Metroid on Wii delayed again... [Archive]

MacRumorUser

Mar 14, 2007, 05:00 PM

Initially reported as one of the games to keep the "drought" of Wii games from occurring in the early months of the console, it appears that Metroid Prime 3 might not be available to 2008. Along with Mario and Zelda, Metroid is considered a major games series for Nintendo and the latest in the series was slated to arrive in "early 2007" to fuel sales of the Wii and dispel concerns of game shortages for the system.

This information, however, is contradicted by reports from customers of Best Buy who recently received a letter on their shipments. Those who had pre-ordered a copy of the game have reportedly received notification that the game has a new release date of 12/31/2007, not quite "early 2007" as originally purported. With the first quarter of the year just beginning to end the shipment date can change but there has been no comment from Nintendo on the matter.

Retailers often estimate the release date of highly-anticipated games and this could be one such case. However, it is unknown at this time why Best Buy has chosen to notify their customers of this new date as Nintendo still shows the original date of 6/1/2007 on their website.

While this conflict of release dates does not necessarily indicate that Metroid will be pushed past this year, it is something being watched by fans of the series and those within the industry.

Basically as I've said in other threads. I'd be surprised if most of the titles we are waiting for will make 2007.

Mario Galaxy, Super Smash Bros, Metroid Prime..... I'd exepect them to slip because Nintendo and release dates generally mean sweet FA

TheGimp

Mar 14, 2007, 06:19 PM

^

If this turns out to be true, I don't know how Nintendo execs can sleep at night (l-theanine?). The truth wouldn't hurt as long as it came directly from Nintendo at the earliest point in time when they know (or are reasonable sure) that there will be a delay. Top quality (eventual) does not excuse misinformation. No one ever mentions this having happened to them, but back when my best childhood friend preordered an N64, he was informed that the DEBUT Zelda game would be provided on a disk (not a cartridge) playing back on a disk-playing N64 peripheral which never materialized for the N64. Additionally, said peripheral (something with 'drive' in the name') was to provide additional features beyond larger storage capacity, including substantial ram caching. To add insult to injury, the Zelda game itself was delayed as well.

Nintendo never came forward to 'fess up to the nixing of that plan for that drive, unless you count periodicals written in languages other than English. My friend had to find out simply by waiting and never seeing the product on any shelf. No magazine mentioned it, at least not for a year or more until my friend left for college and had to wait for a gamecube, also delayed, plus the NEXT Zelda game, also delayed.

So my advice is to just 'be in the moment' with consoles. Purchase systems on the strength of what's already available, not based on pipe dreams (not even if they're populated by a Mario or Link). Why scramble to own a console just to 'be ready' for that special Mario or Halo release day. One can always buy a console later, most likely at a reduced price to boot. On the positive side, we gamers have SO MANY choices compared to the crumbs dribbling from game devs back in the day (e.g. one atari 2600 game - like it or not - every few months). No one is obligated to create anything special for us, but we should hold them to their word.

I propose that, for every dishonest withholding of delay of info regarding release data, or sudden spec change made by any corporation, we *steal* one of their available titles while waiting for the promised one to arrive. That way we avoid the philosophical snaggle of rushing the chef to provide a lesser product sooner (smells done to me). Kind of like stuffing oneself on bales of premium focaccia bread at a new restaurant (keep it coming, garcon) when the shrimp risotto is tardy to the point one missing a movie. Then, once the main dish passes muster, we can make it up by singing the restaurant's praise to friends and giving the waiter his just due.

Sky Blue

Mar 14, 2007, 08:46 PM

Mario Galaxy, Super Smash Bros, Metroid Prime..... I'd exepect them to slip because Nintendo and release dates generally mean sweet FA

I think Mario Galaxy will be this year and SSBB next year. If they've delayed MP3 to put online in it, i'm gonna be pissed.

sikkinixx

Mar 14, 2007, 08:56 PM

As long as Mario comes out this year, I'm happy. Every other Nintendo Franchise has let me down these past few years....

GFLPraxis

Mar 14, 2007, 09:14 PM

Let's hope not.

I don't see what can be taking so long. Wasn't Metroid Prime 3 the FIRST Wii title in development? Didn't they design the nunchuck because Retro studios told them that they couldn't make the game without an analog stick?

Zelda was started earlier because it was a GameCube title, but Metroid Prime 3 shouldn't be THAT far behind...

Dagless

Mar 14, 2007, 09:19 PM

^ If it has been in development that long then lordy, MP3 must be huge.

