The "General Games Chat" forum, which includes Retro Game Reviews, has been archived and is now read-only. You cannot post here or create a new thread or review on this forum.
Delayed, it is a word I find myself reading more and more these days in the gaming world. Nine times out of ten it is usually games that are delayed, peripherals and consoles etc make up the other one.
So why are games delayed?
Well the way I see things is there are a few reasons.
First up is probably the simple one - It just ain't ready.
You don't go to the toilet if you don't need and you don't release a game unless you have got one that is ready. Well that is usually the case but as we all know there are a few games that get released that could have done with a bit more time in the development stage. To me this is a reasonable reason not to release a game, after all it isn't going to be worth our money to buy an incomplete product is it?
The Getaway for the PS2 comes to mind here, due out near Christmas - it is now April and still it looks quite a way off. Originally it was hailed as being great and now we are told that early screen were artistic impressions and it will not be out for a while. I myself just hope it is as good as we all hope (well the PS2 owners out there at least :-) )
I don't like seeing games rushed, so if they are not ready then they shouldn't be released but I do think that planning when a game will be released should be thoughtout more to avoid the word "Delayed" being seen for months before the game finally arrives.
The next reason I thought of was - Time to market
A lot of the time developers will hold back from releasing a game or release it early to either avoid competition from a similar game or to be in the shops before a similar game which could be competition in terms of sales with their game. This annoys me a bit, sure the industry is worth millions and developers spend a lot making the games and try to make as much profit from games as they can so that they can improve and get better but one thing always comes to my mind when I think of this. Games like Tetris, Mario, Sonic etc I see as classic games, they weren't cleverly marketed or released at important times they were well designed and developed. Developers should learn that if you design and develop it well then it sells itself no matter when you release it. In saying that though there are certain times that marketing a game is very beneficial to developers, for example, the run up to christmas and not at the same time as games that are likely to be a huge success. But still is it fair on us for them to say delayed judt because they want to wait until the time is right for them to maximise their sales?
Well I say yes and no, yes because it is their product. They made it and therefore should release it when they see fit. I also say no because as a Gamer I do feel annoyed and a bit disapointed with a developer when you realise that they are holding back on releasing a game for marketing reasons and waiting until they know they will make more cash.
So why do we see the word delayed so much? I would have thought by now that developers would realise how long it takes for an average game to be developed then maybe add a bit of extra time on and use that to plan a release date, maybe then we wouldn't be waiting so long with the only information we seem to recieve being "Delayed".
I'll keep this short and end it here, firstly because I need bed and secondly because it is the only way I can get people to read my posts these days.
So why are games delayed?
Well the way I see things is there are a few reasons.
First up is probably the simple one - It just ain't ready.
You don't go to the toilet if you don't need and you don't release a game unless you have got one that is ready. Well that is usually the case but as we all know there are a few games that get released that could have done with a bit more time in the development stage. To me this is a reasonable reason not to release a game, after all it isn't going to be worth our money to buy an incomplete product is it?
The Getaway for the PS2 comes to mind here, due out near Christmas - it is now April and still it looks quite a way off. Originally it was hailed as being great and now we are told that early screen were artistic impressions and it will not be out for a while. I myself just hope it is as good as we all hope (well the PS2 owners out there at least :-) )
I don't like seeing games rushed, so if they are not ready then they shouldn't be released but I do think that planning when a game will be released should be thoughtout more to avoid the word "Delayed" being seen for months before the game finally arrives.
The next reason I thought of was - Time to market
A lot of the time developers will hold back from releasing a game or release it early to either avoid competition from a similar game or to be in the shops before a similar game which could be competition in terms of sales with their game. This annoys me a bit, sure the industry is worth millions and developers spend a lot making the games and try to make as much profit from games as they can so that they can improve and get better but one thing always comes to my mind when I think of this. Games like Tetris, Mario, Sonic etc I see as classic games, they weren't cleverly marketed or released at important times they were well designed and developed. Developers should learn that if you design and develop it well then it sells itself no matter when you release it. In saying that though there are certain times that marketing a game is very beneficial to developers, for example, the run up to christmas and not at the same time as games that are likely to be a huge success. But still is it fair on us for them to say delayed judt because they want to wait until the time is right for them to maximise their sales?
