Nintendo Explains Smash Bros. Brawl Delay

[blayde_axel]

http://www.1up.com/do/newsStory?cId=3163899

In a continuation to Mic_128's smash blog entry, recently Joystiq has interviewed Perrin Kaplan, then Vice-President of Nintendo of America about the delay in Brawl. Luckily, she didn't "dodge" any real questions this time.

"Sunday is actually a really good launch day of the week for products. And I think we're actually starting to look at the annual calendar differently. The first two quarters of the year tend to be more quiet. But now we've seen some evidence of sales in that period. Other than the holiday quarter, I think the traditional way of viewing it is not necessarily a slam dunk. I think a really good product can be a slam dunk any time of the year." ---Quoted from 1up's article.

So, at least we know Nintendo's all about the money on this one. Of course, who DIDN'T think so?

 

[Chris of STARS]

So it was about the money, basically....ugh....God that kinda pisses me off...

 

[Jumpinjahosafa]

What company isn't all about the money? Name a single company like that. This inst just a group of friend's who do this for fun, people do this for a living.

Just because people are doing stuff for the money doesn't mean it wont be quality.

Be happy people who actually love the game, and want quality are making it.

 

[Silent_X]

Remember, she is the Vice President of Marketing & Corporate Affairs,
So it's obvious that she will be thinking about money. there might have been other reasons also.

But I agree February would be a great time to release brawl.

 

[blayde_axel]

Remember, she is the Vice President, Marketing & Corporate Affairs,
So it's obvious that she will be thinking about money. there might have been other reasons also.

But I agree February would be a great time to release brawl.

Good point. She isn't the person making the game... the people who actually want people to have fun with it. lol.

 

[Chris of STARS]

Nobody is surprised about it being about the money. It just...still sucks is all. I mean we will be playing Brawl in February instead of December, and lets face it, all that's really gonna be most done during those few extra weeks is testers searching and destroying our would-be precious glitches....nooooes!

 

[flyinfilipino]

Ah, there's probably a lot more to it that this lady wasn't involved with. Oh well.

NintendoWarrior should be posting here any minute now with a "Sakurai bit off more than he can chew, the game's getting pushed to Spring '08" sort of thing.

 

[Pyroloserkid]

I think that February is a great time to release Brawl.

Think about it: Tons of time to play MP3, Galaxy, Guitar Hero 3, and possibly Mario and Sonic at the Olympics.

Then, once we're done beating all those games, "BAM" we have a new one.

 

[blayde_axel]

I think that February is a great time to release Brawl.

Think about it: Tons of time to play MP3, Galaxy, Guitar Hero 3, and possibly Mario and Sonic at the Olympics.

Then, once we're done beating all those games, "BAM" we have a new one.

Also true. Nintendo would have been nailing their own toes to the ground if they released so many titles for holiday at once. So the spread-out is well worth it.

But why, oh god why couldn't it have been Galaxy?!

 

[Darkurai]

I'm glad it's coming out on a Sunday instead of a Tuesday.
Now I can do my "Brawl 'till Dawn: The Last Melee Tournament" idea without problems about it being a school night.
But that's about the only good thing. ¬_¬

 

[NDUDE]

It's Smash Bros. Do they really need to care that much about timing? Everyone's going to buy it...

 

[Arteen]

Nintendo... explanation of having more time to polish the game to perfection

Perrin Kaplan... gave an additional reason for the delay

Of course, Kaplan also said the extra time for polish contributed to the delay, saying "we see it [as] a little bit of a perfection program to make sure the game is absolutely as perfect as Japan knows it can be and it will."

How is this "all about the money"? Clearly, the development team needs more time to polish the game and Nintendo has no need to rush them into a holiday release.

 

[Drake3]

I'm glad it's coming out on a Sunday instead of a Tuesday.
Now I can do my "Brawl 'till Dawn: The Last Melee Tournament" idea without problems about it being a school night.
But that's about the only good thing. ¬_¬

...You don't have school on monday?

 

[Silent_X]

But why, oh god why couldn't it have been Galaxy?!

Maybe because galaxy has had a longer development time,
And people probably are not going to be playing Galaxy for ten years.

 

[blayde_axel]

Maybe because galaxy has had a longer development time,
And people probably are not going to be playing Galaxy for ten years.

Yeah, I know. I was just saying I want to play Brawl now! lol.

 

[Grand Champion]

Lol at everyone who thought the delay was placed to fix the game.

Yeah, right.

 

[the grim lizard]

I never thought it was about the money, and I still doubt that is the main issue. Otherwise...they'd had released it this year earlier in the year. I still think it's largely because Sakurai just wants to make it awesome. Besides, guys...he said this himself:

I know that many of you will be disappointed by this news, but please understand that the extra development time will enable us to make the game the best it can be. It is my earnest hope that you will all be enjoying this game for many years, and we are all working very hard toward that goal.

 

[Silent_X]

I'm going to say that this IS the explanation for getting the game latter than the Japanese,
but it's probably not the only reason is was delayed for so long.

 

[the grim lizard]

Let me also add that you guys are reading that the wrong way. I read the full article, and basically...there is this idea out there that games have to come out around the holiday season. So, the reason it was initially for Dec. 3 was to meet this demand. But, they realized that a good game like this can come out any time and people will buy it. Thus, they should wait until it's actually ready to come out. Stop taking it out of context. Seriously, it isn't that hard to comprehend...

