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Zelda has slipped to 2006

Wow this is terrible news. Another holiday season that sucks from Nintendo IMO. I really dont want to wait any longer for Zelda. This really really sux! :(

Hmm what should i buy now in the Fall. Thank God Nintendo is giving me some options like Pokemon, Mario Party 7, Mario Strikers, and Mario Baseball. Thank god.....
 
You think 2 E3s is a lot? Hell, most big games are at at least 2 of them before they come out. Being at a lot of E3s means being at, say, 4 or 5 like Kameo.
 
123rl said:
I wish people would stop being so selfish and short sighted.
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Although I personally think a delay is a good thing, for the N-fans out there, and especially the die hards that only own N-systems and only play N-games, they've now been waiting quite a while to play this title and this new Zelda also represents the last big title that the system will get...now they've got to sit through an almost unprecedented dry period in active Nintendo system history for the next big title from Ninty. It's gotta be pretty damned disheartening.

In the long term, I can agree with MamaSmurf's idea that the title might end up selling pretty poorly...perhaps not even matching WW's numbers so far. One thing's for certain, IMO; the game will now be held to even more intense scrutiny as a result of the delay...perhaps even having a lasting impact on the general value placed on the franchise going forward for better or worse. Zelda TP just became the GC's Majora's Mask in an instant. It's now coming out on a dead system about to be made obsolete by a newer one that can do all it does and more and having to compete with the earth-shattering din of MS', Nintendo's, and Sony's next-gen marketing machines rumbling in the background.

edit: stoned and slow
 
Luckett_X said:
What I don't understand is...how can this game be taking so long, when pretty much ALL OF NINTENDO is focussed on it?
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...no.

I'd rather they dropped the utterly fucking awful out-of-place wolf sections from Zelda and still launched this year. I just know when I am playing them I will not be able to stop thinking "totally gimped from Okami and not as good". A Zelda without a gimmick! Imagine it.
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Yeah, I bet they could get it out this year if they just drop the wolf sections. After all, they just have to turn the Wolf Switch to Off. That'll change the storyline and correct all the cutscenes that make any reference to the wolf sections, magically alter any character's dialogue to something else if it refers to the twilight realm or people becoming animals and fix dungeons and areas to work with Link rather than the wolf.

IT'D BE THAT EASY!!11
 
Mama Smurf said:
Yeah, I bet they could get it out this year if they just drop the wolf sections. After all, they just have to turn the Wolf Switch to Off. That'll change the storyline and correct all the cutscenes that make any reference to the wolf sections, magically alter any character's dialogue to something else if it refers to the twilight realm or people becoming animals and fix dungeons and areas to work with Link rather than the wolf.

IT'D BE THAT EASY!!11
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Alright, make it happen, Nintendo!!
 
Nintendo probably just got scared.

They saw the stiff compeition this winter - with the X360 launching, and competion from their own plethora of games launching in the same couple months spand - that they decided to back off the date, polish the game, and give it another go after the hype of the 360 launch dies down, and as Rev gets ready to launch.

They are probably just attempting to avoid cannibalizing the sales of their other games launching this season.

However, to relaese it after so long after the X360, and knocking on the door of the PS3 launch..... I mean, thats a terrible idea. People are going to want the next-gen, not to have to dust off their purple lunchboxes...

This is a deveasting blow to them, I believe, at the very least in image perception of the company.
 
You know, a deranged person might say that delaying the GC's "last big game" actually allows them to extend the lifespan of the GameCube until right before they release the Revolution -- instead of ending up with a good year or more of NOTHING between consoles. However, I can't believe Nintendo would plan that...

There is a small upside to all this -- if Zelda is still seen as a "must have game", it will keep the GC afloat until it is released next year... if Zelda were released this fall, the GC might be seen as "dead" come January and other software sales would suffer.

That, and it could give Nintendo a bit of a "security" aura to next generation buyers... "Golly, Sony and Nintendo kept making games for their systems up until the new one launched... why don't I see any Xbox games anymore?" It's not a fair or reasonable comparison (given the 360 launching so much earlier), but people might make the assumption.