Well I say yes and no, yes because it is their product. They made it and therefore should release it when they see fit. I also say no because as a Gamer I do feel annoyed and a bit disapointed with a developer when you realise that they are holding back on releasing a game for marketing reasons and waiting until they know they will make more cash.
So why do we see the word delayed so much? I would have thought by now that developers would realise how long it takes for an average game to be developed then maybe add a bit of extra time on and use that to plan a release date, maybe then we wouldn't be waiting so long with the only information we seem to recieve being "Delayed".
I'll keep this short and end it here, firstly because I need bed and secondly because it is the only way I can get people to read my posts these days.
The worst excuse is simply that the first deadline was never realistic- something that Nintendo have needed to use with many, many games in the past. Take a look at Zelda OOT for example. Miyamoto and the team surely knew that they'd need another year and a half for developing it... it's not like you come into work one month before the release date and say "hey... we've missed out 18 months work".
Yet they only announced such changes a month or 2 before the expected release dates. What a waste of everone's time.
Sonic
Yet they only announced such changes a month or 2 before the expected release dates. What a waste of everone's time.
Sonic
I read your posts, this is another good 'un.
In my view, of the two reasons you mentioned, one is acceptable, the other is not. Waiting for a game to be finished, when the developer is good and ready, is a particular hallmark of Nintendo and Rare. Unsurprisingly, the game ends up brilliant, because they have given their full time to it and ensured that its the best they can make it. And that is the approach to take.
And then you get other developers, not mentioning any names *cough* EA and Core *cough* who see fit to just release graphical updtaes of the same game every Christmas for a quick buck (although Core are going someway to rectify this with Angel of Darkness). But there is the other side of the coin AliBoy. Nintendo and Rare do what they do because a) they can afford to release it when ever they want, and b)people will definitely buy it. Smaller developers have to release at Christmas because there is more chance people will buy their game. They may be pressured by producers to do so because of a precarious business position. So threre are two sides to the story.
In my view, of the two reasons you mentioned, one is acceptable, the other is not. Waiting for a game to be finished, when the developer is good and ready, is a particular hallmark of Nintendo and Rare. Unsurprisingly, the game ends up brilliant, because they have given their full time to it and ensured that its the best they can make it. And that is the approach to take.
And then you get other developers, not mentioning any names *cough* EA and Core *cough* who see fit to just release graphical updtaes of the same game every Christmas for a quick buck (although Core are going someway to rectify this with Angel of Darkness). But there is the other side of the coin AliBoy. Nintendo and Rare do what they do because a) they can afford to release it when ever they want, and b)people will definitely buy it. Smaller developers have to release at Christmas because there is more chance people will buy their game. They may be pressured by producers to do so because of a precarious business position. So threre are two sides to the story.
Delayed, it is a word I find myself reading more and more these days in the gaming world. Nine times out of ten it is usually games that are delayed, peripherals and consoles etc make up the other one.
So why are games delayed?
Well the way I see things is there are a few reasons.
First up is probably the simple one - It just ain't ready.
You don't go to the toilet if you don't need and you don't release a game unless you have got one that is ready. Well that is usually the case but as we all know there are a few games that get released that could have done with a bit more time in the development stage. To me this is a reasonable reason not to release a game, after all it isn't going to be worth our money to buy an incomplete product is it?
The Getaway for the PS2 comes to mind here, due out near Christmas - it is now April and still it looks quite a way off. Originally it was hailed as being great and now we are told that early screen were artistic impressions and it will not be out for a while. I myself just hope it is as good as we all hope (well the PS2 owners out there at least :-) )
I don't like seeing games rushed, so if they are not ready then they shouldn't be released but I do think that planning when a game will be released should be thoughtout more to avoid the word "Delayed" being seen for months before the game finally arrives.
