Konami’s just dropped a nine-minute long look at the upcoming PSP foray into the Metal Gear franchise, Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker. There’s tons of new stuff to see here that wasn’t included in the recent demo. Well worth checking out (if you have the time!).

Apparently, more videos are planned.

"My Staff Are Programming Lackeys. I Come Up With This Stuff."

When you’ve got an IP as rich as the Metal Gear universe, it surprises me that anyone truly understands the fiction. We guess though, if anyone has a semblance of an idea about what’s going on – it would be creator Hideo Kojima. Thus it’s no surprise to hear Kojima tell Official Playstation Magazine that, “Not so many ideas come from the other staff.”

In fact, the video game legend basically explained that he’s in charge of Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker, full-stop. “Co-op Ring, Love Box – the names and the ideas come from myself,” adding, “I am taking charge of the overall game design.” The PSP title just keeps on sounding like a better proposition.

Folks You Fell Will Become Your "Staff". Sounds Like Metal Gear.

NowGamer are reporting some new details on Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker straight from the horse’s mouth (that horse, being Hideo Kojima). Not that we’re saying Kojima looks like a horse or anything.

The game’s set in the 70’s era cold war, and as we already know, players will assume the role of Naked Snake. Players will be able to use the Mother Base offshore plant as a hub for items and personnel collected within the game. Players will also be able to recruit felled enemies by transporting them to the Mother Base.

Each recruited soldier harbours unique abilities. Basically the more “staff” you accumulate, the more you will be able to access of the Mother Base; and subsequently upgrade your weapons, etc.

The more Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker details that emerge, the more you get an idea for the scope of this portable game.

Nana Mizuki's "Phantom Minds" Is Japan's Number One Pop Tune.

Only serving to fuel our obsession with Asian pop-music, Nana Mizuki – the voice of the Costa Rican chick Paz Ortega Andrade in Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker – has topped the Japanese pop charts with Phantom Minds. The single moved 54,000 copies last week.

It’s like a breakneck ballad with an all-over-the-place bassline and lots of filtered drum fills. Hear it after the jump.

Click here to continue reading and tell us what you think

Castlevania: Lords Of Shadow Is Being Developed With The PS3 As Its Lead Platform.

Hurrah for games starting to be developed with the Playstation 3’s architecture in mind. Cue Castlevania: Lords Of Shadow’s lead David Cox, who tweeted: “PS3 is the lead platform but the game is identical on both formats,” he said. Excellent, take note SEGA.

Alongside development details, David also noted that the camera in the game is fixed. So it’s God Of War then, yo.

We'll Take The Bottom One, Ta.

It was the 15th birthday of the Playstation brand yesterday. So how did long-term fans Hideo Kojima and Metal Gear Solid artist Yoji Shinkawa celebrate? By scribbling on their PSPs of course.

The top PSP is signed by Hideo Kojima himself, and the bottom one is signed and drawn all over by Shinkawa. If you want to win one of the systems you’ll need to pick up Vol. 460 of Dengeki Playstation.

Hideo Kojima Is A Big Fan Of Assassin's Creed II.

Speaking in the latest issue of Famitsu, via 1Up, Kojima Production’s Hideo Kojima and Ubisoft Montreal’s Patrice Desilets have heaped praise on each other’s projects. Kojima said, “I think there are three games that stand out above the rest of the pack in the remainder of this year. One is Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2, one is Uncharted 2, and the third is Assassin’s Creed II.” Speaking specifically of Desilets, Kojima said he admired Patrice’s “focus on game design”.

Patrice was ready to pile the praise back on Kojima though, “If I had to give my impression of Peace Walker, I’d have to say that I want to play more.”

We wonder when they’re both going to “come out”. Only kidding, it’s nice to see two developers at the top of their game respecting and admiring each other’s work.