Metal Gear Acid 2, is it worth the neck strain?

by Conrad Quilty-Harper { Sep 22nd 2005 at 8:30AM }

A week ago we blogged about the announcement that Metal Gear Acid 2 for the PSP will require a peripheral to view sections of the game in 3D. What we didn't have at that time was a shot of the peripheral itself. What you can see on the right is that peripheral in action. Talk about neck straining!

Engadget has a picture of the device with a PSP attached and even there it looks ungainly and frankly, pointless. The distribution will be more expensive than it needs to be for a PSP game, the device will probably only be used for a fraction of the game length and the actual usage of the device (as the picture on the right shows) is impractical and looks silly to say the least.

And the main point is; why do we need to see Metal Gear Acid 2 in simulated 3D? None of the other Metal Gear Solid games have needed any extra accessories to entertain the player.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Imp @ Dec 18th 2005 9:42PM

Hopefully, for the sake of those playing it, it won't be needed in order to complete parts of the game.
However, 3D video gaming is just bad ass.
If Sony can take another page out of Nintendos book, the game will be the same price as a normal PSP game (yes I know that Sony doesn't make the game, but you get the idea).

Rymix @ Dec 18th 2005 9:42PM

WOW! That looks 100% COOL!*

* Lie

YoYo-Pete @ Dec 18th 2005 9:42PM

I've never played a 3D game (Virtualboy doesnt count)... This is pretty innovative if you ask me. It could be the coolest thing ever. We'll just have to see.

OddJob @ Dec 18th 2005 9:42PM

And people complain that Nintendo makes gimmicky hardware...

Tesla @ Dec 18th 2005 9:42PM

I just hope Conrad isn't a Nintendo fanboy bashing a product for a Sony system. I have gotten sick of people saying that Nintendo is the only innovative company and when someone else does something innovative they immediately say it's lame.

Personally I think it looks pretty damn cool. You don't have to hold the system down that far down and lean into it. It's not that heavy and you don't take binoculars (which this is supposed to emulate) and look at the ground do you? They people playing it at TGS were limited by the security chords. I also doubt it's necessary to use the peripheral either. Kudos to Konami for a great spinoff and even greater ideas of innovation. I plan on preordering this one and cannot wait. The first hit of AC!D got me hooked.

Mr.Sparky @ Dec 18th 2005 9:42PM

Enough about the device.....what about the game? I don't want to play cards again! I already have decks for that stuff and I have a PSP to play games, not cards.

CapAmerica @ Dec 18th 2005 9:42PM

Wow, That is so lame.
Hopefully you won't need that in order to play the game and Hopefully they fixed the game, the card system sucked.
Cards didn't work for PSO, it didn't work for Kingdom Hearts and it doesn't work for Metal Gear.

John Bennet Ramsey @ Dec 18th 2005 9:42PM

a)cards suck
b)maybe the game might be cool though
c)In your face Sony Fanboys!!!! Virtual Boy anyone. I thought it was "the worst idea ever". I own a PSP also so don't accuse me of being a nintendork. I love all video games. Castlevania DS out next month Woot Mutha F$ckin Woot!

Imp @ Dec 18th 2005 9:42PM

#5
"you don't take binoculars (which this is supposed to emulate) and look at the ground do you?"
But you don't take a portable video game system and hold is straight out in front of you, do you?

SickNic @ Dec 18th 2005 9:42PM

*Cough* Virtual Boy reincarnated *Cough*

Michael McGuire @ Dec 18th 2005 9:42PM

Does this work for people who can't see out of both eyes?

paralipsis @ Dec 18th 2005 9:42PM

Gimmick. I like my MGA, and I look forward to MGA2, but not for it's 'Solid Eye' that's for sure. Maybe I'm strange to want to play a portable device on the go, but there you have it.

It's big, it has extremely limited functionality, and even if it is free, it is just going to end up being a piece of crap taking up space in by closet just in case I want to sell the game at a later date. I like innovation, but this one should have been left at the prototype stage.

Oh, and #11, unfortunately you can't use a 3D device that is based on stereoscopic images if you have only one functional eye.

Bob @ Dec 18th 2005 9:42PM

Would you prefer an insertable rumble probe? No uncomfortable straining, just the occasional sudden shock to the place where you pull dumb stories like this one from. Sheesh.

vrf @ Dec 18th 2005 9:42PM

First time I saw this I thought it was a hoax. I'm sitting here trying to imagine what the meeting must have been like that ended with a decision to produce this thing.

Wee @ Dec 18th 2005 9:42PM

This peripharel is 100% pointless. It totally takes away the portabililty of the console.

TheUndertow @ Dec 18th 2005 9:42PM

This reeks of the PS2 HD, only (presumably) less expensive.

ill trooper @ Dec 18th 2005 9:42PM

Hey Pete... Virtual Boy does count as a 3D game! I still have mine. Looks fresh next to the Eames chairs and the vintage 80's boom-box.

As for how important this is to the game, I can't call it. Sounds cool, but an extra thing to carry, and for what? I assume you will have the option of disabling the 3D for the sake of travel.