Online Multiplayer? it had better be good. Stick in huge open levels with a wide array of weapons, albeit basic ones (sniper, rocket, etc), give it multiple modes and get non-gamers in there (pwnage). They'd have a deal.
Final Prime game too *sniff*

GFLPraxis

Mar 14, 2007, 09:46 PM

I'm having a hard time finding the original article, because it was before E3 '06 and the flood of MP3 news since then has made it difficult to find in Google, but I've found other articles referencing it.

It was also revealed in a recent interview with Shigeru Miyamoto that the team developing the game at Retro Studios had direct input in the development of the nunchuck addon, you could almost say it was specifically designed for Corruption.

Agilus

Mar 15, 2007, 07:39 AM

I propose that, for every dishonest withholding of delay of info regarding release data, or sudden spec change made by any corporation, we *steal* one of their available titles while waiting for the promised one to arrive. That way we avoid the philosophical snaggle of rushing the chef to provide a lesser product sooner (smells done to me). Kind of like stuffing oneself on bales of premium focaccia bread at a new restaurant (keep it coming, garcon) when the shrimp risotto is tardy to the point one missing a movie. Then, once the main dish passes muster, we can make it up by singing the restaurant's praise to friends and giving the waiter his just due.

This sounds bizarre to me. Wouldn't it be much easier and honest to just not buy the game, or boycott the company if it bothered you that much?

Release dates are estimates. Working in software, I've seen release dates slip (not any related to me, thankfully) for various reasons (requirements changes, unforeseen complications, bad design, different teams with conflicting assumptions, people leaving the company, etc.). It's difficult to make good estimates, and I agree that when you're the customer, it's annoying when they get pushed back.

With all of this, though, I think I still like estimates better than the, "It's done when it's done," approach that some companies take. When you've got a release date planned, at least you've got a cut off point to work toward. I think [that otherwise] it's much easier to end up with a game that never releases (e.g. Duke Nukem Forever).

MacRumorUser

Mar 15, 2007, 07:52 AM

This sounds bizarre to me. Wouldn't it be much easier and honest to just not buy the game, or boycott the company if it bothered you that much?

Release dates are estimates. Working in software, I've seen release dates slip (not any related to me, thankfully) for various reasons (requirements changes, unforeseen complications, bad design, different teams with conflicting assumptions, people leaving the company, etc.). It's difficult to make good estimates, and I agree that when you're the customer, it's annoying when they get pushed back.

With all of this, though, I think I still like estimates better than the, "It's done when it's done," approach that some companies take. When you've got a release date planned, at least you've got a cut off point to work toward. I think it's much easier to end up with a game that never releases (e.g. Duke Nukem Forever).

True.... but.....

There was a lot of dishonesty about Nintendo's first party titles for the Wii launch.

They swore blind that Metroid would be a release game and promised with hands on heart that Supermario Galaxy would meet its Jan Q1 release.

We all may have been skeptical - and it came then as no surprise when the final launch list didn't include those games.

But Nintendo marketing still went on to say ... promise both games Q1 2007

Nintendo have been dishonest. and Why ? Simple.

They have had very few big name IP first party launch titles for the Wii. It was of course this lack of anything major first-party that made them revise the way they would distribute Zelda : Twilight Princess. Before they claimed it would release as a cube game with wii enhancments when played inside a wii.

This suddenly changed and its obvious & maybe sensible the reason why.... nintendo knew damn well in that Metroid, Mario Galaxy et. all would not be ready until late 2007 / 2008 and they needed a key first party title.

Hence Zelda suddenly gets promoted to an official 'wii' game status. In fact without Zelda they may not have had any big IP's for 2006 and possibly 2007 (we still wait and see).

Hence even spinoff and less known games like Super Paper Mario has been promoted to official 'wii' game status.

Nintendo 'MARKETING' haven't been playing fairly with the consumer. A slippage here and there can be expected, but this is more than that. It's BS marketing and we would all ride Sony or M$ ass if they did the same thing.

And to say they have no control over a product or can accurately predict the development process is utter BS.
If they cant keep their own development house in order than god help them.......

Sky Blue

Mar 15, 2007, 08:07 AM

d promised with hands on heart that Supermario Galaxy would meet its Jan Q1 release.

you have a link for this?

Hence even spinoff and less known games like Super Paper Mario has been promoted to official 'wii' game status.

If paper mario, smg and smash bros where out the same day, I would only buy paper mario and the others would have to wait. I don't really think it's a lesser game.

MacRumorUser

Mar 15, 2007, 08:28 AM

e²Studios

Mar 15, 2007, 08:51 AM

Oh Sky - you read the internet and are as a big a fan as any. You know what they said prior to the Wii launch and at E3. I'm sure you read all the interviews like many of us did... :rolleyes:

Stop trying to defend them and slap them on the wrist. It's the only way we will see change from a company.

