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...

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]

Untitled [Spinooti]

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.

Kojima is quoted in the release teasing that he'll be bringing along a "special guest", one whose identity remains unknown. Could Kojima be referring to an in-game guest? We'll find out in just two weeks. The English version of the press release does reveal that Kojima "will be using the presentation to disclose key gameplay secrets and highlight major additions to the Metal Gear universe."

My guess on the matter is that Konami will show an extended or remixed version of the E3 trailer and that Kojima will deviate from his recent playable demo at the PlayStation Premiere event in Tokyo. However, it's possible that Kojima will wow us all with a whole new hands-on scenario, a brand spankin' new trailer built from the ground up, and show Zone of the Enders 3 for the PLAYSTATION 3 and have Suda 51 on hand to show off the next game in the Snatcher project, just to rub it in my face.

Press release right after this.

Hideo Kojima comes to Leipzig!

Legendary Metal Gear Solid creator heads to Games Convention to show playable version of METAL GEAR SOLID 4: GUNS OF THE PATRIOTS

Konami Digital Entertainment GmbH has announced that Hideo Kojima, head of its Kojima Productions studio and creator of METAL GEAR SOLID 4: GUNS OF THE PATRIOTS, will be appearing at this year's Games Convention show in Leipzig to demonstrate a playable version of Solid Snake's latest adventure.

With interest in the game growing at a phenomenal rate, Kojima will be presenting an early build of the game on the Konami stand (Hall 4, Booth B11). It will mark the first time that METAL GEAR SOLID 4: GUNS OF THE PATRIOTS has been shown in playable form in Europe, and Hideo Kojima will be using the presentation to disclose key gameplay secrets and highlight major additions to the Metal Gear universe. The latest trailer for the game will also be shown, with Kojima using it to detail key plot points while also revealing exciting news about forthcoming Metal Gear projects from Kojima Productions.

Due for a simultaneous worldwide release early in 2008, METAL GEAR SOLID 4: GUNS OF THE PATRIOTS is set in a war-torn future where huge conglomerates fight for supremacy using armies of hand-picked mercenaries. This battle-scarred arena is seen through the eyes of an older Solid Snake who has been charged with infiltrating a number of key locations across the globe, including the Middle East and South America.

"When I last came to Leipzig, I promised fans of Metal Gear Solid they would be able to see a playable version of MGS4 - and, to celebrate the special nature of the occasion, I can confirm, that I will bring a special guest with me," commented Hideo Kojima, Director of Kojima Productions. "I love the enthusiasm European games players constantly show towards our titles, and look forward to showing METAL GEAR SOLID 4: GUNS OF THE PATRIOTS at the most important European gaming event of the year."

"METAL GEAR SOLID" and "GUNS OF THE PATRIOTS" are registered trademarks of Konami Digital Entertainment Co., Ltd.

METAL GEAR SOLID 4: GUNS OF THE PATRIOTS will be released for PLAYSTATION®3 early 2008 and shown at the 2007 Games Convention in Leipzig between 22nd-26th August.

Game nerds aren't the only ones who like game cakes. Game nerd industry types like 'em, too! Kotakuite Mark writes:

The girl made this fantastic cake for my birthday. She surprised me with it too, had no clue what she was planning. I've always been a Metal Gear nut (I often blame Kojima for my career in the game industry), so I suppose I should have seen it coming.

Mark, as a Metal Gear nut, you know that no, you should *not* have seen it coming. This cake's M.O. is sneaking up on your birthday ass. Aside: Sure, it's not the first MGS cake, but the Kojima Production logo chocolate circles are a nice touch! Brian Ashcraft

The figure utilizes Medicom's RAH 301 technology, which uses a super-articulated underbody that you can put clothes or a skin over, allowing for a lifelike look while maintaining poseability. What that basically means is that the figure will be awesome, and most likely relatively expensive as far as action figures go. The figure should begin shipping in November. Michael Fahey

Medicom and Kojima Productions Partner to Break the Mold [Kojima Productions via Joystiq]

We've seen the video game characters meet real world schtick a gazillion times. So what makes this Metal Gear Solid send-up so cool? They squeezed an Orson Welles homage in. A first, I believe. Brian Ashcraft

Snake's Not Getting Any Younger [Aeropause]

Details are scant. All we know is that a European fellow named Jelle van Dun made this amazing short called "My Animated World." It's completely in stop motion, references tons of video games and impressed the hell outta me. Brian Ashcraft

Forget all of the guffaws over intestinal fortitude, these are some amazing screens. Snake is going to hand Link his ass, HIS ASS! Brian Crecente

Snake [Smash Bros]

The official Smash Bros. Dojo website has been updated with a character profile of everyone's favorite cardboard box transvestite, Solid Snake. But don't expect Snake to be sporting gats. From the character profile:

After much consideration, we decided to have Snake refrain from using real-world guns—instead, he'll use lots of explosives.

We assume this is some misguided side-step towards more politically correct Nintendo family friendliness. But if you're really worried about the emulating instinct of small, stupid children, bombs are just as bad. And Wario's atomic flatulence attack? At least most households don't have a Baretta or a cabinet full of nitroglycerine, but every fat gaming child has an intestine full of methane and access to an open flame. Expect the first burnt rectum class action lawsuit against Nintendo shortly after the game's release. FLORIAN ECKHARDT

Snake Profile on Smash bros. Dojo [Official Site]

Nothing to do with the Hollywood adaptation, this fan-made Taiwanese Metal Gear is still pretty cool (albeit a tad long). The voice-overs are from the Japanese version of the game, and the subtitles are in Chinese. The fist fight on the basketball court is quite charming.

Watch Here [Official site]