Metal Gear has always pushed things a little bit, from having to place the controller on the floor to needing the back of the package for a frequency code. Or even the cardboard boxes and porno mags. I respect that sort of weirdness and I suppose this may be something like that.

Zachary @ Dec 18th 2005 9:42PM

I'm with you 6,7,8, the device could be cool, but I don't want to play a card game with it. So, how about a real MGS for the psp? please?

Oshi @ Dec 18th 2005 9:42PM

If it's still a card-battle game then it is totally not worth it.

Christopher7xii @ Dec 18th 2005 9:42PM

"And the main point is; why do we need to see Metal Gear Acid 2 in simulated 3D? None of the other Metal Gear Solid games have needed any extra accessories to entertain the player."
--It'll be easy to simulate 3D with their comic book style visuals.

--It'll still be a card game from what i've read

--This isn't as bad as a virtual boy, because that costed $250 and was a system with a library of 14 games in the US. This is one game with a periphrial... Ya know, on par with using an NES zapper, DDR Dance Pad, DK Bongos... Stuff like that.

John Bennet Ramsey @ Dec 18th 2005 9:42PM

Yes while it is not as bad as virtual boy (cost wise) the negatives of virtual boy are still there like REALLY BAD NECK CRAMPS. That was the main reason VB failed (IMO). + VB games were crap IMO also. They could have easily made a pair of 3D glasses that would do the same thing. I am not feeling the clip on aspect of this. I think if I was to get this game (which I wont because I HATE card battle games, they ruin RPGS!!!) I would simply tear out the 3D goggles part out of the box or better yet I'd put a rubber band and 2 holes in the goggles and just wear it. I don't think the 3D part is a bad idea, just the mechanism to deliver the experience is off.

Christopher7xii @ Dec 18th 2005 9:42PM

Yeah, I really have no interest in this...

I have no problems with neck cramps on my VB at all, ever. Problems with VB and why it didn't really hit the market well...

A)Battery consumption was insane(way worse than PSP, on par with Sega Nomad... 2 hours or less for 6 AA's)

B)Americans don't like two color gaming once there were options.

C)Eye strain, it forced you to take a break every 20minutes in games for a reason

D)Lack of games... Kind of. Lack of quantity. I love the shit out of Panic Bomber, Galactic Pinball, Mario Tennis, Mario Clash, and Vertical Force.

Good to see Panic Bomber will be coming to PSP sometime within the year... Not that PSP needs more puzzle games IMO. GIMME GIMME RPG!

John Bennet Ramsey @ Dec 18th 2005 9:42PM

Ombre @ Dec 18th 2005 9:42PM

THAT is a gimmick. Tell that to Mr. Harrison over at Sony. ;)

Imp @ Dec 18th 2005 9:42PM

I played that damned Pinball game on VB for hours on end and never had problems.
Pansys.

Alex K. @ Dec 18th 2005 9:42PM

whether or not this does ANYTHING for gameplay (who actually think it will?), would you EVER play with this device in PUBLIC?

seriously, this is rediculous. any of you who are saying that this is a gameplay innovation need to step back and think about what you are saying. it's 3D glasses, they were invented in the 50s. they have no value above creepy amusement park videos that have a lot of bugs jumping out at you on the screen. not to mention that this is STILL A FREAKING CARD GAME

Tim @ Dec 18th 2005 9:42PM

So I've got something to think about:

1) Find out the name of the device shown here (okay, it's "Solid Eye").
2) Take a look at the recently released artwork for MGS4.
3) Notice Snake has a device attached to his left eye.
4) The name of he device is printed on it. Should look familiar.

Now think. Hm. Hm. Ah! Beter get your usb cables ready...

yongfook @ Dec 18th 2005 9:42PM

I played MGA2 at TGS and I'm definitely buying it.

Not because of the ridiculous googles - although I might add that it was fairly obvious to me that the goggles would come flat-packed, probably in a regular half-dvd PSP game case since it appeared to be made out of thin plastic sheet that had been folded into place (like something you might get free in a cereal packet etc).

No, the reason I'm going to get it is because the game dynamics have been GREATLY improved. It feels much smoother and more fluid now - dare I say it, more like you are playing a MGS game. Just some simple examples, when you move, you don't simply select the square you want to move to - you actually MOVE Snake. Sounds simple, but it really affects the feel of the game. Also when you are hiding behind a wall you can still target guards on the other side - Snake simply darts out, shoots, and darts back. Before, the guard had to be in your line of sight. These things make for a much more engaging experience, IMO.

Plus, the goggles effect is actually quite cool. If they use it for something more than a gimmick (like certain levels where you will need to gauge the distance of things?) then it could be a neat gameplay point.

yongfook @ Dec 18th 2005 9:42PM

Oh and also - you don't NEED the goggles. You can play it without them just fine.

Sony had 4 PSPs set up for MGA2 - 2 with goggles, 2 without. They are probably just there to use if you want, or maybe if you want to complete the game 100% (get all items etc).