This is why Nintendo havent changed tactic. It's this unfaultering blindsided loyalty than some fans show. You would jump all over someone for doing the same with M$ or Sony.

Nintendo are not your 'friend' they are a business, and what they are doing is just corporate marketing BS. Good business for them and painful arduous waiting process for the consumer.

:rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes:

QFT, good reading there MRU. At least someone in here doest keep looking to their blind loyalty to justify Nintedo's flip-flopping and BS. And you know as well as I do that the vocal Nintendo blind loyalists here have already Jumped all over Sony and MS for doing pretty much the same exact things.

In an after-hours press event at E3 2006 in May, Shigeru Miyamoto said about Super Mario Galaxy, "I don't want to promise anything yet. But if it's not a launch title it will definitely be there within the first six months."[6] Nintendo of America CEO Reggie Fils-Aime later stated in a November 27 interview with MTV that the game is expected to release sometime between March and December of 2007.[7] On January 4, 2007 Nintendo of Europe issued a press release indicating a 2007 European release.[8] Near the end of Shigeru Miyamoto's keynote presentation at the 2007 Game Developers Conference in March, he stated, "You'll be able to play Super Mario Galaxy this year."

Talk about your flip-flops.... And don't get me started on why they can't keep stock of their hardware in stores, yes I'm sure modern mass production technologies can't keep up with producing.. yea.. right.. keep telling yourself that :rolleyes: You can only fool the consumer for so long, before they forget your product even exists..

Ed

Sky Blue

Mar 15, 2007, 09:26 AM

Stop trying to defend them and slap them on the wrist. It's the only way we will see change from a company.

I definitely agree with you on Metroid Prime. They said launch then early 07, now who knows when, but they never said SMG would be out in Jan 07. Ed's quote above has miyamoto being way off back at E3 with a Q2 release date, but for the last 6 months they've stuck to "sometime in 07". They never "promised" January.

As I've said multiple times, If they've held back MP3 just to add some crappy online multiplayer I'll be pissed off, but I expect to see SMG before 08.

Sky Blue

Mar 15, 2007, 09:28 AM

You can only fool the consumer for so long, before they forget your product even exists..

Ed

You're right, DS Lite stocks are still limited, and consumers have forgotten all about that...oh,wait....

e²Studios

Mar 15, 2007, 09:32 AM

You're right, DS Lite stocks are still limited, and consumers have forgotten all about that...oh,wait....

I love how the blind loyalists are quick to bring up that precious DS Lite, or some other topic irrelevant to the subject.

If Sony or MS did any of what Nintendo is currently doing you would be spewing hellfire and brimstone and forseeing the death of whatever isnt Nintendo. But when Nintendo can't meet dates, or can't somehow produce a machine using years old technology its "ok"... :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes:

Pure BS...

Ed

ChrisK018

Mar 15, 2007, 09:35 AM

Sky Blue

Mar 15, 2007, 09:40 AM

I don't find waiting for their games, or any other platforms "painful and arduous." I'm not cursing the heavens or planning my schedule around the fact that some marketing dope told a videogame magazine/website that a game would be out in March. Take all release dates for games on any system with a grain of salt.

QFMFT

MacRumorUser

Mar 15, 2007, 09:41 AM

^ Bah. Nintendo pulls this bs all the time and it's part of liking their games, like having a friend/date who's chronically late, except that this "friend" happens to be a heartless business. I don't find waiting for their games, or any other platforms "painful and arduous." I'm not cursing the heavens or planning my schedule around the fact that some marketing dope told a videogame magazine/website that a game would be out in March. Take all release dates for games on any system with a grain of salt.

Nintendo's games are always pretty darn good. Nobody has a gun/laser cannon to your head.

All good games are worth the wait, on any system.

I agree with you mostly. I dont mind waiting generally - but coming out with BS release dates to try and mask a pretty poor release schedule is what gets on my nerves, when it's clear you can not deliver on that release date is annoying.

You see a twinkle of hope in an otherwise duff schedule to only have it ripped from under you. nice.....

Sky Blue

Mar 15, 2007, 09:45 AM

I love how the blind loyalists are quick to bring up that precious DS Lite, or some other topic irrelevant to the subject.

