The short-game debate
Designer Hideo Kojima has responded to concerns over Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes‘ length following a Game Informer preview. A standalone prologue to 2015’s full-fledged MGS V: The Phantom Pain, Ground Zeroes is said to have a “core story mission” beatable in under two hours, which didn’t sit right with some considering its $20-$40 price tag depending upon where and how you buy it (last- or current-gen, digital distribution or physical).
On Twitter, Kojima made his case, saying: “Ground Zeroes includes the main mission alongside five Side Ops. All mission include elements such as ‘Trial Records,’ where players can compete against each other online. This is not a linear game like the past.
GZ offers freedom of approach and play style, which we hope players will enjoy over and over without [becoming bored]. I believe people will be satisfied with the ‘Play Time’ of GZ and will not stress the ‘Clear Time,’ which is a standard for linear games.”
I’m going to buy it, and I think Kojima is speaking honestly here, but I share Steven’s opinion that this splitting of content might be problematic knowing how the industry seems incapable of showing restraint when it comes to taking business models to their extremes.
Hideo Kojima [Twitter]