“No Greater Crime” Than Delaying A Game Says Kojima
The mastermind behind the Metal Gear Series, Hideo Kojima, believes, “there is no greater crime” than delaying a game.
After recently delaying his latest title, Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker, Hideo Kojima has commented on his blog, speaking about pushing games back.
I always preach to the staff. You must not have a delay after a release date has been announced. There is no greater crime as a game developer.
Official announcement of a release date is nothing less than a promise to fans and business partners. In other words, a release date change is like betraying the expectations of everyone.
It probably takes a long time to earn back trust [from fans] that has been lost. However we will work hard, with the hope that we will one day earn the support of everyone again.
The strong message comes after the developer delayed Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker for Japan.
The May 25 release for the US and May 28 release for the UK are not affected for the PSP exclusive.
16 Responses to ““No Greater Crime” Than Delaying A Game Says Kojima”
He REALLY needs to have a long talk with Kazunori Yamauchi. I wouldn’t even mind delays so much if the developer or publisher would just take 5 minutes of their precious time and issue a statement confirming the delay and giving a reason for it. But no, that would mean they actually gave a damn about the millions of people who are looking forward to playing the game. Instead we’re left to listen to all sorts of internet rumors and speculation until we throw up our hands in disgust.
Kudos to Kojima for actually caring about us.
I’d like to believe that all delays are for a better result in whatever is being released. I don’t see it as a broken promise because honestly things happen all of the time that are out of their control. What I do see as a greater crime is releasing something that isn’t polished enough to be released or terrible ports. And if developers truly see delays as a major problem then don’t announce one until the game has gone gold. We don’t need to know 3 months in advance when a game may or may not be coming to our region.
^^^ agreed ^^^
in my opinion, it is a much greater crime to release an unfinished product just to avoid a “delay”. i do understand where Hideo Kojima is coming from though. i just think he’s being a bit dramatic about it.
totally disagree. Deleys are 100 percent better then rushed glitch fest (looking at you MW2)
Sometimes delays are necessary for a better end product.
Ummm The greater crime is failing to trophy patch your own game before making a statement like that, after that, then you can validate your statement. Here is to hoping this get back to you and sinks in!
I still don’t understand why these developers feel the need to even announce release dates before they are 100% sure when the game will be ready. It seems to me like it would be very easy to avoid delays if they would wait to announce release dates. Would it be such a bad thing to wait to announce a release until the game goes Gold and is sent to manufacturing?? I know people like to pre-order as soon as they hear release dates, but let’s be realistic, it’s not like it matters when you pre-order as long as it’s before the game ships to stores.
no, like most here, the bigger crime would be to release a unfinished buggy game because you dont want to be late on the release. stupidest statement i have seen in a long time. ..
@jockhotty
I hear that, when the hell are MGS4 trophies coming out?
When a game has an official release date, it’s pretty much saying, “our game is bug free and ready to test and be put into production”. So delaying it is saying, “we were wrong”. So changing a release date is a show of past arrogance. If it was a console game, I’m sure it wouldn’t be delayed as most consoles are hooked to the internet allowing for a quick update, but since it’s PSP, not everyone wants to log in to get the update.
MGS4 doesn’t have trophies because their working on MGS4S, it would be retarded to have double trophies for almost the same game.
I think the only time a delay is good is when it’s delayed till during Summer or Winter vacation, giving me and other gamers who have to focus on school (college) a chance to play the game fully. btw if you don’t have a chance to play games during the school year and your not in college, your parents are sadistic f*cks.
You have to respect Kojima-san, the man is a legend and this kind of mentality commands respect.
However to be honest I feel that if there is a valid reason to delay the release of a game, I would rather have that than have a game released that is not quite up to scratch.
I disagree the opposite is the crime, if I was a games designer and felt that nearing the time of release I wanted to add more to the game then I would deley it so I could make sure it was everything the fans want it to be.
Quicking lashing something out to fit a date is wrong as it hasen’t been finished then, think about what titles like Super smash bros brawl would have been like had they not been deleyed. The only people who feel “betrayed” are idiots who don’t understand the need for a deley all they care about is waiting = boredom and forgot that is usually means a better end product.
Maybe he should stop feeling sorry for himself for things he can’t change. There’s no need to cry over spilt milk for either the games designer or the gamer.
I’m a bit two sided on this one. I don’t want glitches, but I don’t want Polyphony Digital delays either. Hell, if all developers did this then I wouldn’t have any games to play!
shame on u kojima shame on u
what for having an opinion on something?
no, for those glasses.