How is it irrelevant? Your "false shortages" ideas is crazy. Nintendo are a business, they like to make money, if there's no products on the shelves, they don't make anything.
You are saying that if they keep up these Wii shortages then people will forget about the product, but the DS Lite is in a similar situation and still selling remarkably well, so your point doesn't stand.

aidanpendragon

Mar 15, 2007, 09:50 AM

^ Bah. Nintendo pulls this bs all the time and it's part of liking their games, like having a friend/date who's chronically late, except that this "friend" happens to be a heartless business. I don't find waiting for their games, or any other platforms "painful and arduous." I'm not cursing the heavens or planning my schedule around the fact that some marketing dope told a videogame magazine/website that a game would be out in March. Take all release dates for games on any system with a grain of salt.

Nintendo's games are always pretty darn good. Nobody has a gun/laser cannon to your head.

All good games are worth the wait, on any system.

Yeah, I think expecting delays/adding 6+ months to any date Nintendo gives should be "built-in" by now. However, if you don't see at least 2 out of 3 (Metroid, Mario, Smash Bros) released in 2007, that's bad for the Wii; Cooking Mama, etc. can't sustain it forever.

e²Studios

Mar 15, 2007, 09:53 AM

Yeah, I think expecting delays/adding 6+ months to any date Nintendo gives should be "built-in" by now. However, if you don't see at least 2 out of 3 (Metroid, Mario, Smash Bros) released in 2007, that's bad for the Wii; Cooking Mama, etc. can't sustain it forever.

Don't knock Cooking Mama, i loved that game on the DS :p I'll be picking up the Wii version on Wednesday, though I don't get why there are less reciepes on the Wii version than on the DS version as they have more space... 2 player challenger "iron chef" style should be fun :D

Ed

ChrisK018

Mar 15, 2007, 10:03 AM

I want Pikmin on the Wii, but that's going to come out in like what, 2009?

Darn you Nintendo and your little colored carrort martians! Why do you mock me so?

Um... But like I said, it will be worth the wait.

pcypert

Mar 15, 2007, 10:27 AM

Agilus

Mar 15, 2007, 11:37 AM

I guess I don't get the anger. I don't feel like I was lied to, but maybe I just didn't pay attention to whatever promises were made. I looked at what was available, and I bought based on that.

Of course, I also looked at what the future held. Because it's Nintendo, I had high expectations of game quality, and so far they haven't let me down. I also hoped that games would be available in a reasonable time period, but I always take release dates with a grain of salt. However, I would not have bought the console had I not thought I was getting my money's worth out the gate.

Back to release dates, I don't understand the focus on Nintendo. There are so many games that miss release dates. Fable (third party) missed its release date. Almost anything produced by Rare missed its release date. I believe the first Halo game had a lot of copy-pasting done in levels so it could make its release date, but the second Halo was late.

Sony depends a lot more on third parties for its games, and I think there is less hype around them, so I don't really have any names off the top of my head. However, third party games slip their schedules, too.

ChrisK018

Mar 15, 2007, 11:50 AM

It's pretty lame to have waffled so much on dates. Since they're not directly competing with the PS3 or going after it's target audience as so many of you said why did they rush the Wii out when major, promised games obviously weren't ready? You guys that all say gameplay is the key...why didn't they wait on Wii and make Zelda TP the last major hurrah Cube game? They could have released this summer with all the other games and built up for next Christmas.

Granted there are folks who bought the system as it was with no hopes of future releases. But there are probably quite a few that went ahead and bought early with the assurance more was coming soon...only to be lied to. I'm not firmly waiting till Paper Mario is actually out...not release date set, but on the shelves before I make my move.

Paul
This is not the first time, nor will it be the last time, that a new system comes out with a weak line up of initial games. Business wise it makes 100% sense to release a system right before the holidays to maximize potential buyers regardless of the line up. The Wii is selling really well. While it would be nice for Nintendo to think of us poor gamers desperate for AAA titles, it's not on the forefront of their minds-- they'd rather have a profit margin and sacrifice a bit of realease date integrity-- not that Nintendo had too much of that to begin with. Zelda as a Wii game means more $, therefore, Zelda is a Wii game.

I feel that anyone who gets a new system expecting a mutiple amazing franchise/AAA games when they open the box is not being realistic. I don't hold any system to a higher standard on that idea. Of course I'd like a few more good games for the Wii, but in the same breath, I'd like to see some games come out for the PS3 and 360 that float my boat. Right now I don't see any that appeal to my tastes.

Good thinking on not making a move until the game is on the shelf. That's how I do it too.

zero2dash

Mar 15, 2007, 12:25 PM

I'm used to this; Nintendo's done it for the last several consoles.

