've never been enthousiastic about the gameplay playing second-fiddle).

[QUOTE="Tamashii-sosaku"]1/3 of the whole game is cutscenes? I would have thought with what the current gen of consoles could do we would see develpers moving away from relying on cutscenes and actually letting us play all those cool looking sequences thegame1980

Sometimes you just wanna sit back and ENJOY the action rather then being in it. Cutscenes are little rewards for trudging through the game. When they are done right of course.

MGSIV could have been 4 hours long, cause i'd still get it and enjoy the game.... luckily though its much much longer...

[QUOTE="Eltroz"]OMG 1/3 cutscenes?? That is like all 3 Lord of the Ring movies but more just in cut scenes.HarlockJC

I don't mind cut scenes as long has it helps the story. You get use to them if you play a lot of JRPGs.

[QUOTE="Tamashii-sosaku"][QUOTE="MaximumD"]

[QUOTE="Tamashii-sosaku"]1/3 of the whole game is cutscenes? I would have thought with what the current gen of consoles could do we would see develpers moving away from relying on cutscenes and actually letting us play all those cool looking sequences MaximumD

It's base on a story, something lems don't understand. Anyways, this will be one of the best MGS game ever.

So Mass Effect doesn't have a story then? I'm not a "Lem" by the way. I own a 360 (Currently RROD) and a PS3. I just happen to able to be critical of games whatever platform they're on. Maybe that's a concept you can't quite grasp when you live in a world of black and whites where anyone critical of a game or system has to be a fanboy of some sort.

I really don't see a point on telling others that you own both systems. That doesn't prove that your "Not a Lem". I have both system too. Mass Effects story has nothing on the Metal Gear Solid Series. Ask any people who played both games. MGS's story is much more appealing than Mass Flop.

I doubt you've ever even played "Mass flop". I'll take the well written characters and dialogue and subtle nuances and depth of the Mass Effect universe over "Oh actually none of this is real, You're just in one big training excercise and oh by the way the world has been ruled for the last 200 years by a couple of computers in Washington. What do you mean that makes no sense? I had to finish the game some damn way didn't I?"

I think this speaks ownage. Paul Fitzpatrick, the reviewer in Official Playstation magazine said it took him a little over 29 hours, about 1/3 cutscenes, meanning 20 hours of gameplay. That's using the Blu Ray at it's finest. Here is a question and answer session also about his review, pretty spoiler free :D

http://www.gamesradar.com/ps3/metal-gear-solid-4-guns-of-the-patriots/news/metal-gear-solid-4-the-first-review-is-out/a-20080512143146234035/g-20051216153655522074

Couth_

10 HOURS OF CUTSCENES? What in the hell?

Ha to the Lems thinking this would be a 7 hour game with 17 hours of cutscenes.

This even goes as far to show that the 360 can not run MGS 4 and would need many DVDs to show it all.

As for Lems mocking PS3 owners for short games, they should take a look at their own games. Gears of War was short.

I hope the Agency comes out this year. I need my spy gaming fix. MGS 4, Bourne(hope its good), the Agency, Quantam of Solace 007.

[QUOTE="thegame1980"]

[QUOTE="Tamashii-sosaku"]1/3 of the whole game is cutscenes? I would have thought with what the current gen of consoles could do we would see develpers moving away from relying on cutscenes and actually letting us play all those cool looking sequences Eltroz

Sometimes you just wanna sit back and ENJOY the action rather then being in it. Cutscenes are little rewards for trudging through the game. When they are done right of course.

dont waiste time on blind fanboys such as this one..... MGSIV is the conclusion of one of the greatest series ever made.... and its an experience PS3 owners can enjoy....

[QUOTE="Couth_"]

I think this speaks ownage. Paul Fitzpatrick, the reviewer in Official Playstation magazine said it took him a little over 29 hours, about 1/3 cutscenes, meanning 20 hours of gameplay. That's using the Blu Ray at it's finest. Here is a question and answer session also about his review, pretty spoiler free :D

http://www.gamesradar.com/ps3/metal-gear-solid-4-guns-of-the-patriots/news/metal-gear-solid-4-the-first-review-is-out/a-20080512143146234035/g-20051216153655522074

Dreams-Visions

10 HOURS OF CUTSCENES? What in the hell?

While I whole-heartedly agree with your assesment, the lengthy story-driven cutscenes are what makes MGS relatively unique as a game. And people actually enjoy that aspect of the game (though I've never been enthousiastic about the gameplay playing second-fiddle).

phatrawk

Yeah I think it is a matter of taste. I know alot of people really like the way the scenes are directed in MGS. I'm just dissapointed that there hasn't been more effort to fuse the story and scenes with actual gameplay. Just seems kind of lazy to rely on lengthy cutscenes to drive the story forward when there are so many more imaginative and immersive ways that it could have been done. It really a huge waste of the potential that video games have as a potential median.

