Hungry for some Snake? You're in luck, since the previously Japan-only Metal Gear 20th anniversary figures will be available locally in the US. Created to celebrate the franchise's 20th year since the release of the first Metal Gear game for the NES, these Ultra Detail figures depict the several incarnations of Snake from Konami's Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty to Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots, as well as other characters.

All figures (Snake from MGS2, MGS3 and MGS4, Raiden and Otacon) will measure approximately 7 inches tall, and will come fully detailed with accessories. Each figure will be priced at US$ 19.99, which makes these figures an actual steal.

Want to do some tactical espionage action on your desktop or shelf? Then have a Snake or two!

 

Among eyebrow raisers at Tokyo Game Show 2007, IGN noticed how Metal Gear Solid: Digital Graphic Novel 2 for the PlayStation Portable was nowhere in sight around Konami's booth. The PSP title appeared at Konami's press conference earlier, but it wasn't at TGS 2007's public days.

From what we gathered before, Metal Gear Solid: Bande Dessinnee 2 as they call it in Japan, was said to include voice overs and even got its own trailer. However, this was pre-TGS '07 when the press got first dibs. As of now, no MGS: Digital Graphic Novel 2 has appeared.

According to IGN, the chronicle of Snake's adventures on the handheld is not hiding under Konami's sleeves. We have no idea why it didn't get any love, but the TGS '07 crowd won't be seeing the "game." We're sure to watch out for this digital graphic novel though, so watch this space!

Konami just released a handful of new screenshots for the new PSP-compatible digital graphic novel MGS: Bande Dessinee 2. This was first announced last year by no less than Hideo Kojima himself and is heavily based on PlayStation 2 title Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty.

Konami's character designer Ashley Wood was responsible for the graphics of the new novel and according to reports, a good portion of Bande Dessinee 2 will follow the perspective of Snake instead of Raiden's. This is an interesting decision from the developers and will most possibly help fans understand further what's going on in the series.

It was recently announced by Konami that the original work Bande Dessinee will come bundled with the new novel. Aside from that, it was also confirmed that it will now have voice-acting. No pricing and release date was mentioned so far. While waiting for further details, just enjoy the new screenshots!

See the rest of the screenshots after the jump!

Konami just had a pre-TGS 07 conference in Japan and much emphasis was given to the Metal Gear franchise and all the upcoming iterations on both the Playstation 3 and PlayStation Portable. The list includes Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots, Metal Gear Online, and Metal Gear Solid Bande Dessine 2.

The presentation was conducted by no less than Hideo Kojima himself. He began the show by showing off new trailers for MGO and MGS 4. In the MGO trailer, the SOP system was tackled in length. This system can be used to stealthily track enemy positions and keep track of your friends.

The online game will be bundled as Metal Gear Online Starter Pack and included in the package is MGO itself and MGS 4. No pricing was revealed during the presentation though. After that, Kojima showed a trailer for Metal Gear Solid Mobile as well as another video clip for Metal Gear Solid Bande Dessine 2.

The good thing about this is that the original digital comic book will come bundled with Bande Dessine 2. Aside from that, Bande Dessine 2 will feature voice acting. No pricing was also mentioned.

Everyone knows that the 2007 E3 is a different gathering from all the rest that came before it. Rather than the hectic, all-out gaming extravaganza that it was before, the summit transformed into a more discrete and business-oriented ordeal. Some were put off with the development and smaller game outfits shied away from the event, but industry stalwarts are holding firm and Hideo Kojima had a mouthful to say about it.

Kojima, the esteemed creator of the Metal Gear series which spanned the PlayStation consoles and handhelds, narrates how some tried to persuade him not to attend this year's E3. In response, he says that E3 may have changed but he still loves it and still thinks it's important to the business.

Kojima has been known to command tremendous respect from fans, colleagues and rivals alike because of his creativity and work ethic. This E3 sees no exception to that as the crowd can be heard responding enthusiastically as he spoke. His latest masterpiece, Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots, has been looked at with hot anticipation since it was announced. See and hear it to believe it:

 

Just recently, Konami opened doors to a select few for Metal Gear Online's closed beta. Chances are, you're not in Japan and couldn't make it to the 3,000 lucky beta testers. No need to fret, because here's a scan from Famitsu loaded with images and info.

