US/Europe Metal Gear Solid 4 Won't Have Japanese Track

In the latest Kojima Productions Report podcast, producer Ryan Payton announces that MGS4 won't have voice over tracks for other languages. Says Payton:

Unfortunately because of disc space, we don't have the space to include other languages, other voice over files for the respective versions. So the Japanese version's not gonna have English VO, and the North American and European versions won't have Japanese VO.

[mighty_douche]

Because they didn't have space?? on a blu-ray?? that tells me the MGS is going to be MASSIVE!!!

[xhi4]

i know aye!

[Lionsguard]

Rubbish, they'd just have a dvd for the voices itself. Of course while playing there will be no voices but after you're done just pop in the dvd and play the track of the scenes you just saw! a bit of a pain in the ass but hey it works!

/sarcasm

[ruibing]

Assuming it is using a dual layered 50GB Blu Ray disc, it must mean they are using lossless compression on most materials. I really have to buy a better speaker system to take advantage of the 7.1 audio this game will offer.

[Xeikon]

It will be the same as previous Metal Gears.

23% playing
77% watching

[blacsheep]

MGS4 for you will be

0% playing

and 99% envious

[Korosuke]

size doesn't matter

[sonarus]

lol in my recent comments i have been rooting for 360 to get that mgs4 port but if there is no space i dunno. they could just compress it though and make it a lesser quality game cus the multi discs are a bit unrealistic. plus mgs4 could also be making use of data duplication so who knows, keep the hope up. might happen in 09.

may be 23% play and 77% watchin don't know havnt played it but it will still be 100% best game of the yr

[ATLRoAcH]

...using a single layer 25 gig Blu-ray disc.I guess an extra language VO isn't worth going dual layer 50 gig.

[mighty_douche]

but isn't MGS4 rumoured to be the first game to use a dual layer already??

oh and slightly off topic, you hear they've had people working on the opening scene of over a year!! God, i cant wait for this!!

[ATLRoAcH]

But if they are the agree I gave you is justified.If its 50 gigs than its huge.Someone might use a four layer one day.

[Kain81]

was confirmed by Kojima and that means MGS4 fill all the Space.
Holy Grail

[pacman615]

it has to be a 50gig disc...resistance took almost 20gigs with about a 12-15 hour single player mode and multiplayer...MGS4..will probably clock in around 50 hours to beat assuming you dont skip through all the cutscenes...mgs3 took me around 35-40 hrs to beat i believe...GO MGS4 FTW.... and this is also off topic...but i bet FFXIII will be the first game to use a 100gb disc...anywho...day 1 purchase for me

[Keowrath]

Don't get too carried away with the size of the game. Rememeber. This is Metal Gear. It's part game, part movie. It will probably have a good few hours of Hi-Def cut scenes which are going to take up a fair chunk of the disc I'd imagine. I can see the game being about the same size as the previous trilogy, maybe a little bigger but I don't think we're going to be looking at a 50 hour game by any means (Although I'll be putting way more than 50 hours into it! =) )

[gambare]

Metal gear series never used FMV for the cinematics, they always have used in game graphics to make the cinematics, the size just means the huge amount of data used for the game.

[Erethond]

Resistance might have filled up alot of space on the Blu-Ray, but that was because it had multiple languages. MGS4 will only have 1!

[Mainman]

@ Keowrath

MGS4 cut-scenes are in-game, so it won't take as much space as pre-rendered CGI would.

[DevastationEve]

I kinda woulda hoped they could store the original Japanese voice overs, though i've also gotten atached to the American localized crew. Lost Odyssey has five languages, Japanese German Italian French and English. Maybe that's too many, but FYI I have terrible memories of using the "swap" trick to get ole PS to play non-ntsc games, and subsequently falling to the "mod chip" for its similar abilities. MGS4 without Japanese voices? I'd probably still buy anyway.

[hfaze]

Which is why it's GREAT that the PS3 is not region locked for games... If you want the Japanese voice-overs, grab a Japanese copy of the game and it will play fine on your US/EU/etc. console.

[AngryHippo]

wow....this game must be seriously epic in every sence of the word to fill up all that space. Can't wait to take snake through his final mission. This is going to be fantastic.

