The teaser Kojima Productions website struck zero today, then immediately updated itself with an additional 120 hours.

Joining the new clock were some additional characters. In addition to a 5, flashes of lightning are now followed by an "e", an "E", and a "3."

Adding a bit of (probably unexpected, if you're Konami) drama to this whole matter was the earlier leak via a Japanese 7-Eleven retail listing of a new Metal Gear game to be shown in an issue of Famitsu PS3+PSP that's due on May 30.

The countdown ends early next Wednesday Japan time, which would be perfect timing for the usual array of magazine leaks. Alternatively, it could end up just leading to another countdown. We'll let you know.

While the Kojima Productions teaser site is still teasing away in anticipation of what will presumably be a big E3 unveil for the Metal Gear studio's next project, leaks from this week's Famitsu appear to have spoiled the surprise.

The magazine has an interview with Metal Gear series father Hideo Kojima who says that he's serving as director and designer on the new game, which the magazine confirms to be a new Metal Gear Solid title. While not giving away the title, Kojima does say that it's a proper entry series.

The big reveal from the last teaser site update was an image of Big Boss. The Famitsu report also shows an image of Raiden. We presume this image will appear at the site when the new countdown strikes zero on Monday.

As for the actual content of the interview, it's a bit difficult to make out what's said as Famitsu censored the text by covering up key characters with white circles.

Here's what happens when we translate some of the text while keeping the circles in place (replaced with Xs):

Famitsu: Is the generation XXX?

Kojima: No, it's XXX. If I were to say it all, perhaps XXXXX. I'm currently doing the game design and direction.

Famitsu: Really!

Kojima: I believe Japan will be the focus, but it will be sold throughout the world. Within me, this is XXXX. I won't say it's X, but I am making a proper story, and it is being made by the MGS4 staff.

Famitsu: Really! That's amazing.

Elsewhere, the interview touches a bit upon the content of the game:

Kojima: The mark on the old man's hat is very important

Famitsu: This mark is different from a fox. It's like a world map.

Kojima: Not just the mark, but the game systems are also new.

Famitsu: Is it XX-XXXXXXXXXX?

Kojima: Yes. We'll be doing stuff that one would expect of XXXXXXX. XXXX and so-forth are obvious, so those will be included. Uh-oh... I said stuff that was unplanned (laughs)

Famitsu also asked Kojima about the setting. "The setting is XXXXXXX," responded Kojima. Apparently, something called "XXXXXXXXX" happened in this location, leaving it as a "XXXXX" country.

Confused? That's probably the point!

If we have any sudden revelations about all those Xs, or if other areas of the interview yeild anything newsworthy, we'll let you know.

Kojima took the stage at Microsoft's press conference and dropped a major announcement:

Remember all those teasers we saw over the past month? It wasn't the new PSP game. It was, in fact, a completely new series in the Metal Gear franchise.

Titled Metal Gear Solid: Rising, the game appears to mainly focus on the character Raiden, as there were no shots of Solid Snake at all in the extremely vague announcement teaser shown.

While this news comes at the Microsoft presser, no announcements of exclusivity were revealed, so for now, expect this to be multiplatform, or a timed-exclusive at the very least.

UPDATE: Looks like there might be confirmation that MGS: Rising could well be coming to the PlayStation 3 and PC in addition to Xbox 360. Konami's list of games on Games Press (a private PR service for the press) now shows the title coming to all three platforms. Konami unfortunately will not make official comment at this time, so we will have to wait for all the rumors to be proven true or false until tomorrow afternoon when Sony has its conference (11AM PST).

There was quite a lot of confusion on whether this game would only be on Xbox 360. During the conference, Microsoft specifically stated that everything shown after Final Fantasy XIII would be exclusive to 360, thus the original implication. A few hours later, G4 was able to quickly chat with Microsoft's John Schappert, where he said, "You know, we didn't say that it was exclusive..." (We apologize for the confusion if you've been following the many, many updates on this ongoing saga.) Konami put out a press release listing only an Xbox 360 version, but the word "exclusive" has yet to be mentioned in any MGS: Rising statement from Microsoft or Konami, and the comment at the Microsoft E3 Conference could have been a mistake.

We realize that we're talking more about the controversy behind the unveiling rather than the game itself, but with only a short teaser of the game so far showing the same field and Raiden pose, we're stuck for new things to say. Instead, check out the most recent news leads for Metal Gear Solid Rising & Peace Walker and be sure to check back in tomorrow for more info.

At Konami's E3 2009 Press Conference, Hideo Kojima talked about his various Metal Gear projects, and confirmed previously unknown details about them.

Among the announcements was that Metal Gear Solid Rising has officially been confirmed for PS3 and PC, in addition to the 360 which was announced earlier this week.

Metal Gear Rising is the Raiden focused entry into the series. During the Microsoft press conference on Monday the game was announced for the Xbox 360.