Anyway, just some random thoughts.
 
Kulock said:
I just don't get it, that's a huge delay, and one they should've seen coming and eased into.

I wonder if this isn't a case of the game being "bad," per se, but someone making demands after seeing some things he or she didn't agree with, or think typifies Zelda. For example, we know Miyamoto has had his strong opinions about the series (such as feeling that it was getting too "adult" when Link started to wear an earring in OoT and such, and in response jerked the series back in the other direction with Wind Waker), and I thought he was trying to sit this one out, yet right there in the news, his name gets top-billing. Maybe he didn't like the plot or something about the game, and has demanded that a certain portion or portions be significantly altered.

I don't know, that game just looks incredibly far along to suddenly need an additional 4-5 months at least, and the fact they hadn't been warning press and such that the game may slip from the previously predicted release date suggests that the decision was sudden, and unrelated to resource creation or testing.
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That's what I'm thinking too.
 
I don't think they got scared... I mean even if XBox 360 sells out, it's nothing compared to how many copies of Zelda can be sold on a 10 million user base in the US...

this holiday season, they could have really stood out... next year there will be PS3, Halo 3, FF XII, and whatever else competition comes up with...

this holiday season, like 2003, was the ideal time to release a really big game without any monster games coming from the competition... In 2002, they released Metroid Prime against Vice City, in 2004 they released Metroid Prime 2 against San Andreas and Halo 2, and now they'll be releasing Twilight Princess against PS3 (if the Spring 2005 date holds)... brave attempts to be sure, but I think they'd be better off if they arranged their big releases more strategically at a time when they can really stand out among the crowd... that way store promotions and clerks/associates can give it an extra push for free, cause face it Vice City and Halo 2/San Andreas overshadowed everything as far as retail push was concerned...
 
hum...
and if Nintendo had developed this Zelda to be playable on Gamecube, with updated visuals on revolution and new gameplay mechanics ???

It would be a nice launch game for the Rev' and Nintendo could easily demonstrate what revolution can offer to consumers in comparison with current generation...

:D
 
About the dealy: ehhhh. ehhhh. ehhhh.

Zelda vs 360 during CHRISTMAS was a much better scenario sales-wise than Zelda vs PS3 in may.
 
If the delay implies a better game, I´m all for it. Ocarina was delayed several times and it´s my all time favourite. Fire Emblem or some DS game will do for me while waiting for ZTP.

On a side note, please stop the spoils. We are talking about the delay of a game, not about the game itself. Some people still enjoy discovering things by themselves instead reading them in a magazine or site, let alone a forum. It´s no wonder you later don´t enjoy games that much. Thank you.
 
Well I guess that seals the deal. RE4 = your 2005 GOTY folks.

As far as pushing GC sales this holiday is concerned.... I smell a price cut. Its been 2 years since the last one and if you ask me all of these bundles are a clear sign that one is coming. If they drop the price down to $79.99 (AND bundle SSBM or WW for the holidays) the system will fly of the shelves. People forget that last year during the holidays the GC did pretty well. It ended up selling a lot better than anyone thought it would.

I'm thinking a price cut this September/October will help them get them through the 4th quarter and partially through the 1st quarter of 2006 and then they will try to sustain any kind of momentum they may have built with Zelda.

This goes back to what Iwata said at E3. I think they are seriously going to try to keep the GC around for a while still. They want to make it a budget console like the PSOne. This delay will help them do that.
 
It doesn't matter. Yes, its disappointing, but now at least you can concentrate on the graphical orgasm that is X360. Then, when the inevitable drought hits, and you've come down from the graphical highs, you'll be ready for a nice bit of meat and potatoes.
 
John Harker said:
Nintendo probably just got scared.

They saw the stiff compeition this winter - with the X360 launching, and competion from their own plethora of games launching in the same couple months spand - that they decided to back off the date, polish the game, and give it another go after the hype of the 360 launch dies down, and as Rev gets ready to launch.

