Metal Gear Solid 4 frame rate dropping to 30fps

By Stevie Smith Jan 8, 2008, 10:18 GMT

Current chatter from CES 2008 suggests that Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots is fluctuating between 30 and 60 frames per second. Credit: Konami.

Having suffered repeated delays through 2007, Konami’s Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots could well be the most anticipated videogame release of 2008 for the PlayStation 3.

While dedicated Metal Gear fans peer forward at the game’s (current) Q2 2008 release, Sony has this week given Solid Snake’s latest epic adventure a fresh run-out at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas… which has revealed frame rate numbers that may unsettle those hoping for videogame perfection.

According to the game gurus over at PunchJump, the game build presently on show at CES 2008, which showcases the same exterior warzone first seen at the E for All expo in August of 2007, is fluctuating between 30 and 60 frames per second – depending on the intensity levels attributed to its on-screen action.

"When the on-screen visuals held less action and focused on nearby buildings the action locked at 60 frames per second," claims PunchJump. "However, when bullet fire, grenades, smoke, and debris filtered the screen, the action fell to 30 frames per second."

Those worried about any overtly obvious visual drop off caused by the variable frame rate shouldn’t be overly concerned, however, with the site offering that the fluctuations are "barely noticeable," although graphical textures do display sharper details when running at 60fps.

With a fair few months remaining before Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots is due to hit retail, developer Kojima Productions and publisher Konami still have time for fine tuning – although it remains to be seen which way any resulting frame rate stability shifts.

But, with the likes of Ratchet & Clank Future: Tools of Destruction and Devil May Cry 4 topping the 60fps standard, Metal Gear Solid fans will likely be a little dissatisfied if Konami offers up anything less than that figure for one of the PlayStation 3’s most anticipated titles.