In a brilliant callback to their 2007 Game Developers Conference Mario skit, which featured a cameo by creator Shigeru Miyamoto, Mega 64 runs into the creator of the Metal Gear series while roaming the streets of San Fran as Old Snake and badly-dressed Raiden. Unlike Miyamoto, however, Hideo Kojima reacts exactly how we'd imagine the creator of the world's premiere stealth action title would react. See what you miss when you don't read the Game Developers Choice Awards liveblog?

And then just when you think the cameos are over...

One of the casualties of region-locked Xbox 360 software, Raiden Fighter Aces was released in Japan last March, bringing the decade-old Raiden Fighters, Raiden Fighters 2: Operation Hell Dive and Raiden Fighters Jet home on a single disc.

And it wasn't cheap either, weighing in at a hefty ¥6,800.

Looks like publisher Zoo Games might be the one smart enough to bring it out of Japan, charging a meager $29.99 USD for the compilation. We're desperately hoping it's true and praying for other publishers of niche titles like this to come to their senses and either region unlock their shooters or get their US subsidiary's ass in gear.

Oh, and Raiden IV while you're at it.

Raiden Fighter Aces [Amazon via NeoGAF]

The "Metal Gear Solid 4 Costume Pack" - as first spotted the other day - will be available to Japanese PlayStation 3 owners with working internet connections and the patience to have actually set up a PlayStation Network account on next Thursday, December 25th, 2008.

The four costumes in the pack are Old Snake, Raiden (aka "The Original Sack Boy"), Meryl, and Screaming Mantis.

The costumes can be purchased in a pack for 600 yen, or individually for 200 yen each. Hey, this calculator must be broken, because it's telling me that a Japanese company is giving me a bargain.

That's not all — for just 800 yen more, you can get a "Metal Gear Solid 4 Stage Pack", containing "more than 60" stickers, "more than 10" objects, "more than 10" create materials, and "3" (no "more than") BGM tracks.

Hey, that's not bad! Now you can make a Metal Gear Solid 4-themed LittleBigPlanet level, turn your Imagination Hat on, and pretend that you're playing Metal Gear Solid 4 instead of LittleBigPlanet! Just make sure to not include any of the award-winning Metal Gear Solid 4 dialogue in your text boxes, because that could get you moderated into oblivion.

Cynical as I may be re: all this, man, I kinda want that Old Snake. I mean, not as "DLC" — I kinda want him for real. I'd sit him on my lap and ride the bus all the way around town.

[Dengeki Online]

"Yo. I'm house-sitting a friend's place. You should come over. Play some Raiden. On the Jaguar".

Raiden? Jaguar? Sure, why not. I drive over, open the door, and see this laid out before me. Like some kind of dusty, composite-cabled last supper. Needless to say, my Friday night was pretty great.

Machined visor, lighted LEDs on the headpiece, fits-like-a-glove chin strap, picture perfect wig — we can't even begin to comprehend the starting point on this one or how much it ultimately cost. Unless this is some off the shelf contraption that how somehow escaped us, this is an amazing piece of work. Consider us humbled.

Okay! Let's start. We're giving away a New York City Comic Con Metal Gear Solid 2 Raiden figure. Here are the top thirty finalists. And man, was it hard to pick these. Imagine how hard it's going to be for you, Kotakuland, to pick the winner. Here's how it works: You may vote for one stache and only one. Click through the gallery below and write "I vote for this" under the pic you, well, want to vote for. Any votes from accounts created today will not count and be banned. Double votes will not count either. So remember, vote once and vote underneath the actual picture! Voting will close in 24 hours. Winner announced later in the week.

Avajane writes: "As you can see, not only do I have a moustache, but my moustache has a moustache! Pretty good, eh?" Yep! More twin staches below.

The_Goddamn_Batman writes: "The real unifying character throughout these games is named Cancer. So I decided to dedicate my moustache to the true silent killer of MGS."

Another cig stache! Scaramouche states that out of respect for Solid Sanke's tendency to smuggle packs of smokes in his stomach, he made a 'stache
out of cigarettes. He adds, "The 'Kotaku-men.' sign is in reference to the 4chan meme of a Team Fortress 2 spy with a ton of cigs in his mouth, simply stating "Gentlemen." for those who need to lurk more."

P3nnst8r writes, "Presenting: the Bash 'Stache." THANK GAWD NO ONE SENT ANOTHER ONE.

Hit the jump for two more mustaches. Two more awesome mustaches, that is.

Jake says, "Yee-haw!"

Tozza sends along his entry for "the prestigious Metal Gear mustache contest."

Metal Gear Solid 2 Raiden Stealth Camouflage Version

Celebrating the 20th anniversary of the hit video game, this exclusive NYCC figure from Medicom is a must-have for any fan of the action-packed franchise as well as nostalgia-struck gamers from the NES-era. 7" tall and features multiple points of articulation. Available from selected retailers on the show floor. Limited to 1400 pieces.

And yes, we want to give it away. To you. Or you. Or you. Let's do a contest. Oh yes, let's. We're going to kick off a Metal Gear mustache contest. But not just any mustache contest! Contestants must create and wear mustaches made out of anything BUT hair. Got that? Entries must be of a non-hair mustache, and it must be on the contestant's face. Finalists will be announced on June 12th. That's soon! Send your entry to kotakutcontestATgmailDOTcom. May the best 'stache win!

Hit the jump for a look at box's backside.

While we know a little bit about how the game will play—the screen will scroll up and you'll shoot stuff—what we don't know are the specific genders of each of its main characters. In what's becoming a disturbing trend, we're unaware of the penis count in the above piece of artwork or whether its illegal for us to even think about the sex of any of these glossy eyed 'toons.

I just hope the game plays better than Senko no Ronde. Oh, and don't hold your breath for another "final" Dreamcast release.

Mamoru-kun wa Norowarete Shimatta! [G.rev]