[tweaker]

I wouldn't care. The game in English is all I want. MGS4 FTW!!!!

[DonSqueak]

Someone mail Kojima that he need not worry: Tweaker doesn't care. As usual, that settles it, no?

[mighty_douche]

tweaker can only speak for tweaker. thats HIS opinion, he's not trying to speak for everyone.

[tweaker]

^^^^^^

listen to the man :)

[GrimWarrior]

well,, I never really thought about Japanese VO for MGS4, but now it's mentioned it would have been cool if we could hear Otsuka-san as snake,, fantastic seiyū... brings a different feel to the character. Hayter does a very good job, too.

P.S.: I have the Japanese versions of MGS1 and MGS3: Snake Eater ^_^

[Statix]

I would have very much preferred the option for Japanese subtitles, especially if the English voiceovers end up being teh suck, which is the case for most Japanese games.

[mighty_douche]

"He does go on to state the voice over work in MGS4 is the best it's ever been."

[Keowrath]

The only disappointing MGS game as far as voice acting goes was the twin snakes MGS1 remake (and even then it's only really disappointing if you played the original PS1 version enough)

I really don't think we have anything to worry about. MGS has always had great VA's who put a lot of emotion into their characters. One if not THE best voice acted series ever seen... er heard (IMHO of course)

[PirateThom]

If you've played any MGS game, you'd know the voice over work is some of the best anywhere.

For Substance and Subsistence, they used the English version of the voice overs in Japan because Kojima-san prefered them.

[grilledgorlupa8]

David Hayter

[jackhammer06]

What about the Asia version??Will it contain English VO???

[mighty_douche]

Read! it clearly states that it wont.

[Korosuke]

I think jack says other Asia versions(not Japanese version) and the story doesn't mention it.

[EastCoastSB]

It's still a retarded question. Why would two major versions not have it, and the other would?

[Bathyj]

I'm fine with English. Some anime purist prefer subs to dubs but Id rather watch the action and listen to the sound.

Still it would have been nice, Japanese sound so cool when they're angry which sounds like most of the time, (at least in fiction).

Cant we just leave the french out. No one likes the french.

PS
So they've actually filled a 50G disc? Seems hard to believe. Are we sure they didn't decide to stick with 25 after they announced the 50?

[jackdoe]

Pretty much every PS3 exclusive game uses the 50gb Blu-ray. Hell, pretty much every Blu-Ray release uses the 50gb. So yes, it is still the 50gb.

[The Closing]

All the other titles have had fantastic english vo's so I don't see why this one should be any different if not marginally better.

[Fighter]

The game is gonna rock. I can't wait to see how a 50GB game plays like. Gonna pre-order next month and see you guys in the online beta.

[Fighter]

I should also add that the 7.1 surround and HD graphics take up a lot of space. I wonder if it's in 720P or 1080P?

[Daray]

Snakes real voice can only be the voice of David Hayer in my mind. Wouldn't feel right otherwise!

[DevastationEve]

Snake's Japanese, bro. He's Japanese because Kojima is Japanese too. We need to remeber that the game is ORIGINALLY dubbed in Japanese. And the Japanese people love seeing a Japanese hero, okay? His culture is pure military-bred badass, but the Americans aren't the only people who can pull off a Stallone-like image. And they sure as shnitzel aren't the only eople with a military.

[The Closing]

Hate to break it to you bro, but he ain't Japanese.

[Keowrath]

DarkWraithAngel, Sorry mate but I disagree. Kojima based Snake on the American Pliskin from Escape from New York. When the Original MGS had it's special edition released they released an English soundtrack to go with it with Hayter as the voice of Solid because (from what I understand) that how Kojima wanted Snake to be.

MGS2 released in the States before Japan and I think the same might even be true for MGS3. Sure Snake does have a Japanese voice actor but as far as I'm aware the "official" voice is Hayters.

[The Closing]

I'd also like to add in the original series snake was modeled after that dude from the terminator.

http://upload.wikimedia.org...

Metal Gear 2 Snake was modeled after that cookoo Mel Gibson character.

http://upload.wikimedia.org...

