Although it looks like the beta for Metal Gear Online has been delayed for the time being, lucky gamers were able to play team deathmatch at Konami's booth during this past weekend's New York Comic-Con, the first time MG Online been available for hands-on play in North America. We caught up with senior product manager of the Metal Gear series Patrick Dillon, to talk about the Snake's move to online gameplay.

So tell me about Metal Gear Online. What's special about it?

Well Metal Gear Online is the online component of Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of Patriots. It actually comes with the game, so you get both. It's a sixteen-player online game, there are different types of gameplay modes, and you get to customize your own character. So the way your player looks is up to you, and you can also customize his skillset, so he could master assault weapons versus say, hand-to-hand combat. You determine what your character is going to be like, and that's going to impact your overall experience. So when you get in there, remember what Metal Gear Solid is about; it's about stealth action, being sneaky. So that's, I think, the key difference between this game and previous games, you want to utilize that in your tactics and strategies.

So for example, if you're running around and you see some opponents in the distance, you can just decide to hide in a cardboard box. These guys will come right by you, and you pop out right behind them. That's what Metal Gear has always been about, that sneakiness, and that comes out in the online game.

Online gaming has been huge this year, especially with games like Call of Duty 4 and Halo 3. What's different about Metal Gear Online?

It comes down to bringing to life, from the single player game, that stealth action game. I don't think any of those other games really do that, those are more all-out guns into the action type games. This is a lot different – the pacing and the experience of Metal Gear Solid is what people should expect, translated into online. When you see people playing here, they're using that type of strategy in their gameplay.

How does the gameplay in Online compare to the single-player campaign in Guns of Patriots?

The multiplayer takes place in the universe of Metal Gear Solid 4. There are different gameplay modes, here people are playing team deathmatch. There's going to be a lot of variation in gameplay. Also, all types of weapons are going to be available, and not just weapons either. You're going to be able to choose a primary weapon, it could be a sniper rifle, an assault rifle, it could be a shotgun, a whole variety. And then you pick a secondary weapon, from a pistol, to support weapons, like grenades. We have a whole variety of grenades, from stun grenades to regular grenades, to claymore mines. In addition to that, you have your items – binoculars, drum barrels that you can hide in, infrared goggles. There are going to be so many things you can use in the game.

Why Comic-Con?

I think Comic Con is the first best opportunity to bring it to the consumer. I think if you look at the audience here, it's a comics convention, but at the same time, that audience, they're gamers. They love comics, they love games. We wanted to surprise them with this, Metal Gear Online at their convention, and they're crazy about it.

There's obviously a huge crowd here. Long lines, and a lot of repeat players. They want to come back and get more. We're very happy with the turnout.

Are there plans for downloadable content?

There's definitely plans for downloadable content after the launch of the game, we're definitely looking forward to coming out and expanding the game and lengthening the experience of Metal Gear Online.