We love the Metal Gear Solid 4 installation

by Andrew Yoon { Jun 12th 2008 at 11:58AM }

We love the eight minute installation required for Metal Gear Solid 4. Why? Because it's actually entertaining. This install does so much more than the typical one, by providing valuable information as how much time remains in the install, and various bits of sage advice. For example, this warning tells you that this game is exclusively on PS3. We like the way you think, Kojima.

It's also marvelous how Snake's cigarette burns in real time, with the cigarette getting smaller every time Snake shakes the ashes off. Funnily, there's also a health warning about the dangers of smoking. Check out Joystiq's gallery to see more from the game.

Gallery: MGS4 install screen advice

Tags: metal-gear-solid, metal-gear-solid-4, mgs, mgs4

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

Devin @ Jun 12th 2008 12:06PM

"Be sure to take a 15-min break every hour of play"

LOL, yeah right!

CJLopez @ Jun 12th 2008 12:22PM

I do, but when I sleep, or it has to be 1 hour play, 15 minutes break, 1 hour play, 15 minutes break???

I prefer to sum it up all and get proper sleep, xD

snake79 @ Jun 12th 2008 11:56PM

I used to play non stop but lately i think i kinda develop the carpel tunnel syndrome on my left arm. Maybe i'm like snake. got old. so now I actually set a timer for 1 hour and take a 15 minutes break... well sometimes it's 1.5 hour. :P

HektikLyfe @ Jun 12th 2008 2:44PM

Well what happens when you run into one of those 90 minute cut scenes?

Devin @ Jun 12th 2008 2:50PM

They've already said that the 90-minute statement was way overstated....

HektikLyfe @ Jun 12th 2008 3:42PM

Does that mean 20? If so, it would still go beyond the suggested 15 minute break time.

I wish more cut scenes had pause functions. I hate when someone accidentally touches the controller you set down, or you have to take a pee break, or the pizza delivery guy shows up or something and you miss the entire scene.

Bellerophon @ Jun 12th 2008 7:42PM

@ HektikLyfe
You can pause cut-scenes now. When you press start it'll pause, allowing you to either continue or skip it.

HektikLyfe @ Jun 13th 2008 12:04PM

THAT is great! I am truly happy for this. More developers should implement this feature.

Nathan-DTS @ Jun 12th 2008 12:29PM

your sarcasim hurts me :(

anon @ Jun 12th 2008 12:33PM

@ph00p
"Won't see anything that cool ever on the 360!"

Yup you are right, you wont... exclussssive!

eznark @ Jun 12th 2008 12:38PM

with a reach like that you guys must have Inspector Gadget arms

linton @ Jun 12th 2008 12:39PM

I've been playing it for two hrs now, all im doing is getting a feel for the game mechanics and how stealthy(if you want to be) you need to be to get past the pmc's and militia , then I'm going to delete my save n start over tommorow as I've the day off work and no girlfriend around!

irshliquor @ Jun 12th 2008 12:44PM

you made a typo. you included the word "around" which would imply that you actually have a girlfriend.

just thought i'd help.

Kspraydad @ Jun 12th 2008 1:25PM

You refer to your left hand as your 'girlfriend'?

:P

Lucky Bstard...don't get my MGS until tomorrow.

linton @ Jun 12th 2008 12:46PM

er sorry to say its no typo - i really do have a girlfriend - well 2 if you count the human one

JerJerBinks @ Jun 12th 2008 3:06PM

Is the other one canine? Your comments leave you wide open for ridicule.

Wallamania @ Jun 12th 2008 12:47PM

Yeah i have to agree, this is one of the best installations for a ps3 game yet, i liked the bit where it said, (only playable EXCLUSIVELY ON the ps3 gaming system) guess that sure means it won't be going to xbox 360 any time soon, i also liked the bit where old snake was smoking in real time, also at the end of the install to when old snake says 'kept you waiting huh' had to laugh found that really funny, mr kojima sure knows how to let us have some fun, only played ten minutes of the game so far but its awesomly fan -bloody -tastic, never played a game thats been this real to life!!

godlovesugly @ Jun 12th 2008 12:54PM

Anyone hear maybe think this is a SPOILER!?
not everyone has got the game yet!
Thank you very much(!)

godlovesugly @ Jun 12th 2008 12:55PM

Anyone here maybe think this is a SPOILER!?
not everyone has got the game yet!
Thank you very much(!)

CL34N3R @ Jun 12th 2008 1:00PM

Four cigarettes in 8 minutes. You think stealth would be out of the question when you reek so badly of cigarette smoke and can't stop coughing.

emaxximus @ Jun 12th 2008 3:13PM

You win!

massive_98 @ Jun 12th 2008 1:01PM

I wish all games would tell you how long the initial install will take and even how long loading will take. I don't mind long loading times, but I'd be great if I knew if there was enough to make a sandwich.

I hope everyone is enjoying MGS4(or will enjoy it later).

lyrrad @ Jun 12th 2008 1:05PM

8 minutes huh? Just enough time for me to smoke my own "cig" in preparation!

Joshd16 @ Jun 12th 2008 1:08PM

i just got the game, watching the install now, i LoL'd at all the health warnings, haha.

Nick Doerr @ Jun 12th 2008 1:11PM

You know what's kind of funny, er, interesting? Ross Miller took these off of my TV. I was surprised they came out at all. My forays into TV picture-taking end in horrible failure almost without exception.

Danie @ Jun 12th 2008 1:15PM

Why ps3fanboy have to infancy's on installation process while this game is almost perfect. Do ps3fanboy always need to infancy's on negative and pointless "issues". The game got lot of good thing to talk about it. D game is fking amazing period.

Kspraydad @ Jun 12th 2008 1:27PM

What?