Granted, that doesn't make it right, but...I'm already used to swallowing this [proverbial] 'big pill', so...<gulp> swig swig...whatever Nintendo. :o

I guess that's why some people (myself at least) don't really bemoan Nintendo for this anymore; we're used to it. Being brutally honest, I know that makes me a hypocrite when I bemoan Sony or Microsoft for the same thing, but I guess since they don't do it as regularly as Miyamoto & Co., it's more anger-inducing. :D

2nyRiggz

Mar 15, 2007, 12:26 PM

It's stupid that nintendo would keep pulling the same crap and we give them leeway for it...even though this is disappointing I'm not surprised.

I was hoping for a MP: 3 release soon...oh well

Bless

Dagless

Mar 15, 2007, 12:33 PM

Nintendo are not your 'friend' they are a business, and what they are doing is just corporate marketing BS. Good business for them and painful arduous waiting process for the consumer.

They're my friend :) I sent my DS Lite in with the utmost faintest of splits in the hinge, and they even asked me what colour DS Lite I would like to be sent to me and after a bit of complaining I got a 2k Wii Points card.

If anyone has a split hinge DS Lite I'll be more than happy to buy it off you :D

MacRumorUser

Mar 15, 2007, 12:52 PM

Back to release dates, I don't understand the focus on Nintendo. There are so many games that miss release dates. Fable (third party) missed its release date.

Missing a release date for legitimate reason is not the issue, and is perfectly normal.

What irks me is....

Using a big name / franchise game to 'artificially' plug gaping holes in your release schedule is BS.

Nintendo are purposely misleading ... That's what is wrong and it's also at this stage in the game 'blatantly obvious'.

Agilus

Mar 15, 2007, 01:08 PM

Missing a release date for legitimate reason is not the issue, and is perfectly normal.

What irks me is....

Using a big name / franchise game to 'artificially' plug gaping holes in your release schedule is BS.

Nintendo are purposely misleading ... That's what is wrong and it's also at this stage in the game 'blatantly obvious'.

It just seems to be really odd to get bent out of shape over. Maybe I'm just more easygoing. :) They all do it to some extent. For example, I just read this today:

"We returned to discussing Microsoft's first party portfolio for 2007. With Grand Theft Auto IV due in mid-October, Microsoft has to figure out when Halo 3 and Project Gotham Racing 4 fit into the release calendar. Kim confirmed that PGR4 was due this fall, though did not specify a date. Why not? Well, because Microsoft won't ship a game in October to compete with GTA IV, and with Lost Odyssey coming in December, that means Halo 3 and Project Gotham Racing 4 have to fight over September and November."

link: http://www.1up.com/do/newsStory?cId=3158031

Doesn't mean I'm going to get upset at Microsoft for holding off Halo 3 until some other games are out. It's not exactly the same as what Nintendo did, because Microsoft is in a better position right now than Nintendo was at Wii launch. However, it's still manipulating the game schedule and delaying key games, and it's no big deal (to me).

MacRumorUser

Mar 15, 2007, 01:39 PM

Doesn't mean I'm going to get upset at Microsoft for holding off Halo 3 until some other games are out. It's not exactly the same as what Nintendo did, because Microsoft is in a better position right now than Nintendo was at Wii launch. However, it's still manipulating the game schedule and delaying key games, and it's no big deal (to me).

It's an entirely different scenario. At least theres some solid line up.

It irks me and annoys me - but then I look at the brightside....

which is whilst there are gaping holse in the Wii lineup waiting to be plugged - I still have my DS Lite, PSP, 360 & PS3 to keep me happy :D

zero2dash

Mar 15, 2007, 01:40 PM

It irks me and annoys me - but then I look at the brightside....

which is whilst there are gaping holse in the Wii lineup waiting to be plugged - I still have my DS Lite, PSP, 360 & PS3 to keep me happy :D

Yeah! You spoiled spoiled man!!! :p :D j/k

aidanpendragon

Mar 15, 2007, 01:56 PM

Wonder when Fire Emblem will be out in the U.S.?

Does anyone have a good, reasonable 2007 release calendar? Seems there's lots of 3rd-party games under the radar that I hear about & then forget, but are due "2nd half 2007" or so.

At least the VC brings the hope of new games every week.

TheGimp

Mar 15, 2007, 02:02 PM

^
Plus, with a lineup like that, you shouldn't be lonely either. I won't fault you for not feeding the poor, since none of us would be posting here if that was our shtick.