Anyhow PS versions of snake ftw.

[Keowrath]

Sorry DarkWraithAngel but I'm a little pissed you decided to PM me saying that you're disappointed that people such as myself call themselves MGS fans. I take offence to that. You admit that you're basing your knowledge off of the Twin Snakes a game that was neither Developed or Directed by Kojima. Also a Remake that is considered by the majority to be inferior to the original Product. I played it and completed it a couple of times. You'll have to forgive me for not remembering the point where Snake turns to the camera and says I'm Japanese you know...

http://www.answers.com/topi...

I've provided you a link much like The Closings. Do yourself a favour and enlighten yourself.

EDIT: Ok, I've had a moment to calm down a bit and I apologize for retaliating as I have but damn! You riled me with your PM.

[man0fsteel]

actually its Kirk Russell :)

[man0fsteel]

I MEAN Kurt :)

[The Closing]

and the Snake Plisskin modeled Snake was for the PS mgs series.

[Cartesian3D]

faint ..

[tehReaper]

No matter how much content you put in a game, there is no way it will be close to 25GB, much less 50GB. Apparently theres a compression issue. Tis a shame, I always like to play through a Jap. game the 2nd time with the orig. voices.

[hfaze]

"No matter how much content you put in a game, there is no way it will be close to 25GB, much less 50GB. Apparently theres a compression issue."

Why use compression if you don't have to?

[jackdoe]

How is it a compression issue when you don't have to compress? Two audio tracks at 7.1 channel PCM takes up a hell of a lot of space to begin with.

[Keowrath]

This is fine with me. David Hayter is Snake to me (even though I originally played the Japanese version) Metal Gear Solid: Integral had an English track on the Japanese disk and now Snake with any other voice than Hayters just doesn't seem like Snake to me. Still a bit gutted about the loss of Cam Clarke for Liquid but Ocelots VA has always been great and fitted the character in the past.

It does go to show how huge the game is going to be (unless we get 2 hours of game play and 8 hours of Hi Def cutscenes =) )

I guess if I want the Japanese voices (and I don't know why I would) I could always get the JPN version... Region Free FTW!

[Daray]

Isn't Cam Clark Returning?! When did this happen?

[Keowrath]

It was announced last year when the bulk of the MGS4 trailers came out. Patric Zimmerman is returning as Ocelots voice and is also going to be Liquid too. I think Patric Zimmerman has done a great job with Ocelot in the past but it's going to be interesting to see how he pulls off Liquid.

Cam Clarke FTW! =/

[angel604]

having the same person do both liquid and ocelot might be good since liquids arm is attached there essentially the same person

but its still bummer liquids voice was so recognizable

[bOOmStiCK]

Im used to David Hayter's raw voice and I love it. Never really missed a native audiotrack when playing MGS. It's just, everytime I here that voice of Snake, awesome!

[MiniMii]

Snake speaking in English is how we are used to play him with.

We dont need Japanese VO.
However, when they say they dont have disc space, OMG, how big is this game. Its a dual Blu ray for crying out loud. Hahah 360 cant even handle 10% of MGS4.

[GUNS N SWORDS]

the game is a very solid game it's done ( and thank god it's done) but the whole 50 gigs thing makes me want to dissect the possibilities of using that much space for a single game.

1. it's not an RPG i don't think kojima would like to call his project a 30 or 40 hour long adventure to kill liquid-revolver.

2. hi-def audio is a great thing 15 gigs of it is not necessary 448kbps DTS 5.1 is superb, uncompressed is too much of a compromise for what could be better use of the space.

3. textures they look decent not over the top but overall well balanced for their many uses in an environment of this size.

4. cg cutscenes (movies) this where I'm guessing they might use more space. HD video takes up quite a bit, and even more as you jump from 720p to 1080p. 720p video consumes roughly 50 MB a minute (from what I've seen about 3gigs an hour). if they wanted too, they could take the brunt "work" out of the game by saving some scenes as movies, as opposed to having the entire story play out in realtime rendering.

