Is Metal Gear Solid 4 finally coming to the 360?
In the months leading up to the release of MGS 4 last summer there were whispers from all corners that the game would only be a PS3 exclusive for so long before it also appeared on the Xbox 360. The launch came and went with the game sticking to its Sony guns, and it appeared as though the potential for a multiplatform release had disappeared. Sure, there were a few rumbles in the weeks after launch, but the rumors quickly subsided and we all went on about our lives; at least until today. That’s because this has suddenly appeared on the Kojima Productions website, and thus a clamor ensues.
Both Destructiod and 1Up seem to believe this is an omen of Metal Gear Solid 4 finally making its way to the 360, based mostly on the neon green color used for the tease, which is synonymous with Microsoft’s console. Joystiq and Kotaku aren’t quite as convinced though, noting that the lower case "i" in the screen could indicate anything from the Wii to the DSi to possibly even the iPhone. The long and short of it is that nobody seems to have even the slightest clue what’s going on, and no doubt Hideo Kojima is surfing the web this morning and laughing in a sinister fashion about how much buzz his nonsensical Flash screeen has created.
The other curious thing about this mysterious teaser is that the url contains the letters MGST. Obviously we know what the first three letters mean, but what’s that "T" all about? Some suggestions have included "Touch" or "Tactics," but for all we know it could mean "Tyrannosaurus" or "Terrarium" (editor’s note: or simply, "Teaser"). Honestly, we’re totally baffled by this one, and it seems as though we’re just going to have to wait for someone at Konami or Kojima Productions to set us straight. In the meantime, it’s fair enough to assume that this might be the ever-so-subtle announcement of the Xbox 360 version of MGS4, so we’re going to consider this one possible.
TGR Verdict: Rumor Somewhat Likely
Is Fable 2 coming to the PC?
If you own an Xbox 360 then chances are you own Fable 2. The game was the hottest seller in the month of October, and strong word of mouth as well as solid review scores have kept it chugging right along throughout the holiday season. But what if you don’t own Microsoft’s console, is there any other way for you to save Albion? Well, according to the grapevine, PC owners might be getting their chance come February.
The story was originally broken by German website Gamona, but for those who don’t happen to speak Deutsch, IGN is happy to bring you an English version of the story. It seems as though an "internal" source at Lionhead has confirmed that a PC port is on the way, even going so far as to name February 15, 2009 at the fateful day of release. No other details were given, though, and Lionhead has declined to comment on the rumor, so sadly there’s really nothing else we can tell you other than that.
Those familiar with Fable will realize that this sort of thing isn’t exactly unprecedented as the original game was ported to PC a year after it was released in the form of Fable: The Lost Chapters. Therefore, this sort of thing is definitely in line with Microsoft and Lionhead’s MO, so such a rumor really isn’t much of a surprise after all. We don’t have any confirming evidence yet, but there’s a very good chance that come early next year you’ll be swinging a sword and slinging spells to raise the dead with a mouse and keyboard instead of a controller.
TGR Verdict: Rumor Very Likely
Is Nintendo revamping the Wii Remote?
While the Nintendo Wii has definitely revolutionized gaming with its motion controls and more interactive play style, the device still hasn’t quite made gaming totally immersive yet. That’s largely because the Wiimote, while ingenious, isn’t all that sensitive, and true 1:1 motion controls have yet to manifest themselves on the console. That might be changing, though, as rumor has it that Nintendo is looking to change suppliers and create a much more sensitive controller.
According to a Tech On! report, US manufacturer Kionix has been trying to woo Nintendo away from current accelerometer suppliers ADI and STMicroelectronics with their promise of more responsive, more sensitive devices. Kionix claims that since their MEMS sensor is substantially thicker than ADI’s creation then they can offer unparalleled motion sensing technology, bringing Wii games that much closer to a fully realistic experience.
The big wrench in the plans is Nintendo’s MotionPlus peripheral which is set to go on sale very soon. this add-on plugged into the bottom of the Wiimote is touted to have full 1:1 motion sensing capabilities, rendering Kionix’s implied advantages largely moot. Honestly, the only reason for Nintendo to change suppliers now would be to somehow reduce costs and manage to produce controllers that don’t need the MotionPlus in order to bring about the full experience. Furthermore, the Tech On! story indicates that Nintendo is nowhere near the point where they are considering changing suppliers, so Kionix would have to court the Big N for quite some time before they would be likely to win the company over. If anything, we’d say that Kionix is positioning themselves for a shot at providing the parts for the next Wii and they’re just throwing their hat into the ring for consideration on the next go-round. In that case, Wii owners can continue waggling furiously and counting down the days for the panacea that is (supposedly) MotionPlus; then promptly being furious when it isn’t the magical salve we all expect it to be.
TGR Verdict: Rumor Unlikely
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