I'm sure MP3 will be awesome when it comes out, however I still don't think its excusable for Nintendo to be so dishonest. Looking at things in more concrete terms (instead of generalizing about the theoretical limitation of any given estimate), if Nintendo originally promised (rather stridently, I might add) Q1 2007 for a title, don't you think we might have been aprised sooner of a full year delay? Put another way, don't you think Nintendo would have known that the game would be delayed first one quarter (pushed to Q2), then the next, and so on? The fact that Nintendo is attempting in the first place to narrow it down to the quarter should be an indication that they have more knowledge than they let on. Practically the only way I could see a game having its release date suddenly slip a whole year would be if someone at Nintendo accidentally deleted the 3D engine, or some similar catastrophe. Either that or some legal snafu, such
as the need to await a court decision opening a distribution channel, trademark conflict, etc.

aidanpendragon

Mar 15, 2007, 02:24 PM

I'm sure MP3 will be awesome when it comes out, however I still don't think its excusable for Nintendo to be so dishonest. Looking at things in more concrete terms (instead of generalizing about the theoretical limitation of any given estimate), if Nintendo originally promised (rather stridently, I might add) Q1 2007 for a title, don't you think we might have been aprised sooner of a full year delay? ...Practically the only way I could see a game having its release date suddenly slip a whole year would be if someone at Nintendo accidentally deleted the 3D engine, or some similar catastrophe.

Another optimistic view is that the game was near wrapped up, but they decided to go back & add a solid multiplayer component, substantially delaying the release. I'm sure we'd be fine with that.

A pessimistic view is that this is all driven by marketing: they're currently selling every Wii they can produce, with lots of demand to spare, just on the strength of the controller, Wii Sports, and some others. Why release great system-selling 1st-party games when there're no systems to sell? Better to hold off until Sept/Oct, when supply maybe starts to exceed demand, and then release a title that moves units again.

Viewed differently: would Metroid have dropped in Q1 if launch sales were lukewarm, to spur more? It would be a good bet.

Nintendo may also be doing 3rd party devs a favor. Who wants to have their games competing against Metroid, Mario, and Smash Bros. all in the same year, let alone quarter or two? This gives them a better part of 2007 to launch/sell titles before Nintendo's big guns edge them out.

From Nintendo's point of view, delaying Metroid, etc. for these reasons would make sense. People who can't buy a console won't mind when games don't ship. The only people who would react negatively are those who already have Wiis (us) - and what are we going to do, not buy Metroid out of pique? So, little downside for Nintendo if they're going this route. Sucks for us, but maybe decent corporate sense.

MacRumorUser

Mar 15, 2007, 02:25 PM

Yeah! You spoiled spoiled man!!! :p :D j/k

:p :D

I'm sure MP3 will be awesome when it comes out, however I still don't think its excusable for Nintendo to be so dishonest. ----

The fact that Nintendo is attempting in the first place to narrow it down to the quarter should be an indication that they have more knowledge than they let on. Practically the only way I could see a game having its release date suddenly slip a whole year would be if someone at Nintendo accidentally deleted the 3D engine, or some similar catastrophe. Either that or some legal snafu, such
as the need to await a court decision opening a distribution channel, trademark conflict, etc.

exactly. they have to know - if they don't ! then there are serious managment issues and heaven help us all :)

Agilus

Mar 15, 2007, 02:38 PM

which is whilst there are gaping holse in the Wii lineup waiting to be plugged - I still have my DS Lite, PSP, 360 & PS3 to keep me happy :D

That's the way I see it. :) I still have Zelda, Elebits, Rayman, Lunar Knights, C: PoR, Hotel Dusk, and a slew of other games to finish, and a new-to-me PS2 with 25+ games on my wanted list (with GoW coming first, as it's at Circuit City this week for $15). I'm not in any hurry to get the new Metroid game, especially since Metroid Prime 2 is also on that list of unfinished games.

I have loved games since I was a kid, but I just don't have the time to devote to them that I used to.

TheGimp

Mar 15, 2007, 03:27 PM

That's the way I see it. :) I still have Zelda, Elebits, Rayman, Lunar Knights, C: PoR, Hotel Dusk, and a slew of other games to finish, and a new-to-me PS2 with 25+ games on my wanted list (with GoW coming first, as it's at Circuit City this week for $15). I'm not in any hurry to get the new Metroid game, especially since Metroid Prime 2 is also on that list of unfinished games.

I have loved games since I was a kid, but I just don't have the time to devote to them that I used to.

Geez, can I come over and play? As long as I don't see Cooking Mama and Condemned on the same list, I feel pretty sure my parts won't end up in your freezer.