Vcize @ Jun 12th 2008 1:46PM

Uh, what exactly do infants have to do with this again?

nahworry @ Jun 12th 2008 2:50PM

Hello Danie, your Babelfish translator thingy seems to be broken. Anyway, I don't think ps3fanboy is complaining about the installation process if that's what you meant...

metalcharms @ Jun 13th 2008 2:02AM

infancy's =/= emphasize

Dr. Strangepork @ Jun 12th 2008 1:20PM

So what happened to the new System Update we were all expecting (2.40?)?

Trophies? In game XMB? etc.

Everyone seems to have forgotten this in the euphoria around MGS4 and the bundles.

Dr. SP

Byron517 @ Jun 12th 2008 1:21PM

I've been playing since I got it last night and omg GAME OF THE YEAR!!! By far one of the most epic games I've played in a LONG TIME!! ENJOY FELLAS We've waited a LONG ASS TIME FOR THIS!!

wisconsinista @ Jun 12th 2008 1:23PM

Jealousy is the finest form of flattery. Since you care so much why not just pick up a ps3? You probably want a BR player anyway so just take the jump. Clearly you want one, why else would you sort out to find a blog, and post and confirm a message about how lame an install is -is that really a gripe? PC's always have installs -do you hate against PC games as well?
If you don't care for your ps3 you can unload on EBAY or Craigslist quite easily and likely at little if any loss, so there is no reason not to give it a try. And fret not, no need to buy expensive wireless adapters etc. the PS3 has it all built in.

There you go now all is better now. good luck.

Dom @ Jun 12th 2008 1:24PM

I wonder if those anti-tobacco people will make [truth]commercials of this? LMAO! Boy are there some hardcore fanboys in here. It's kinda pathetic when you think about it. Yay funny install screens. Yay I can go make a sandwich while my new game loads and again when it re-installs during the game. Yay my console is the bestest in the whole world. Bunch of sheep. God I hope R2 and Killzone2 don't have installs.

Nick @ Jun 12th 2008 1:29PM

Seriously? You remember that this game won't even fit on a disc that the 360 can play right? You won't be popping anything in to "just play".

HektikLyfe @ Jun 12th 2008 1:40PM

This "article" reminds me of Animal House. "Thank you mam may I have another..." I've never seen someone so happy for punishment.

Ok before the SonyDefenseForce goes on the attack, again, let me explain.

One of the MAJOR reasons people left PC's in favor of consoles for gaming, was the lack of installs. This is why Microsoft continues to promise this functionality with the release of every new Operating System. With patches and updates like these, developers are going to kill console gaming too.

Sure it makes the game play faster but there are alternatives. The game could install while you play a loaded level. I've seen other games do this.

Oh wait, background installations must be on the list for the 2.4 update right?

Vcize @ Jun 12th 2008 1:48PM

Do people seriously sit around for 8 minutes and watch their game install because it has a couple witty (and many not so witty) one-liners?

I'd have to imagine that for 8 minutes, people are going to just go do something else while they wait.

Vcize @ Jun 12th 2008 1:59PM

Nonetheless, I do commend Konami for doing SOMETHING with that install screen. If we're going to be stuck with forced installs, hopefully companies will continue to make the best of it.

josh @ Jun 12th 2008 2:03PM

Not if you've been waiting for this game forevaaaa. Then you sit in revel in the fact that it's finally here, Snake, right there on your screen.

HektikLyfe @ Jun 12th 2008 2:46PM

I kind of liked playing Galaxian and Pac-Man during those loading screens. Why aren't they still doing that I wonder?

Perhaps they know they can sell them on XBLA and PSN instead?

RPGJock @ Jun 12th 2008 1:52PM

Just cause the 360 doesn't install, doesn't mean it isn't coming. I am pretty sure it would make a lot of developers lives easier if they could install certain part of the game of a HDD vs covering up load times and having compression media storage issues.

Come on, what did you think the hard drive was for anyway. This has been happening since the FFXI on the PS2. People need to get a grip and wake up. That is what it for, GAMES. Wheather you buy it from a download service or have it installed from a disk format, that what the hard drives was originally made for.

I am just saying...

elephant.stone @ Jun 12th 2008 1:57PM

I got the game a day early and when people on my buddy list were asking me how it was I simply said, even the installation is great! End of! I never usually mind installations anyway (I love sandwhiches)...but this should shut up any complaints...

...although when you start chapter 2 there is another 3 minute installation :s hmmmm, maybe this could get old real fast actually.

igorponweed @ Jun 12th 2008 2:05PM

ANyone know of a guide on the internet? I can't find one.

Dom @ Jun 12th 2008 2:20PM

This is where I go for all my "fuck I'm stuck" moments. Look to your right and you will see someone has started the MGS4 Superguide. Everyday there should be updates as more and more people beat it. You're welcome.

http://www.mycheats.com/view/superguide/3140656/metal_gear_solid_4__guns_of_the_patriots/ps3

xFenixKnightx @ Jun 12th 2008 2:24PM

xFenixKnightx @ Jun 12th 2008 2:22PM

This is where I go for all my "f#%! I'm stuck" moments. Look to your right and you will see someone has started the MGS4 Superguide. Everyday there should be updates as more and more people beat it. You're welcome.

http://www.mycheats.com/view/superguide/3140656/metal_gear_solid_4__guns_of_the_patriots/ps3

#21 @ Jun 12th 2008 2:11PM

guides fail. but this game does rock...

Shaunzeh @ Jun 12th 2008 2:22PM

I WAS DIEING FOR ACT 2 to end! DIEING!! anyway 4am on this side and during the installation for act 3 the message read... it is now 4:00am, isnt it time to take a break. and the usual take a 15 minute break for every hour played hahaaha. i'm gong to bed now. 8 hours and only 2 acts down. my goodness. Game of the year!!!