Can you imagine going to see a movie and 1/3 of it turned out to be just you reading text? You'd be like "What the hell I though this was supposed to be a movie? Not a friggin book!"

Probably means the game will be some 18-20 hours long for most people.. (MGS games has always been quick if you dont look around much)

For me it will still be some 30 hours though xD Nice game.

omgimba

Oh yes, but not looking around much of course means missing 90% of the cool secrets. That's why I love MGS games; they reward you so much for experimentation and exploration. I remember finding a copy of 'PSM2' (a well known UK playstation magazine) in MGS3 and I went nuts. What made it so cool is that I had been collecting that magazine for years. :)

I need to stock up on some pop corn for those cutscenes.

[QUOTE="phatrawk"]

While I whole-heartedly agree with your assesment, the lengthy story-driven cutscenes are what makes MGS relatively unique as a game. And people actually enjoy that aspect of the game (though I've never been enthousiastic about the gameplay playing second-fiddle).

Tamashii-sosaku

Yeah I think it is a matter of taste. I know alot of people really like the way the scenes are directed in MGS. I'm just dissapointed that there hasn't been more effort to fuse the story and scenes with actual gameplay. Just seems kind of lazy to rely on lengthy cutscenes to drive the story forward when there are so many more imaginative and immersive ways that it could have been done. It really a huge waste of the potential that video games have as a potential median.

Can you imagine going to see a movie and 1/3 of it turned out to be just you reading text? You'd be like "What the hell I though this was supposed to be a movie? Not a friggin book!"

But cutscenes are a well regarded medium for story telling in video games, what do you want during the cutscenes. QTE?

Gears 2 wont even have 20 hours worth of gameplay. It will be like 8 to 10 hours.

For a game that has a lot of cutscenes, at least 20 hours of gameplay is impressive.

Im not defending the other guy but your ealier post was baseless. What game with a story doesnt have non-playable cutscenes?

exiledsnake

My point was that there doesn't seem to have been any attempt made to reduce overly long cutscenes in favour of making them playable. Games that manage to have good stories but manage to remain playable at the same time? How about Half-Life, Bioshock, Mass Effect? Part of what made Bioshock so great was that you were experiencing the story first hand through events you witnessed and your enviroment. You didn't get some convulted 20 minute cutscene to completley rip you out of the immersion. Metal Gear could have so much more potential if an effort was made to tell the story in a way other than simply using non-interactive movies. Just seems lazy to me and a complete mis-use of the median.

You're right not many games have managed to merge gameplay and story well but when 1/3 of the whole game is just simply movies you have to start asking serious questions about why the hell they even bothered making it a game in the first place.

[QUOTE="Dreams-Visions"][QUOTE="Couth_"]

I think this speaks ownage. Paul Fitzpatrick, the reviewer in Official Playstation magazine said it took him a little over 29 hours, about 1/3 cutscenes, meanning 20 hours of gameplay. That's using the Blu Ray at it's finest. Here is a question and answer session also about his review, pretty spoiler free :D

http://www.gamesradar.com/ps3/metal-gear-solid-4-guns-of-the-patriots/news/metal-gear-solid-4-the-first-review-is-out/a-20080512143146234035/g-20051216153655522074

Couth_

10 HOURS OF CUTSCENES? What in the hell?

10 hours is a helluva an investment in stuff you can't play. just seems wild to me. but it's not like I'll skip them. 8)

[QUOTE="phatrawk"]

While I whole-heartedly agree with your assesment, the lengthy story-driven cutscenes are what makes MGS relatively unique as a game. And people actually enjoy that aspect of the game (though I've never been enthousiastic about the gameplay playing second-fiddle).

Tamashii-sosaku

Yeah I think it is a matter of taste. I know alot of people really like the way the scenes are directed in MGS. I'm just dissapointed that there hasn't been more effort to fuse the story and scenes with actual gameplay. Just seems kind of lazy to rely on lengthy cutscenes to drive the story forward when there are so many more imaginative and immersive ways that it could have been done. It really a huge waste of the potential that video games have as a potential median.