Actually the reason I'm quoting you is to comisserate over not having enough time to devote to most of the games that I've owned or rented in passing in recent years. When I was a kid, games trickled in one at a time with practically no advance notice. Was truly slim pickins'. Nowadays I can open an emulator browser and select from literally thousands of titles (albeit many of them without proper sound emulation or adequate control scheme) and the real issue becomes, which (of the ones I also own, of course) is the most entertaining to play RIGHT NOW? Can I really justify spending hours playing a particular game on the grounds that it is either free or costs a few bucks less than another similar title, or even more compellingly, has the same cost to buy as next gen game would be to rent? For example, I enjoyed fooling around with Advance Wars on a GBA emulator for an hour or so, feeling clever at being able to 'sample' that fare so surreptitiously, until realizing that my own time was the real commodity and perhaps the joke was on me for trying to shimmy under the turnstyle. After all, the folks who made that game have themselves most likely moved on to better things.

Now I'm thinking that one of the VC's best features is that of its spartan array of offerings. This strip-tease likely to ensue in the coming months on the VC - the parcelling out of tasty retro booty one at a time down the VC runway - may be part of its allure, reducing or eliminating much of the decision making with regard to time resources. Anyone else feel the same way?

Agilus

Mar 15, 2007, 04:17 PM

Actually the reason I'm quoting you is to comisserate over not having enough time to devote to most of the games that I've owned or rented in passing in recent years. When I was a kid, games trickled in one at a time with practically no advance notice. Was truly slim pickins'. Nowadays I can open an emulator browser and select from literally thousands of titles (albeit many of them without proper sound emulation or adequate control scheme) and the real issue becomes, which (of the ones I also own, of course) is the most entertaining to play RIGHT NOW? Can I really justify spending hours playing a particular game on the grounds that it is either free or costs a few bucks less than another similar title, or even more compellingly, has the same cost to buy as next gen game would be to rent? For example, I enjoyed fooling around with Advance Wars on a GBA emulator for an hour or so, feeling clever at being able to 'sample' that fare so surreptitiously, until realizing that my own time was the real commodity and perhaps the joke was on me for trying to shimmy under the turnstyle. After all, the folks who made that game have themselves most likely moved on to better things.

Yeah, I feel the same way. If I play a game all night after I get home from work, I enjoy it a lot. However, when I do it too much and neglect my hobbies and side projects, I start to feel like I'm wasting too much of my valuable free time. Also, there's family life, which can't be neglected without repercussions as well....

Now I'm thinking that one of the VC's best features is that of its spartan array of offerings. This strip-tease likely to ensue in the coming months on the VC - the parcelling out of tasty retro booty one at a time down the VC runway - may be part of its allure, reducing or eliminating much of the decision making with regard to time resources. Anyone else feel the same way?

I haven't really thought of it that way. I'm holding out until I get some free Wii points somehow, or until my will breaks. I'm such a cheapskate. :)

Dagless

Mar 15, 2007, 06:30 PM

MacRumorUser

Mar 15, 2007, 06:59 PM

Games I still have yet to finish include...

edit revision ---- err I started to list them and got to 36 and thats just recent stuff..... omg I'm bad... :o

And that's excluding forthcoming titles I'm sure to buy in the next couple of months... :o :o

Dagless

Mar 15, 2007, 07:25 PM

I've got 1 game to finish making in the next 4 months. I'm so not going to make it.

TheGimp

Mar 15, 2007, 07:56 PM

It just seems to be really odd to get bent out of shape over. Maybe I'm just more easygoing. :) They all do it to some extent. For example, I just read this today:

link: http://www.1up.com/do/newsStory?cId=3158031

Doesn't mean I'm going to get upset at Microsoft for holding off Halo 3 until some other games are out. It's not exactly the same as what Nintendo did, because Microsoft is in a better position right now than Nintendo was at Wii launch. However, it's still manipulating the game schedule and delaying key games, and it's no big deal (to me).

Um, Microsoft kind of 'came through' already, even at launch. Although I ultimately got rid of my 360 (XBLA was intolerably fun, to the slight detriment of studies), launch day was especially good. I had the good fortune of enjoying Perfect Dark Zero campaign co-op (split screen) with a friend as well as going online with that same game and friend to enjoy flawless (reasonably) multiplayer RIGHT FROM THE GET-GO without having to purchase anything additional except one extra controller and my CC charged $8 for the month. I got to see true next-gen graphics in Condemned (rental) engage in furious street battles in PGR3 against over a dozen competitors (plus split-screen against my friend), expand my mind playing the bundled Hexic, get to feel AS IF I was on meth and LSD at the same time (for a mere $5) while playing the Geometry Wars (first as a demo in PGR3).

Yes, those experiences a pretty penny, but not all that much more than the Wii once the wii's component cable, 2nd wiimote, 2nd nunchuk, and Lan adapter and a few VC games are factored in. Plus, for no additional cost I was able to enjoy several playable (in some cases wholly satisfying) demos already on the HDD. PLUS I was able to get back nearly what I paid for all the 360 stuff 3-4 months later while the 360 was still in short supply.