 

[RMR]

Hmmm, But if he was smart enough, he would have put it on sale on december (Christmas ? Common Sense anyone ?), I mean, if they where for money, besides, they could release pal versions later, That IF they really
wanted the money.

 

[Japanese Monk]

There goes how my winter break woulda been spent....

 

[NintendoWarrior]

I'm sorry but this doesn't make up for the delay. Nintendo still dropped the ball. The real reason is that Sakurai and his team bit off more than they could chew. That's the reason for the delay. And I bet the game will be pushed back to Spring 08.

 

[Darkurai]

...You don't have school on monday?

I meant 2/9/08 into 2/10/08.
12/2/07 into 12/3/07 would've been a school night.

 

[Aryman]

Let me also add that you guys are reading that the wrong way. I read the full article, and basically...there is this idea out there that games have to come out around the holiday season. So, the reason it was initially for Dec. 3 was to meet this demand. But, they realized that a good game like this can come out any time and people will buy it. Thus, they should wait until it's actually ready to come out. Stop taking it out of context. Seriously, it isn't that hard to comprehend...

QFT. Took the words right out of my mouth grim.

 

[flyinfilipino]

I'm sorry but this doesn't make up for the delay. Nintendo still dropped the ball. The real reason is that Sakurai and his team bit off more than they could chew. That's the reason for the delay. And I bet the game will be pushed back to Spring 08.

I knew it! Haha.

 

[ChaoticTH]

I knew it! Haha.

But don't you hate it when you're right? :/

 

[blayde_axel]

But don't you hate it when you're right? :/

It was an inside joke. lol.

And, I realize the release date was pushed back to make the game perfect... but, of course the main reason is strictly business. Yes, the game would sell either way, but now, they have little competition and they have time to fix some glitches. (Like the 80 to 999% glitch. Wassup with that?!)

So, it's really both, of course. Different perspectives from different people.

 

[NintendoWarrior]

NO game is perfect. It's delayed because they bit off more they could chew. They ran out of time and came up with a lame excuse. They had over a year to work on this. No excuse.

 

[flyinfilipino]

But don't you hate it when you're right? :/

Maybe a little.

@NintendoWarrior: Do you have a personal vendetta or something against Sakurai/Nintendo? And do you have anything better to say than to bash Nintendo? If you're really just going to not like Brawl because of this, then don't buy it. How about they not release it at all?

 

[Michael Blaine]

*gasp*

 

[GaryCXJk]

She used an excuse. She knows that people buy the "it's all for the money" excuse. The real reason wouldn't be easily accepted.

 

[NintendoWarrior]

Maybe a little.

@NintendoWarrior: Do you have a personal vendetta or something against Sakurai/Nintendo?

You don't give a release, then have a well known Nintendo Rep in Reggie confirm said release date then go and delay it. They had over a year. They should have kept their mouths shut and not given a release date. And to be honest at this point I wouldn't be surprised if it's pushed back even further.

 

[Puffs]

NO game is perfect. It's delayed because they bit off more they could chew. They ran out of time and came up with a lame excuse. They had over a year to work on this. No excuse.

Yes, because Halo is a much better game than any other video game.

 

[GOTM]

if this wasn't about the money i would have been surprised

 

[flyinfilipino]

You don't give a release, then have a well known Nintendo Rep in Reggie confirm said release date then go and delay it. They had over a year. They should have kept their mouths shut and not given a release date. And to be honest at this point I wouldn't be surprised if it's pushed back even further.

When Sakurai came out with the release date, there was no guarantee. He said they were going to be working hard to meet that goal. The game gets pushed three months back so that it has more time to be even better, though not necessarily perfect. Is this just not enough for you or something?

 

[NintendoWarrior]

Yes, because Halo is a much better game than any other video game.

?? Who mentioned Halo? I don't like that game nor do I own an Xbox 360. And to flyingfilipino about them not releasing the game at all, that may happen. Who knows when the game will see the light of day. We can't believe that Feb 10 is the date. Afterall Dec 3 was the date before and look how that turned out.

 

[flyinfilipino]

?? Who mentioned Halo? I don't like that game nor do I own an Xbox 360. And to flyingfilipino about them not releasing the game at all, that may happen. Who knows when the game will see the light of day. We can't believe that Feb 10 is the date. Afterall Dec 3 was the date before and look how that turned out.

Not sure about the Halo thing, but you're right in that we haven't gotten a set-in-stone-the-game-is-done release date announcement yet (but not releasing the game at all, wtf?) They're still working on it, not just trying to piss you off. "Blah, blah, no excuse blah" I'd rather have a more finished version of Brawl than an incomplete one, I think lots of people'd agree.

 

[Lightsaberboy]

it's weird that it's coming out on a Sunday. I've never heard of games or movies releasing on any day other than Mon/Tues.

 

[NintendoWarrior]

Not sure about the Halo thing, but you're right in that we haven't gotten a set-in-stone-the-game-is-done release date announcement yet (but not releasing the game at all, wtf?) They're still working on it, not just trying to piss you off. "Blah, blah, no excuse blah" I'd rather have a more finished version of Brawl than an incomplete one, I think lots of people'd agree.

Here's to Spring 08 or maybe Dec 3 2008 if ever.

 

[flyinfilipino]

Here's to Spring 08 or maybe Dec 3 2008 if ever.

Here's to Feb. 10th!