Can you imagine going to see a movie and 1/3 of it turned out to be just you reading text? You'd be like "What the hell I though this was supposed to be a movie? Not a friggin book!"

Yes, I can imagine that. I watch lots of Foreign Movies, Anime's, and Kungfu Flicks with subtitles. Dude, just give up. MGS Series has one of the best stories around and cut-scenes are part of story telling.

[QUOTE="Couth_"]

I think this speaks ownage. Paul Fitzpatrick, the reviewer in Official Playstation magazine said it took him a little over 29 hours, about 1/3 cutscenes, meanning 20 hours of gameplay. That's using the Blu Ray at it's finest. Here is a question and answer session also about his review, pretty spoiler free :D

http://www.gamesradar.com/ps3/metal-gear-solid-4-guns-of-the-patriots/news/metal-gear-solid-4-the-first-review-is-out/a-20080512143146234035/g-20051216153655522074

Dreams-Visions

10 HOURS OF CUTSCENES? What in the hell?

1/3 cutscense

1/3 codec

1/3 gameplay

About 10 hours !!!!!!!!!!! AAAA

Nike_Air

Actually there isn't an emphasis on storytelling via codec in MGS4. So we could fairly assume that it's roughly 20 hours gameplay.

Awesome :). And he gave it 10/10. No suprise really, just nice to see it.TREAL_Since

Im curious to see the scores for this game. Not that I will care, its just that from the reveiws im reading people are giving it such high praise. What a way to go out. Will be epic.

I think this speaks ownage. Paul Fitzpatrick, the reviewer in Official Playstation magazine said it took him a little over 29 hours, about 1/3 cutscenes, meanning 20 hours of gameplay. That's using the Blu Ray at it's finest. Here is a question and answer session also about his review, pretty spoiler free :D

http://www.gamesradar.com/ps3/metal-gear-solid-4-guns-of-the-patriots/news/metal-gear-solid-4-the-first-review-is-out/a-20080512143146234035/g-20051216153655522074

Couth_

GR:Why weren't those problems enough to stop you giving the game a 10/10 rating?

PF: For me, like the greatest films, it's outstanding because of, and not despite, its idiosyncrasies and flaws. It's the expression of one very creative person's vision and to see that undiluted with all it's eccentricities and genius intact is remarkable. It's also a cracking story and truly rewarding to play.

This is good enough for me. Metal Gear has never been a long game.

I think this speaks ownage. Paul Fitzpatrick, the reviewer in Official Playstation magazine said it took him a little over 29 hours, about 1/3 cutscenes, meanning 20 hours of gameplay. That's using the Blu Ray at it's finest. Here is a question and answer session also about his review, pretty spoiler free :D

http://www.gamesradar.com/ps3/metal-gear-solid-4-guns-of-the-patriots/news/metal-gear-solid-4-the-first-review-is-out/a-20080512143146234035/g-20051216153655522074

Couth_

OK?....And how long was Gear of War?

[QUOTE="Couth_"]

I think this speaks ownage. Paul Fitzpatrick, the reviewer in Official Playstation magazine said it took him a little over 29 hours, about 1/3 cutscenes, meanning 20 hours of gameplay. That's using the Blu Ray at it's finest. Here is a question and answer session also about his review, pretty spoiler free :D

http://www.gamesradar.com/ps3/metal-gear-solid-4-guns-of-the-patriots/news/metal-gear-solid-4-the-first-review-is-out/a-20080512143146234035/g-20051216153655522074

Vectah_Sigma

OK?....And how long was Gear of War?

But cutscenes are a well regarded medium for story telling in video games, what do you want during the cutscenes. QTE?thrones

My point is that there are better ways to implement story than just using cutscenes. I'd hope that 10 years from now cutscenes will almost be extinct in video games. Just as developers have all but eliminated things like health bars and HUD's in favour of presenting such information in much more subtle and immersive ways by finding alternative ways of visually representing it. Developers with have the technology, creativity and experience to present story in manner that's conductive to the median and maximes its potential. A potential that far surpasses traditional media of books or film. Games can be so much more.

[QUOTE="exiledsnake"]

Im not defending the other guy but your ealier post was baseless. What game with a story doesnt have non-playable cutscenes?

Tamashii-sosaku

My point was that there doesn't seem to have been any attempt made to reduce overly long cutscenes in favour of making them playable. Games that manage to have good stories but manage to remain playable at the same time? How about Half-Life, Bioshock, Mass Effect? Part of what made Bioshock so great was that you were experiencing the story first hand through events you witnessed and your enviroment. You didn't get some convulted 20 minute cutscene to completley rip you out of the immersion. Metal Gear could have so much more potential if an effort was made to tell the story in a way other than simply using non-interactive movies. Just seems lazy to me and a complete mis-use of the median.

