Tgs 2006: Mgs Gps

September 24th, 2006, 12:23 Posted By: wraggster

Sony's GPS add-on for PSP (which lets the handheld connect to the Global Positioning System network to allow users to know exactly where they are in the world on a map or by coordinates) was big news when it was announced, but exact usage in games has been a big question for buyers. At TGS 2006, SCE had the GPS on hand and showed what it would do in a number of educational and service titles (including the Homestar Portable astronomy app and a version of the EDIA digital mapping program), but game use was shown only in tiny portions (and nothing playable, by the way -- in fact, the TGS demos were not even live, instead just showing rolling demos of what would have happened had the units been active.)

Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops is, of course, one of two major games to make use of the GPS device (the other is Hot Shots Golf Portable.) Konami detailed out the features that this new GPS implementation provides the game. Instead of the GPS factoring into gameplay, the unit will in this game be helpful in use in the special Scavenger Hunt for comrades that MGS: PO uses in its HotSpot hiring feature. In the game, you can try to connect to local internet WiFi points, which will (even if you just ping the router) return powered-up characters to your game for use in the Comrade system. Various levels of characters are "stored" for various IP addresses and zones, so you'll never know what you'll get when you connect. The GPS, therefore, can be used to hook up with GPS satellites to determine where you are in the world and to perhaps guide you towards known HotSpots that might give you secret and powerful bonus characters.

As a gameplay feature, this implementation of GPS isn't much, but as a Geocaching stunt, it's pretty cool and it offers gamers a much better chance of finding good comrades. The GPS has not been officially announced for release in America, so Konami has not decided yet whether to carry the feature over exactly as is or what to do with this ability in the English-language version, but the Japanese game will feature it in its full capacity.

News via IGN

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