Micros$ck (for other reasons - sorry, no console console can sway me from that) may not want Halo 3 to steal GTA4's thunder, but at least that's a case of two AAA titles competing for consumer recognition. Based on one MR member's speculative comment above (..."doing 3rd party devs a favor...," etc), it seems Nintendo *might* be withholding their only planned AAA titles so as to avoid stealing the thunder of, what, Rayman (most regrettable purchase for me, neither my gf nor anyone I had hoped would like it, did)? Zelda? Cars? NFS? COD 3? Those games, with the exception of Zelda which is a AAA GC game, are a Far Cry from anything I experienced in 360 launch week. Too bad the 360 petered out later on...(don't care about GOW or GRAW).

pcypert

Mar 15, 2007, 09:55 PM

Diddy Kong is horrible on DS because it added gimmicky game play...trying to use the DS stuff...so now you've got stupid touch screen balloon popping, blowing out candles, etc.

This does has something to do with this thread...I hope the same isn't happening to these other games. The Dev Team already said they couldn't design Metroid without an analogue stick...so they got the nunchuck or whatever. I'm worried we'll get some gimmicky parts in gameplay at parts too...or as others feared a half a online experience. But I'm worried for future other games as well. I don't want little stupid parts of games added in that require me to shake my wrist in a certain order or something (maybe a Harry Potter game with precise spells might get away with that)....

Paul

Agilus

Mar 16, 2007, 12:23 AM

Um, Microsoft kind of 'came through' already, even at launch.

Cool. I'm glad your XBox 360 purchase at launch was an enjoyable one. So was my Wii purchase. :)

GFLPraxis

Mar 16, 2007, 01:57 AM

The whole 'artificial limitation' claim is retarded.

Unlike Sony and Microsoft, Nintendo profits on the hardware. If Sony or Microsoft artificially create demand by limiting production, they lose less money and create demand. Good things. If Nintendo does this, they just lose money because less people are buying.

Further, the Wii has broken every record in the last ten years. That's not artificial limitation.

michaelltd

Mar 16, 2007, 02:15 AM

March 15, 2007 - The numbers are in, courtesy the NPD Group, and Wii was the best-selling home console in February. The system, which sold a whopping 435,000 units in January to take the number one spot, racked up an additional 335,000 in sales for February, beating out all competitors. In fact, the only hardware to beat Wii out in February was the Nintendo DS, which sold 485,000 units. Combined, the two systems took 54 percent of the overall hardware market for the month, according to Nintendo.

Gamers snapped up titles like Wii Play, which sold 371,000 units, The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess with another 110,000 units and Wario Ware added an extra 110,000 in sales to its total, too.

http://wii.ign.com/articles/773/773148p1.html

If that is even with 'artificial limitation' as some people would lead one to believe on these forums, then I wonder how much more they would have outsold PS3 and 360 in February without one.

-----

Anyways, I hope Metroid doesn't get pushed back again. I've been wanting to play this one for a long time.

Dagless

Mar 16, 2007, 07:01 AM

^ Sorry guys. Some FUD-ers won't drop the artificial limitation no matter what evidence is presented. I just hope you knew that as you were posting.

MacRumorUser

Mar 16, 2007, 08:09 AM

^ Sorry guys. Some FUD-ers won't drop the artificial limitation no matter what evidence is presented. I just hope you knew that as you were posting.

We all know this happens at xmas time especially with the 'must have toy' of that year be it a TMX elmo or a Buzz Lightyear....

But I would find it hard to believe 4 months in - nintendo are doing it.

madog

Mar 16, 2007, 08:32 PM

**it happens. If it takes any company to release a game that was "promised"... let's say 1 year earlier and still hasn't come out..... who cares? You can't make them work any faster and no amount of complaining is going to fix anything... unless maybe you own 51% of stock in the company.

Otherwise, just suck it up, be a man and be glad they are taking the extra time to make the game as close to perfect as they can [though we all know nothing ever is] and how they want or intend it to be. Otherwise every game game will be like Fable: something great that never lived up to it's potential [what, 1.5 came out a year later...].

Companies promise things all the time that they don't deliver. Just be happy that Nintendo [other companies do this all the time] doesn't cancel Metroid completely.

Plus, the anticipation will only heighten your desire for the game and you will enjoy it that much more. Much like a smoker counts the seconds for his lunch break during work. :D

RAWR! edit: And to further beat the dead horse..... will the sky fall if you don't get your MP3? Does an angel get its wings ripped off every time a company "lies" or misleads you? No. The world keeps turning, they keep making money, and we all keep buying into it.