You're right not many games have managed to merge gameplay and story well but when 1/3 of the whole game is just simply movies you have to start asking serious questions about why the hell they even bothered making it a game in the first place.

Actually, I agree with your last point. I find the gameplay in the MGS series so frustrating/boring that I've just started to watch playthroughs on YouTube, so I can sit back and enjoy the story. To me, it really does "play" (lawl) better as a movie. That being said, MGS4 seems to have more of a RE4/GeoW flair to the gameplay, so I'm still open to it being improved.

[QUOTE="phatrawk"]

While I whole-heartedly agree with your assesment, the lengthy story-driven cutscenes are what makes MGS relatively unique as a game. And people actually enjoy that aspect of the game (though I've never been enthousiastic about the gameplay playing second-fiddle).

Tamashii-sosaku

Yeah I think it is a matter of taste. I know alot of people really like the way the scenes are directed in MGS. I'm just dissapointed that there hasn't been more effort to fuse the story and scenes with actual gameplay. Just seems kind of lazy to rely on lengthy cutscenes to drive the story forward when there are so many more imaginative and immersive ways that it could have been done. It really a huge waste of the potential that video games have as a potential median.

Can you imagine going to see a movie and 1/3 of it turned out to be just you reading text? You'd be like "What the hell I though this was supposed to be a movie? Not a friggin book!"

So true. But you know in MGS4 the cutscenes are have interactive flashback mini-games. And in between missions at the base, you can opt to either watch the scene or play as MG Mk. II (to search and discover hidden items and easter eggs) while Snake and Otocon talk in the background :).

In addition, in past MGS games you could contol the camera (zoom, pan) during cutsenes small feature but sometimes a lil fun.

I hope I am MUCH more pleased with this game than I am with GTA 4. If so, I will be happy. :)Cedmln

Cedmin pleased????

Thats impossible :P

[QUOTE="thrones"]But cutscenes are a well regarded medium for story telling in video games, what do you want during the cutscenes. QTE?Tamashii-sosaku

My point is that there are better ways to implement story than just using cutscenes. I'd hope that 10 years from now cutscenes will almost be extinct in video games. Just as developers have all but eliminated things like health bars and HUD's in favour of presenting such information in much more subtle and immersive ways by finding alternative ways of visually representing it. Developers with have the technology, creativity and experience to present story in manner that's conductive to the median and maximes its potential. A potential that far surpasses traditional media of books or film. Games can be so much more.

Health bars are the stupidest invention EVER to plague games. Get hit? Just stay back for 5seconds and you're fine! Yeah...big challenge -_-

I think this speaks ownage. Paul Fitzpatrick, the reviewer in Official Playstation magazine said it took him a little over 29 hours, about 1/3 cutscenes, meanning 20 hours of gameplay. That's using the Blu Ray at it's finest. Here is a question and answer session also about his review, pretty spoiler free :D

http://www.gamesradar.com/ps3/metal-gear-solid-4-guns-of-the-patriots/news/metal-gear-solid-4-the-first-review-is-out/a-20080512143146234035/g-20051216153655522074

Couth_

Not really a good use of space on blu-ray becasue all it has is that 29hrs, no MP.

Remember folks, the gameplay length of a game doesn't mean it'll make the game any better. Imagine getting bored of the game within a couple hours, and you have to drag along for the next 20 hours. That would be brutal. But MGS4 will be the best PS3 exclusive to date, finally.

*hope I didn't jinx it*

[QUOTE="Vectah_Sigma"][QUOTE="Couth_"]

I think this speaks ownage. Paul Fitzpatrick, the reviewer in Official Playstation magazine said it took him a little over 29 hours, about 1/3 cutscenes, meanning 20 hours of gameplay. That's using the Blu Ray at it's finest. Here is a question and answer session also about his review, pretty spoiler free :D

http://www.gamesradar.com/ps3/metal-gear-solid-4-guns-of-the-patriots/news/metal-gear-solid-4-the-first-review-is-out/a-20080512143146234035/g-20051216153655522074

Couth_

OK?....And how long was Gear of War?

the same reason why you posted the MGS4 only being 29 hours long. What was your point in that?

