Mixed Feelings

When MGS4 was first announced I was excited. I was on the forums multiple times a week discussing it with the community and it was such a blast. With a lot of MGS fanboys under one roof craziness (you know for neo) often ensued. Arguments over canon, themes behind the series, and even who would win in fights betweeen characers were frequent and often. The old community was great as everybody from the MGS3 forums basically carried over. Big Boss, Gaseous Snake, Reaver, and Stitch among others were great members who were alway fun to discuss stuff with. I used to wait in anticipation for a new trailer.
Now it's been a while since Rising was announced and it just doesnt feel the same. At first I thougt it was because we all grow up and stuff so maybe it was natural for me to be less excited. Then while having the VGA's on in the background the Reach trailer launched I felt that feeing that I did for MGS4. I'm waiting in anticipation for new info and I obviously can't wait for the beta.
So now I'm left wondering what's different about Rising? It can't just be the community I know a bunch of great peope are gonna be on here once Rising gets closer to the launch. It can't be the fact that it's launching on xbox 360 because I have both xbox and ps3. It could have to do with Kojimas limited to none involvment with it but I feel Kojima isn't one to pimp out the series, I feel he made sure a great team is developing it but something just feels different. Does anybody else feel this way?

Most of the loose threads of the series were tied off in MGS4, so there isn't anything much to speculate on.

Tbh, I feel Kojima's decision to make Rising a little strange. I hope he isn't needlessly extending the series.

I could've shed tears at the end of MGS4(but didn't.) Snake is gone... The legendary hero is gone... His epic story is over and, we gotta face it, he's probably dead by now... Now, I'll buy and play this game but honestly who cares about Raiden? He didn't bother me in SoL and was a total badass in GotP but Snake was right there with him... Who's gonna be there now, Otacon? Lame... It's completely possible for the Metal Gear series to continue on without Snake or Big Boss, after all it's an enormous world they've created, but I think for me (and many others) the story came to a close when the credits rolled... Of course we're curious about this new game cause it's still the MG universe, but everything we cared about during the span of 6 games is done... There's just really nothing to be excited about...