[GUNS N SWORDS]

if you have any objections, please make your comments public. willing to listen:)

[Gorgon]

The cut-scenes are in-game/in-engine, not pre-rendered CGI. They do take space, but its not like we're talking about CGI movie.

The textures, as you mention, are nothing extraordinary, so it's not because of them. I read somewhere that the sound would be uncompressed, so I guess thats the reason. They are probably making less compression on everything else so that load times and general performance is faster. I think that's where the 50GB are beying eaten up.

[acetw1n]

For example ,the trailer from a few years ago, unless they decided to eliminate them from the game,
and its not uncommon for them to use pre rendered cgi ,they have before
for ceratin scenes ,not all of the just ceratin scences.

[jackdoe]

Cut-scenes are not pre-rendered, never have been. However, the title sequence could take up about 1 gb cause that would be FMV much like the other MGS title sequences. Sound takes up a hell of a lot of space as well. There is a hell of a lot of dialogue in this game, not to mention a hell of a lot of unique sound effects, and multiple music tracks. Also, they have to include lipsynching data for an extra language track if they added it in.

[DevastationEve]

his politics, his involvemnt in American affairs and his represenetation of American interests does not change his heritage. Even Shinkowa the artist himself stated this. I feel dissapointed to be among people who consider themselves MGS fans, and not be aware that PLISKEN is not Snake. Kojima expressed his interest in western culture, and the basis for his character was western. But common! Snake baring the Katana left behind by the slain Grey Fox is proof that he pays homage to his eastern origins.

(if you played the GameCube remake of the original MGS "MGS Twin Snakes" like I did, you'll know!)

[The Closing]

Information
Real name: David
Also known as: Iroquois Pliskin (MGS2), Old Snake (MGS4)
Nationality: American
Affiliations: FOXHOUND (MG, MG2), The Pentagon (MGS) , Philanthropy (MGS2), (MGS4).

"Much as Metal Gear began as a pastiche of action movies of the time, Solid Snake began as a pastiche of contemporary action movie heroes. For example, on the cover artwork of the original Metal Gear, he resembles Michael Biehn in The Terminator, and the in-game portrait of Snake in Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake resembles Mel Gibson[1] (who was then starring in the Lethal Weapon movies). Solid Snake was even named after an action movie hero: Snake Plissken, Kurt Russell's character in Escape from New York.[2] Due to Kojima's admission that Escape from New York is one of his favorite films, later revisions of Solid Snake would be based on the Plissken character."

Keep on spouting nonsense, but anyone who follows the series, and has two eyes knows you're just making a bigger fool out of yourself every time you try to argue your misinformation.

[DevastationEve]

it's funny, but no one realizes that Kojima's tactic is underhandedly sneaky. Appealing to an American audience through the use of a character who basis was an American character (plisken) and whose way of life can be analogous to that of Rambo: a born soldier whose only "reigns" were his commander (Rambo was Snake before Hayter ever was).

i pose one question: why would the Japanese even care about this game if it's about an American hero, and yet oppose an American console like the 360? it's not logical. the only conclusion I draw is that they buy (or should I say hype) this game to coax Americans to buy it so that American money goes into their country: the pretense of a global economy covering up the true nature of their intent.

if Snake's American, than the latter is true. therefore, I would assume that he has to be Japanese. for the sake of logic in that Japan would rather support THEIR endevors (both console, software, and script) more than OURS.

[The Closing]

The Japanese are extremely into the western culture especially it's film industry just as vice versa there is a huge American market for all things Japanese. You're not the creator of the series stop acting like you call the shots on where his characters are from from some half backed ideas you have cooking in the back of your head that have no ground in reality.

So Kojima is Japanese something that doesn't limit a logical person from creating fictional characters from whatever region he damn well pleases. It's Kojima's fictional story called, "metal gear solid." Notice the title isn't called, "Metal Gear Kojima's Origins." Stop making this into some race barrier thing, and get with the program man it's the 21st century after all.

P.S. Stop PMing me with your insane illogical rants.

[Mike134nl]

Another simple reason migth be that they don't want to spend more time/money on compressing and fitting everything on one disk. Which I deem most likely.
This game comming to xb360 indeed seems less likely know but a cut down version is notimpossible.