Not really a good use of space on blu-ray becasue all it has is that 29hrs, no MP.angelkimne

[QUOTE="Tamashii-sosaku"]

[QUOTE="thrones"]But cutscenes are a well regarded medium for story telling in video games, what do you want during the cutscenes. QTE?the_one34

My point is that there are better ways to implement story than just using cutscenes. I'd hope that 10 years from now cutscenes will almost be extinct in video games. Just as developers have all but eliminated things like health bars and HUD's in favour of presenting such information in much more subtle and immersive ways by finding alternative ways of visually representing it. Developers with have the technology, creativity and experience to present story in manner that's conductive to the median and maximes its potential. A potential that far surpasses traditional media of books or film. Games can be so much more.

Health bars are the stupidest invention EVER to plague games. Get hit? Just stay back for 5seconds and you're fine! Yeah...big challenge -_-

Health bars don't regenerate. That's the new crazy regenerating health.

:o Are developers starting to develop longer games, in the face of complaints of terribly short campaigns in this generation?aliblabla2007

I rather play a long campaign, makes me feel like the $60 is worth it. I liked hoe long Assassin's Creed was...when you do and look for everything.

[QUOTE="thrones"]But cutscenes are a well regarded medium for story telling in video games, what do you want during the cutscenes. QTE?Tamashii-sosaku

My point is that there are better ways to implement story than just using cutscenes. I'd hope that 10 years from now cutscenes will almost be extinct in video games. Just as developers have all but eliminated things like health bars and HUD's in favour of presenting such information in much more subtle and immersive ways by finding alternative ways of visually representing it. Developers with have the technology, creativity and experience to present story in manner that's conductive to the median and maximes its potential. A potential that far surpasses traditional media of books or film. Games can be so much more.

Depends.

I love great complex story telling and cut scenes. You get more into the story and what is happening around you. If I saw it disappear from gaming, then I wouldn't be a gamer anymore and have no reason to play a video game. I love writing stories and the MGS story is one of the best inspriing lots of thoughts and future ideas.Same thing could be said about fillms and books kinda of.

Anybody who dislikes cutscenes needs to stay the hell away from GTA4, that games packed with lengthy cutscenes. Point being if the perfect game that sells millions can be great with loads of cutscenes then so can MGS4. Keeping in mind GTA4 only takes 30 hours to complete the main story at a steady pace.Dahaka-UK

Ditto

the same reason why you posted the MGS4 only being 29 hours long. What was your point in that?

Vectah_Sigma

Health bars are the stupidest invention EVER to plague games. Get hit? Just stay back for 5seconds and you're fine! Yeah...big challenge -_- the_one34

I didn't say anything about regenerating health. I talking about things like in Fight Night Round 3. They eliminated the health bars in favour of showing your damage by how battered your character is, how heavy he's breathing, his stance, etc etc. There's no doubt it made the game a much more immersive experience when you don't have a great big red bar at the top showing your health. My point is that cutscenes or atleast ridiculously over long cutscenes are just as needless as counterproductive to games as health bars are.

Remember folks, the gameplay length of a game doesn't mean it'll make the game any better. Imagine getting bored of the game within a couple hours, and you have to drag along for the next 20 hours. That would be brutal. But MGS4 will be the best PS3 exclusive to date, finally.

*hope I didn't jinx it*

ReverseCycology

You have a little bit of a piont.

Look at GTA4, that game is kinda boring me and if it wasn't for the story it would be a rental at best .

[QUOTE="Dahaka-UK"]Anybody who dislikes cutscenes needs to stay the hell away from GTA4, that games packed with lengthy cutscenes. Point being if the perfect game that sells millions can be great with loads of cutscenes then so can MGS4. Keeping in mind GTA4 only takes 30 hours to complete the main story at a steady pace.Vectah_Sigma

Ditto

umm how long is gta4? exactly

[QUOTE="the_one34"]Health bars are the stupidest invention EVER to plague games. Get hit? Just stay back for 5seconds and you're fine! Yeah...big challenge -_- Tamashii-sosaku

I didn't say anything about regenerating health. I talking about things like in Fight Night Round 3. They eliminated the health bars in favour of showing your damage by how battered your character is, how heavy he's breathing, his stance, etc etc. There's no doubt it made the game a much more immersive experience when you don't have a great big red bar at the top showing your health. My point is that cutscenes or atleast ridiculously over long cutscenes are just as needless as counterproductive to games as health bars are.

To me, it didn't make it more immersive cos before I had to actually care about what I was doing. Anyways, almost all games are too easy nowadays.

Of course I'm mainly coming from a competitive background so I'm a bit of an elitist when it comes to games :p