They are probably just attempting to avoid cannibalizing the sales of their other games launching this season.

However, to relaese it after so long after the X360, and knocking on the door of the PS3 launch..... I mean, thats a terrible idea. People are going to want the next-gen, not to have to dust off their purple lunchboxes...

This is a deveasting blow to them, I believe, at the very least in image perception of the company.
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I don't think any of what you said makes sense really. They've delayed Majora's Mask to go against the launch of the PS2, OoT launched against DC in Japan and so on. I don't think the delay has anything to do with business, but rather how high profile they wanted the game to be.

Honestly the development of TP appeared to be rather smooth and there is no sign of problems with development, so I think it's probably only going to go up from there.
 
delays are good, bottom line... most games that get lots of delays end up being better than expected.

that being said, the cube is now dead.. this game will still sell, but not as well as it would in a christams release. I think nintendo might be hoping to bost revolution sales with this game. Maybe if it releases towards the middle or end of next year it can be considered and marketed as an ad-hock part of the revolution launch lineup.. Certainly, if the revolution releases at the end of next year, many people will walk home with the system and this game.

miyamoto has to take some responsibility for this delay. As a head producer, this is his job, to decide if a game is ready. this is one of the franchises he created. I'm willing to trust his judgement that TP needed more time... He's usually very good when it comes to the quality control side of things... look at MP.. even the retro team members have said he had a big part in retooling that project in the beginning when things where not going so well, and another recent example is pikmin 2, which turned out to be a fantastic game. In this area, i think he can be trusted. they want this to be the BEST ZELDA GAME EVER!!!!. if they feel like they need more time to do it, i'll take their word for it.
 
All I know is, this will give the team some more time to finish up the game properly. We all know how Wind Waker had too few dungeons and how the shard-hunting was a pretty lame stretch at the end. So now the new Zelda will have more time to be finalised, and the internets is all like ZOMG F*CK NINTENDO just because they have decided to make a better game for the customers.

I'll wait for it, and get it. A Zelda with more dungeons, less filler quests and orchestrated music = purchase.
 
reggie-gdc2005.jpg
 
Hyoushi said:
All I know is, this will give the team some more time to finish up the game properly. We all know how Wind Waker had too few dungeons and how the shard-hunting was a pretty lame stretch at the end. So now the new Zelda will have more time to be finalised, and the internets is all like ZOMG F*CK NINTENDO just because they have decided to make a better game for the customers.

I'll wait for it, and get it. A Zelda with more dungeons, less filler quests and orchestrated music = purchase.
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this post reminded me... (although admitiedly, this post didn't deal with this subject... you can blame 4 shots of peach brandy for this wierd jump in logic...) even with next gen systems out, this game is not going to look like ass... i mean the jump is just not as big as usual. Games this gen don't require a huge suspension of disbelief. things look good enough to keep you from constantly noticing the weakneses. This is the first gen where i think we've achieved "acceptable" visuals.. Even if i've played elder scrolls oblivion by the time the next zelda releases, it's not going to take me that long to get used to the graphics.
 
This delays is oddly making me happy cuz of the following:

Well now I don't have to feel guilty about selling my gamecube

I won't have to spend that much money this X-MAS

Shadow of the Colussus automatically wins best adventure game!!! (could win a GOTY...maybe)

It only makes me sad cuz everyone is sad...
 
Krowley said:
this post reminded me... even with next gen systems out, this game is not going to look like ass... i mean the jump is just not as big as usual. Games this gen don't require a huge suspension of disbelief. things look good enough to keep you from constantly noticing the weakneses. This is the first gen where i think we've achieved "acceptable" visuals.. Even if i've played elder scrolls oblivion by the time the next zelda releases, it's not going to take me that long to get used to the graphics.
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Very true, I also think this is the first generation 3D games look like 3D games.