[Gorgon]

Its not a matter of time or money in compressing. Its a matter of load times/ performance. Less compression and everything is faster. Also, they are going for uncompressed, lossless audio. With hours and hours of dialog, I can see how the space is beying eaten up. Someone stated (somewhere) that there would be something like 4 hours of cut-scenes. Add in less texture compression, etc, to speed up things, and you can see where the 50GB are beying used.

[DevastationEve]

at 25 gigs, it would take 3 dvds. lost oddysey is 4 dvds, so it's not impossible. blue dragon (same makers, funny) took 3 dvds. multiple discs may not be ideal, but at least i know i wouldn't be putting to much use on each disc.

[tehReaper]

I see what you're saying, but I just don't think Lost Odyssey should have taken up that much space. I'm taking classes on game design, and from what I've learned already, 4-10GB is enough space to have a very well made and polished game. Even on a powerhorse like a PS3, it's just not logical for a single game to take up 50GB.

Think about it this way. You know how some PS3 games have a required 5GB install on the hard drive for games that run great on the 360? Well, how are the same games fitting on a 360 DVD9 disc, without an install? They're the same games, nothing new, yet the PS3 has to install 5GB to match 360 load times. Is this a PS3 compression issue?

Whatever the case, I just wish they'd squeeze those extra Jap. voiceovers in. :P

[bakasora]

you are pushing

[jackdoe]

@Dem0n, a 5gb install has nothing to do with the amount of space on a disc. Sigh.

[tehReaper]

@jackdoe

It has everything to do with it. How are the same games fitting on a DVD9 disc with great load times? I just don't understand why Blueray needs to use all that extra space on a disc, and then make you install 5GB.

[LastDance]

have fun with an xbox port.

[Gamingshouldbefun]

i think they gonna add jap ov on psn(home) for download for those who want it.

[timmyp53]

MGS4 release is getting closer.

[GrimWarrior]

But, the Japanese Snake VO is done by Akio Otsuka!!! That dude PWNS ALL!

You don't even need to understand what he's saying in order to know that he is teh MAN!!! Especially in MGS3, his voice suited Big Boss very well!!

every time I hear Big Boss yell "BOSSU"-which is the japanese pronounciation of Boss - it just feels awesome!! that dude ROX
well, he's Japanese after all ^_^

[ScottEFresh]

Port? LOL!!! the 360 will NEVER get this game and this just proves it even more. If they can barely fit it on a BRD then they would need like 5 DVDs for this game...what a pathetic machine.

[BrianC6234]

Sure the 360 will get a port of MGS4. No way it won't. The sales will be HUGE. They'll just drop the screen size a little. Maybe a 50 pixel tall by 125 pixel wide screen. Think PSP screen on your TV. Hahaha. Poor Xbox 1.5 and it's tiny DVD.

[heyheyhey]

lol weird

a thing that i NEVER would have thought i wanted, but now that i can't have it- i crave it

hopefully it gets included in an update or via home

P.S i know it's been said before, but HOLY SH!T!!!! NO SPACE LEFT?! Blu-Ray is really becoming a necessity

[OgTheClever]

Hey, I've been wondering, since even 50GB might not be enough for games in the future, does anyone know if the soon to be released 100GB discs (and possibly 200GB) will be compatable for use on the PS3?

[zonetrooper5]

Rather have the voices in english anways and Resistance 1 was gonna use something like 22GB of data mostly because of padding. They cut that down to about 17GB.

[J@D]

I don't seen the polemic about this.. I mean the English Dubs are very superior on MGS series on English compare with the Japanese counterpart from my personal point of view. Now, I don't might the VA but... Kojima and Konami need to include subtitles with almost every language out there for both US and Europe aka Dutch, Spanish, French, French etc etc.

[Skerj]

Any other game I'd be upset, but since this is MGS I'm alright. Besides I'm too damn used to hearing David Hayter as Snake, it wouldn't feel right for the first playthrough.

[jeanm3306]

Are you guys forgetting that mgs4 will include Metal Gear Online. that also will take space. so I'm thinking MGS4 the game will have about 25-35gb. The Online version around 15gb.