Did MGS: Portable Ops sell well enough that a PS2 version is out of the question?

[jer7583]

After LCS and VCS(despite rockstar's promises) came to the PS2, I know it's been wished that MGS:PO comes to the PS2 as well. I never remember seeing sales numbers for this game, but being a PSP title, I doubt it really flew off shelves, the way software does on that system.

It can't be a very complicated process to port to PS2, and it would give Kojima productions a nice cash bump before MGS4. Seems logical to me, but is it an impossibility at this point? I'd love to play it, but PSPs just cost a bit too much right now.

[ValkyrieVF-1S]

I really wish that Konami would port the game to the ps2. I need to play it... but I really doubt it is going to happen now. :/

[pete5883]

One thing to keep in mind is that it hasn't come out in Europe yet. It would be pretty dumb to announce a PS2 port before it's been released for PSP everywhere. So if an announcement is to be made, I would guess a couple months after May, at the earliest.

[zewone]

I'd love for this to be on the PS2, doesn't seem like Kojima's style to port it though (I know he himself wouldn't do the port job, he's too busy with MGS4. It still seems like something he'd be against). Maybe the people from Konami will go over his head and just do it though.

[espy605]

Who knows? MGS2 was eventually ported to Xbox. MGS1 was eventually remade for GC. I think we'll see a port eventually, but not any time soon. One of the biggest hooks about the game is the GPS recruiting system, which would be not work as well on a stationary system like a PS2.

[snakelda]

I rather them not waste their time porting it but instead making MGS PO 2 but It would sell much more if it was on PS2.

[FriskyTanuki]

I heard that not that long after MPO was released that Kojima was pleased with the sales enough to confirm that they would be working on MPO 2, probably for release this fall.

[primetime]

One big key to this, however is that the game was heavily designed to be a portable game, affecting such design decisions such as AP scanning, GPS recruitment, and the very structure of the game itself. The missions are layed out so that they can be completed in as few as 5 minutes, which is ideal for a portable game. You're probably right that the game did not sell incredibly well, but because the game was designed for a handheld and is nothing like the console versions IMO its unlikely that the game will be ported. If so, there would have to be a lot of changes made to meet console expectations. Plus, like it was said earlier there is a high chance of a PSP sequel.

[Weedy649]

Seems logical to me, but is it an impossibility at this point? I'd love to play it, but PSPs just cost a bit too much right now.

Personally i dont have a stance on if it should be ported to ps2 or not.

From sonys stand point though, i dont see how they can keep letting developers port psp games to ps2. In a sense its like telling people they dont NEED a psp.

Right now thats what the psp needs the most. Titles that wont make the system seem pricey to consumers. If they dont port it though maybe you can find a friend that will lend you his psp.

[pete5883]

From sonys stand point though, i dont see how they can keep letting developers port psp games to ps2. In a sense its like telling people they dont NEED a psp.
1. If Sony prevents someone from making a PS2 game, then Sony loses out on money from sales of that PS2 game.
2. If Sony starts bossing companies around, they will just tell Sony to fuck off and make their game for another system.

[jollydwarf]

On "1up Yours" a few weeks ago, they were insinuating that they sensed it would end up on PSN, which sounds totally plausible to me.

[mykevermin]

From sonys stand point though, i dont see how they can keep letting developers port psp games to ps2. In a sense its like telling people they dont NEED a psp.

Bingo. It sure doesn't help when the PS2 port retails for less than the PSP version, to boot ($20 for GTA on PS2, whereas VCS is $30 on PSP).

I think the 360/PS3 generation will help make the PSP different enough. With multiplatform titles, the PSP versions are far too similar to the PS2/Xbox/GC games that you'd never buy both the PSP and a console version. It makes more sense to have a "home" version and get it on the DS, in my opinion. DS, because it's so different from what consoles can do, makes it seem like you're buying two *similar* games, whereas the PSP makes it seem like you're paying twice for the *identical* game.

I don't see Portable Ops on the PS2 for the very reason that the Ac!d titles never made it over to any other system (and let me take this opportunity to say that the Ac!d games are *way* fun, and both can be had on the cheap now).

1. If Sony prevents someone from making a PS2 game, then Sony loses out on money from sales of that PS2 game.
2. If Sony starts bossing companies around, they will just tell Sony to fuck off and make their game for another system.

1) But they stand to gain in the long run if keeping certain games on one console increase the sales of that console. That's a two way street.

2) I don't see a single instance where any publisher has ever told Sony to fuck off, and Sony's well-documented hatred for 2D has certainly rubbed them the wrong way. Hell, Sony had a hand in the demise of Working Designs, if you think about it (they did themselves in more, but that's another story). If you can think of any developers who successfully told Sony to fuck off, let me know.

[alongx]

2) I don't see a single instance where any publisher has ever told Sony to fuck off, and Sony's well-documented hatred for 2D has certainly rubbed them the wrong way. Hell, Sony had a hand in the demise of Working Designs, if you think about it (they did themselves in more, but that's another story). If you can think of any developers who successfully told Sony to fuck off, let me know.

No publisher has ever really told Sony to fuck off since Sony came to dominance. When Sony was pushing the PS1, they were the most friendly company to work with - much as Microsoft tries to be now - because they knew without developer loyalty that the PlayStation would never take off. Towards the end of the PS1's lifecycle and into the PS2's, Sony was in such a position of dominance that publishers took Sony's shit. Now, though, that PSP is and will continue to be in last place in the portable realm and that PS3 is not going to be the end-all be-all that PS2 was, developers very well may tell Sony to fuck themselves. Unlike the PS2 era, where Sony pulling a developer's license would fuck the developer, right now Sony probably knows that it needs to do everything possible to keep their exclusive content from going multiplatform.

[jer7583]

Couldn't the GPS thing just be done regionally over the internet, though? I just would like to play it, but I could understand keeping it on PSP, from sony's point of view. Just means that I and a lot of people will have to wait (God knows how long) until the PSP gets a decent price drop.

As for a friend lending me a PSP, I honestly don't know a single person who has one. Plenty with DS Lites and such, but zero PSP owners.

Plenty enough to play otherwise, though. Maybe I'll just read a story FAQ to hear about what happens to bigboss.

[pete5883]

2) I don't see a single instance where any publisher has ever told Sony to fuck off, and Sony's well-documented hatred for 2D has certainly rubbed them the wrong way. Hell, Sony had a hand in the demise of Working Designs, if you think about it (they did themselves in more, but that's another story). If you can think of any developers who successfully told Sony to fuck off, let me know.
If by "well-documented" you mean "constantly rumored with no actual proof," then you're right. No one has told Sony to fuck off because, as I said, Sony has probably not tried to stop anyone from porting to the PS2. Even Sony must know that any publisher is taking a sales hit by staying PSP exclusive.

[Thongsy]

Port it or don't, I don't really care. I think those who want it to be ported over don't know what the game is like and think it'll be another MGS. While the game was fun for a bit, I didn't really care for it like I did the console MGS, this game really was made for the PSP from the ground up. Besides wasn't it somebody else who helm this and not Kojima so any port done won't interfere with the completion of MGS4.