Anticipation: A Tale of Video Game Delays

With all the delays coming about recently, my anticipation level has risen beyond belief. I’m sure I don’t have to list the games that have been delayed recently, but just in case some “noobs” around here haven’t been paying attention, these upcoming titles have all been delayed.

• Bioshock 2
• Bayonetta
• Dragon Age: Origins
• Dark Void
• Red Dead Redemption
• Splinter Cell Conviction
• Mafia 2
• Star Craft 2
• Heavy Rain

Are these delays beneficial, or are they going to end up hurting the games? Honestly, it all depends on how you look at it. First you have the traditional saying, “The longer it takes, the better the game.” I have been of that mindset for a long time now, but when I look at the next side of things, I begin to question that saying. Next up we have the profit/competitive side of delaying games; we all love games, but people love to make money too. In order to make more money these companies take games and delay them to compete with other titles. For example, if a publisher delays a game from “Holiday” Q4 to January, then that game won’t have to compete with the many other games coming out during that busy time of year. The average consumer doesn’t have the money to buy multiple $60 games at launch; they will have to make a decision.

It’s a tough decision to make, but is it right for them to delay a “gone gold” game, especially if it’s already finished? I don’t think that’s right; I think it’s pointless. A publisher should release their game when it’s finished. I want to buy a game when it’s done and then the opportunity to save up a couple weeks (or a month) to buy the next “big” title. I think that a lot of games fall under the radar when publishers do this. When a huge triple-A title comes out there is the chance that another really good title will get swept under the rug because everyone chose that triple-A title over the lesser-known title.

All in all, I believe game delays can either be a curse or a blessing. I remember playing games back in the day and when you found a game-breaking/frustrating bug in the game; it would totally ruin it for you. Developers couldn’t send an update over the internet to fix (patch) your game back then. I think a lot of developers and consumers take that for granted these days. Delaying a game allows developers more time to fix bugs, while still giving them a decent chance to sell their game.

Another thing that isn’t really talked about, but it’s been brought up a couple times, is that people on a development team sometimes put in material that isn’t supposed to be in their game. (ie. nudity, sexual innuendos, and vulgar/obscene media.) Whatever the case may be, if this content stays in the final product it could lead to some major headaches. Instead of trying to cover it up like Rockstar Games attempted to do with Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, a developer may delay the game and take the time to save themselves some court fees and remove that unneeded content.

Lately I have been hearing a lot of moaning and groaning over all of these delays. It’s what prompted me to write this article and pose this question: Is it really that big of deal? Does a delay really make you less interested in playing these games? In all honesty it makes me want to play them more and I am anticipating these games more and more with each passing day.