The short-game debate
Designer Hideo Kojimahas respondedto concerns overMetal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes‘ length following aGame Informerpreview. A standalone prologue to 2015’s full-fledgedMGS V: The Phantom Pain,Ground Zeroesissaid to havea “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 Zeroesincludes 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.
GZoffers 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’ ofGZand 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 shareSteven’s opinionthat 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.