Staring for a long time didn't help us in deciphering Japanese characters, but it sure made us notice how good MGO looks. From soldiers gathering around a men's magazine, to the classic salute emote MGS3: Subsistence introduced, MGO is definitely packed with what Metal Gear Solid should be.

Moving on, the lower part of the scan features Metal Gear Solid 2: Bande Dessinee. In other words, you can find sweet art from the second MGS Digital Graphic Novel. We can't understand a thing outside the English comic text, but we're fine with gawking over the extremely detailed shots.

The Metal Gear 20th Anniversary Party is really blowing our minds! A lot of revelations have been made so far and fans of MGS: Digital Graphic Novel will be delighted to know that Hideo Kojima and Konami have not forgotten them entirely. Folks, we give to you the trailer video for MGS: Digital Graphic Novel 2.

This was announced together with the new full retail game MGS 2: Bande Dessinee. Anyway, like the previous digital graphic novel, this next iteration should provide all fans with a good background of and insight into the whole Metal Gear Solid universe. We'll leave you with the video now and inform you as more things come up.

 

Just a couple of days ago, Yair Landau announced that Sony Pictures is working on the Metal Gear Solid movie. Now to support that is a report from Hollywood Reporter about Columbia Pictures is currently negotiating getting the rights to MGS.

Don't get confused. Columbia Pictures is owned by Sony Pictures Entertainment. Anyway, Michael De Luca will be producing and Hideo Kojima himself will act as executive producer for the movie. The production team also includes Sony's Doug Belgrad and Sam Dickerman, Josh Bratman (who introduced the project to the company), and Rick Privman of JEA will also executive produce.

As the MGS series have spawned numerous merchandise (comic books, action figures, and guides), it's really no surprise that the movie would be most anticipated. The only thing we have to think about now is when will the movie be released.

And the bigger question... Who will play Solid Snake?

At last year's E3, Konami revealed that work on a live-action movie based on Metal Gear Solid is now underway. We all found out about this via a pamphlet for Studio Kojima, the development house headed by Metal Gear creator Hideo Kojima.

Since then we haven't gotten much details about the project, much less any word on who will be will be working on the movie. This has changed recently as Sony Pictures Entertainment vice chairman Yair Landau revealed that his studio is developing the project. After Landau delivered a keynote address in Las Vegas, Landau told this to GameSpot:

We're working with the Metal Gear guys.... It's a very cinematic game, it really lends itself to movie telling. But the question is, How do you translate Snake's experience into a full arc that conforms to what audiences expect on the large screen?

Landau also hinted that the "Metal Gear Solid" movie may just be the beginning. Landau hints that they're working on ideas for a possible EverQuest movie.

The "Metal Gear Solid" movie is currently the highest-profile game-film project in Hollywood. Top spot used to be held by the Peter Jackson-produced Halo adaptation, which is now unfortunately in development limbo.

Given how much we've been burned before by Uwe Boll (we're not saying he sucks, that's a matter of opinion, we believe it's safe to say though, that we all expected a lot more from his films), we urge caution. Let's see...what else has Sony Pictures Entertainment done before? As a distributor, they've had their hands in the Spider-Man franchise. What else? Oh, and as a production company they've done what? Hmn...oh yeah, "Spider-Man 2".

We're now asking you folks: Should we all be hopeful? Should we expect something that is miles away from the fan-made film we embedded above?

Digital comic may be a fad, but so far, we're not seeing the likes of it becoming less popular. In fact, the only reason that new and more screenshots keep coming is because fans of digital graphic novels just can't have enough of it. So we got more layered animations here from Metal Gear Solid Digital Graphic Novel -- the freshest and the finest ones for you.

In the game, players can gain a whole lot of insight into the Metal Gear Solid universe using the Mental Search and Memory Building modes. Again, the artwork was inspired by Ashley Wood so we're seeing only the best of every page in the digital comic book. Check out a load of screens here and have a blast.

More screens await after the jump!

Buy: [Metal Gear Solid Digital Graphic Novel]