I still think Morrowind is a great looking game
 
inthezone said:
Shadow of the Colussus automatically wins best adventure game!!! (could win a GOTY...maybe)
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i have my doubts about this. All the previews so far are making me think SOTC is not living up to the hype. GOTY this year for most publications will either be RE4, elder scrolls oblivion or perfect dark zero and that only has an outside shot, considering wall man and other weaknesses that have shown up so far.... There will have to be a nice graphics jump on pd0 before it releases.
 
inthezone said:
Very true, I also think this is the first generation 3D games look like 3D games.

I still think Morrowind is a great looking game
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i agree. Not to get too far off topic, but i don't see where all the hate for morrowinds graphics come from. The game still has some awe inspiring visuals here and there, especially the environments. If it weren't for the animation, and some questionable models (and maybe the performance), there would be nothing to complain about. I still get goose bumbs in certain areas and the water looks great.. the overall effect is pretty damn immersive... and this is a pretty good outline of what i'm talking about... this is an early game from this generation, and now we're seeing footage from the next generation... nothing i've seen so far has made me feel that morrowind is unplayable.
 
Borys said:
Zelda vs PS3 in may.
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Sony said spring 2006, which is March 21 to June 21.
I think we'll see the following release months
Japan - 06/2006
North America - 10/2006
Europe & Australia - 11/2006

Zelda will be released worldwide at the same time (now that they have plenty of time to complete the translations), I guess either in April or in May if they want to have a final E³ blast (which I doubt, since I think they want to completely concentrate on the Revolution in their presentation).

The other scenario that is mentioned in this thread - a delay to the end of the year, possible as a tie-in to Revolution, would really fuck up with their promises they've made (yes, Mario 128 was announced as a Gamecube title as well, but that was by Miyamoto in some interviews, whereas Zelda was the main aspect of two E³ presentations and several press releases).
I mean, this wouldn't only damage their reputation, it wouldn't even make sense economically. A release this November would've guaranted sales of 3 million+ worldwide, not to mentioned the numbers of Gamecubes moved by it (and these people would surely buy one or two of the older Gamecube titles).
 
Krowley said:
delays are good, bottom line... most games that get lots of delays end up being better than expected.
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....eh I think that's a debatable statement.
 
Krowley said:
This is the first gen where i think we've achieved "acceptable" visuals.. Even if i've played elder scrolls oblivion by the time the next zelda releases, it's not going to take me that long to get used to the graphics.
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Some games from this gen will hold up just like from last gen. But if the next gen games are done corrently, then no matter how great some games looked they aren't going to hold up well compared to next gen games. There were still alot of problems with this gen, like there were last gen. With this gen you still had blurry textures, mediocre animation, blocky models, bad framerates ect. Till we get to there we aren't really at the point where alot of games in a generation can hold up well when the next gen comes around.
 
DarienA said:
....eh I think that's a debatable statement.
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well a few examples that support my P.O.V... ninja gaiden got delayed over multiple platforms if i'm not mistaken.... geist and pikmin 2 were both delayed... geist isn't getting stellar reviews, but they are better than expected. Pikmin 2 was underplayed in previews, but in the final build, everybody loved it and it did much better in terms of review scores than the previous game.... there are many other examples obviously, and i'm sure you can come up with a million examples that contradict mine, but in the hands of nintendo, i trust them to make a long delay pay off. What we will get is going to be a top notch game, even if it is a generation behind schedule.

edit// another example is RE4... the best RE game ever... it took forever for them to get it finished. More time is always a good thing, and in the hands of good developers, they tend to make it pay off.
 
I accept that game development must be a difficult thing to manage but C'MON PEOPLE HASN'T ANYONE HEARD OF PADDING DEADLINES TO AVOID DISAPPOINTMENTS?? Jesus!

Nintendo take note - and this doubly applies to hardware development - when you announce a release date for something ADD 12 MONTHS.

IT'S NOT THAT HARD.
 
The new shots look good, better than I remembered it looking before (although I've been keeping an eye off it, purposefully).

If the delay means a better game I'm happy with that. I was looking forward to playing it at Christmas though...Zelda and holidays always mix well.
 
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