The next reason I thought of was - Time to market
A lot of the time developers will hold back from releasing a game or release it early to either avoid competition from a similar game or to be in the shops before a similar game which could be competition in terms of sales with their game. This annoys me a bit, sure the industry is worth millions and developers spend a lot making the games and try to make as much profit from games as they can so that they can improve and get better but one thing always comes to my mind when I think of this. Games like Tetris, Mario, Sonic etc I see as classic games, they weren't cleverly marketed or released at important times they were well designed and developed. Developers should learn that if you design and develop it well then it sells itself no matter when you release it. In saying that though there are certain times that marketing a game is very beneficial to developers, for example, the run up to christmas and not at the same time as games that are likely to be a huge success. But still is it fair on us for them to say delayed judt because they want to wait until the time is right for them to maximise their sales?
Well I say yes and no, yes because it is their product. They made it and therefore should release it when they see fit. I also say no because as a Gamer I do feel annoyed and a bit disapointed with a developer when you realise that they are holding back on releasing a game for marketing reasons and waiting until they know they will make more cash.
So why do we see the word delayed so much? I would have thought by now that developers would realise how long it takes for an average game to be developed then maybe add a bit of extra time on and use that to plan a release date, maybe then we wouldn't be waiting so long with the only information we seem to recieve being "Delayed".
I'll keep this short and end it here, firstly because I need bed and secondly because it is the only way I can get people to read my posts these days.
So why are games delayed?
Well the way I see things is there are a few reasons.
First up is probably the simple one - It just ain't ready.
You don't go to the toilet if you don't need and you don't release a game unless you have got one that is ready. Well that is usually the case but as we all know there are a few games that get released that could have done with a bit more time in the development stage. To me this is a reasonable reason not to release a game, after all it isn't going to be worth our money to buy an incomplete product is it?
The Getaway for the PS2 comes to mind here, due out near Christmas - it is now April and still it looks quite a way off. Originally it was hailed as being great and now we are told that early screen were artistic impressions and it will not be out for a while. I myself just hope it is as good as we all hope (well the PS2 owners out there at least :-) )
I don't like seeing games rushed, so if they are not ready then they shouldn't be released but I do think that planning when a game will be released should be thoughtout more to avoid the word "Delayed" being seen for months before the game finally arrives.
The next reason I thought of was - Time to market
A lot of the time developers will hold back from releasing a game or release it early to either avoid competition from a similar game or to be in the shops before a similar game which could be competition in terms of sales with their game. This annoys me a bit, sure the industry is worth millions and developers spend a lot making the games and try to make as much profit from games as they can so that they can improve and get better but one thing always comes to my mind when I think of this. Games like Tetris, Mario, Sonic etc I see as classic games, they weren't cleverly marketed or released at important times they were well designed and developed. Developers should learn that if you design and develop it well then it sells itself no matter when you release it. In saying that though there are certain times that marketing a game is very beneficial to developers, for example, the run up to christmas and not at the same time as games that are likely to be a huge success. But still is it fair on us for them to say delayed judt because they want to wait until the time is right for them to maximise their sales?
Well I say yes and no, yes because it is their product. They made it and therefore should release it when they see fit. I also say no because as a Gamer I do feel annoyed and a bit disapointed with a developer when you realise that they are holding back on releasing a game for marketing reasons and waiting until they know they will make more cash.
So why do we see the word delayed so much? I would have thought by now that developers would realise how long it takes for an average game to be developed then maybe add a bit of extra time on and use that to plan a release date, maybe then we wouldn't be waiting so long with the only information we seem to recieve being "Delayed".
I'll keep this short and end it here, firstly because I need bed and secondly because it is the only way I can get people to read my posts these days.