Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Nintendo Moves Back, Shuffles Release Dates

Posted by Zonk on from the hope-you-weren't-waiting-for-that-zelda dept.

Press the Buttons has commentary and release dates, now that Nintendo has released their Fall release plans. Frustratingly Metroid Prime Hunters, Mario Kart DS, and Animal Crossing DS have all had their release dates moved back. From the article: " Q1 2006: Metroid Prime Hunters from Nintendo. Bad Nintendo, bad! This game has slipped down the calendar so many times it isn't even amusing anymore. First it fell from a June 2005 release down to August, then to October, and now it's dropped into next year. Here's hoping they're using this extra time to add online multiplayer support, because if not a lot of people are going to be even more disappointed."

10 of 57 comments (clear)

  1. Well by FidelCatsro · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I would rather they pushed them back to improve them than release a buggy piece of crap (Battlefield 2).
    The real people at fault are the marketing department for setting silly goals , Thankfully nintendo has the sense to push things back .
    I don't think there will be any kind of Duke Nukem farce , nintendo do have a long history of shuffling release dates and it normally turns out for the better

    --
    The only things certain in war are Propaganda and Death. You can never be sure which is which though
    1. Re:Well by cowscows · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Exactly. I'd rather play a good game later than a rushed game now. I mean, unless you own a games store, how does Nintendo delaying a game affect your life in any meaningful way? I'm sure you can find something else to do to kill some time while you wait.

      Although, to be honest, I got bored of the metroid demo after about five minutes. If you're looking for some gameplay to keep you busy, go pick up the Advance Wars game that dropped yesterday. I've had the GBA Advance Wars2 game for well over a year, and I still play it at least every other day.

      --

      One time I threw a brick at a duck.

  2. Re:Trying to kill the DS by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

    I think Nintendo's essentially made the same mistake with the DS that Sony made with the PSP. They had their launch titles and they had a number of other AAA titles that were allegedly close to release. Of course, it now turns out that they were being, shall we say, economical with the truth over how close to release these AAA titles were. The result of this is fairly predictable; strong initial sales on the basis of these predictions, followed by a backlash now.

    The PSP is finally released in Europe (traditionally a rather Sony-friendly-Nintendo-hostile) territory on Thursday. The DS has a fair old lead over the PSP at the moment, but it will be very interesting to see what effect the European PSP release has had by Christmas. If Sony can actually get the PSP releases of a few AAA titles (such as a Grand Theft Auto game) out by Christmas, the positions could reverse real fast.

  3. Rewarding Those Who Wait? by wilbz · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Maybe it's just me, but isn't this just adding more encouragement to those who (like me) have been waiting to buy the DS until there are more AAA titles available? What are the odds that the price on the DS is going to drop between now and when these games are released (especially MP:Hunters)?

    It will be real interesting to see if the two recent releases (Advance Wars and Nintendogs) are going to push hardware sales enough for Nintendo to lay off any cost cutting measures. Certainly there are going to be some pressures from Sony around the holidays, and I don't know if the DS lineup is strong enough to carry the system without a price cut. Will Nintendo try to lo-ball Sony with their older (and arguably inferior) but significantly cheaper system?

    1. Re:Rewarding Those Who Wait? by FidelCatsro · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Nintendo's Ace in the sleeve is the GBA compatibility , Now its a shame they didn't add emulation for the GB and GBC .. but its a small quibble .
      The PSP has a few good titles (though i have regretted buying one as by a few i mean about 3 , hopefully that will change before Christmas ) but the DS can survive a drought because it has a back compatibility list in the thousands with new titles released regularly for the GBA .

      Backwards compatibility can aid a new console immeasurably .. for example the PS2 when it was released had an awful line up , but there were some high quality PSX games that were just released (not forgetting the 5 or so of titles before that) .I would say that was fairly instrumental in securing the PS 2s place in the market.

      --
      The only things certain in war are Propaganda and Death. You can never be sure which is which though
  4. Also don't forget... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Daikatana was released years after it was initially scheduled to come out. And it was still horrible. Delays don't always mean a better game.

    1. Re:Also don't forget... by Luigi30 · · Score: 1, Insightful

      Yes, but any game where the entire marketing scheme is based around hype is doomed to failure.

      --
      503 Sig Unavailable

      The Signature could not be accessed. Please try again later or contact the administrator
  5. Delays are usually forgotten by cgenman · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Remember how the SNES Zelda shipped late? Or how FF3 slipped and slipped? Remember how late the original Metroid was? Or how late Warcraft 3 shipped? The Sims?

    Once it's released, people will forget the delay. As long as the game is good and doesn't ship like buggy junk, bygones will be bygones. Nintendo has a solid track record in this respects, so more than likely in 6 months we will be cooing about how awesome the new Metroid is, and will have forgotten the delays. It's better to have a legendary title tomorrow than a half-baked good game today.

    --
    The ______ Agenda
  6. Re:Trying to kill the DS by Gogo0 · · Score: 2, Insightful

    I think it is backwards here:

    The PSP launched with some strong games like Lumines, Wipeout, Twisted Metal, Ridge Racer, DarkStalkers, and MGS Ac!d. Those and emulators have practically carried the system up until today.

    The DS on the other hand, had quite a lackluster launch. Mario64DS was marred with strange controls (Mario64 is one of my favorite games ever, but I just cant play the DS ver), and Ridge Racer was a bust when compared to its PSP brother.
    I had no reason to own a DS until the Mario64 bundle came out, but then the deluge of quality titles started to hit.
    Kirby Canvas Curse, Meteos, Yoshi Touch and Go, Nintendogs, Advance Wars DS, Nanostray, and Ouendan (import title). Coming soon is Castlevania Dawn of Sorrow, Mario Kart DS, Viewtiful Joe DS, and more.

    The PSP started strong, but has what I believe to be a lackluster future library (from what has been announced, and GTA does not interest me). The DS started poorly but has quickly ramped up AAA-title releases since Kirby hit.

  7. Long development time != a good game by DoctaWatson · · Score: 3, Insightful

    It amazes me how people buy into the rationale that says the longer a game's release is delayed, the better, more finished it will be on release. Pretty much every +5 on this story is patting Nintendo on the back for "taking their time to make a great game".

    Does it ever occur to anyone that these delays might negatively affect the production quality of the title? Or perhaps delays have more to do with marketing than development?

    Sure, releasing early is a bad idea. But that doesn't mean releasing later guarantees a good game. (Nor does having the word Nintendo on the box)