Metal Gear Solid 4 on iPhone
Konami has released details about an iPhone edition of Metal Gear Solid 4, the latest in their popular Metal Gear Solid series. This version has some new and unique features that take advantage of the iPhone’s multi-touch screen.
The game seems to be a rail shooter, meaning, that it takes you through a specific predefined path (many of you might remember the VirtuaCop series), while you shoot at any enemies that pop up. It is the game’s intuitive use of the iPhone’s features is what makes this game special. To aim, you move the finger along the screen and point at the target; and you tap to shoot. iPhone’s pinching gestures are uniquely used by the game to allow you to go into snipe mode by pinching out (spreading your fingers in an expanding gesture), and to exit sniping mode by pinching in (collapsing your fingers in a contracting gesture).
They have also announced that they will make available a pre-release version of the game, which will feature the first half of the game’s plot. On the release of the final game, your progress in the game will carry over. Not only that, as you progress through the game, you will receive “Drebin points” on clearing each level. These points can then be redeemed for “more than 40 unique wallpapers”, a bonus for any fan.
The game’s website itself is worth a visit, whether or not you’re a fan of the game, or even own an iPhone. It features a giant hand as a cursor that you can use to simulate iPhone like gestures such as touch, flick and pinch.
The game is set for a Spring 2009 release date, and will work on both the iPhone and iPod touch models. Hopefully more games in the future will use iPhone’s full feature set to provide a fresh approach to gaming.