Twilight Princess gone 'til November [Update 1]
by James Ransom-Wiley 
{ Feb 13th 2006 at 12:45PM }
Nintendo has declined to update the release
status of The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess since announcing that the title would be delayed into 2006,
but according to TVG, Best Buy
recently informed pre-orderers that the game will not ship until November—at the earliest. Gulp.If true, we can expect to see Twilight Princess debuting alongside the Nintendo Revolution, as many have speculated would be the case all along. A current-gen title the killer launch app for a next-gen console? Hey, if there's a company that's gonna pull it off, its name's Nintendo.
[Thanks silverSurfer]
UPDATE: Joystiq tipster, Tigidal, has sent us a copy of the Twilight Princess delay email notice sent to him by Best Buy Customer Care. We are currently awaiting confirmation of the delay from Nintendo...
[Thanks Tigidal]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Kevout @ Feb 13th 2006 12:54PM
Yeah Best Buy always has the inside scoop on these things
Caveman @ Feb 13th 2006 12:54PM
Awwww come on!! I doubt this is true, but the fact that it is not going to come out until a year after its original release date?
Please no.
GlitchCog @ Feb 13th 2006 12:56PM
This sucks. This was supposed to be the last old-style Zelda game. It was supposed to be the biggest and best of what you could do with the control scheme from Ocarina of Time. I don't want Twilight Princess to be the guinea pig to figure out how to make the new controls fun to use. I want this game now without any stupid additional features that can only be used on the Revolution.
The Lamonster @ Feb 13th 2006 12:58PM
bummer...I was planning on wasting my summer on TP and the new SMB DS game...but now it looks like both will prob come out November.
Michael @ Feb 13th 2006 12:59PM
B*****DS tricked everyone into buying a gamecube. Oh this is bulls**t. bulls**t.
ZOMG @ Feb 13th 2006 1:00PM
I personally wouldn't mind if they just took what they had and overhauled it for a Revolution release title. It would certainly help them sell consoles.
But, im sure someone out there would be like 'OMG Nintendo hates us, they PROMISED Zelda on the Gamecube! I'm too poor to buy the new $200 Revolution because I just bought a PS3 for $800!'
yeah.
robotplague @ Feb 13th 2006 1:01PM
They're going to bundle it with the Revolution or something like that. Even though it sucks for us it will be a good move on their behalf. I'm past the point of really waiting for it anymore, it'll come out when it comes out and I'll be happy.
RP @ Feb 13th 2006 1:03PM
Michael, if TP was your only reason for buying a GC, then you should have waited until it was out.
sizcoz @ Feb 13th 2006 1:07PM
I personally feel that the marketing strategy by Nintendo will be spot of if they release TPrincess Early November with the Revolution , but with the option of playing it on Gamecube also, this would create a fantastic bundle for the launch, the wait to enhance the graphics, storyline, and control method will all be worth it, who could resist not buying it for the holidays.
http://www.nintendoinfo.com
lucifer @ Feb 13th 2006 1:29PM
ITS GOING TO BE DELAYED BY ONE YEAR SINCE ITS ORIGINAL RELEASE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Does nintendo want me sueing them for nervous breakdowns?
Joseph @ Feb 13th 2006 1:42PM
It's going to come out earlier than November. Now stop making such a fuss about what one site that doesn't know any better posted.
Mike Street @ Feb 13th 2006 1:45PM
Is this Nintendo day on the site?
Miharu @ Feb 13th 2006 1:50PM
This is good, because the game wasn't exactly revolutionary when I tested the E3 demo. They are delaying it to polish the game and make it as good as possible, that only serves us gamers and the more we wait the more we'll love the game when it's finally released.
dark54555 @ Feb 13th 2006 1:52PM
As of right now, Gamestop and EB both still have it listed at June. While I don't deny BestBuy sent the letter, they aren't known for having the most reliable release dates in their system.
Jonathan @ Feb 13th 2006 1:52PM
This game is the only reason I still have my gamecube. Hopefully this isn't true, since I can probably get more money for the system now, rather than closer to the Rev launch.
Brian @ Feb 13th 2006 1:57PM
WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH ALL OF YOU!!!!
Now that I have your attention, let me put it bluntly.
Twilight Princess will be for the Gamecube.
That's right, did you hear me?
###########################################
Twilight Princess will be for the Gamecube.
###########################################
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Twilight Princess will be for the Gamecube.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Twilight Princess will be for the Gamecube.
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Iwata and Reggie have stressed this AGAIN AND AGAIN AND AGAIN AND AGAIN AND AGAIN, but NOBODY seems to listen.
Twilight Princess is FOR THE NINTENDO GAMECUBE, NONE OF YOU ARE RIPPED OFF.
Tell me, would you rather have had Ocarina of Time released a year early with three adult Link dungeons, or was it better to have it released late, with all of the dungeons that it had? I'm willing to be that you're saying that you'd rather it be a finished game than an incomplete game that met deadlines.
"A delayed game is eventually good, a bad game is bad forever." -Shigeru Miyamoto
TP's staff is working extra hard to get this game out to you, and they're trying to make it the best Zelda that has ever been made. Are any of you remotely thankful for it? NO. You just keep demanding and demanding and demanding.
Michael: What the heck is wrong with you?
GlitchCog: Nintendo has said that its delays arenot being caused because they want to put Revolution functionality in it. Nintendo is making a 100 hour Zelda game. That is extremely difficult to do, and it takes a lot of time to do it. And either way, if they do decide to add Revolution functionality with it, it will be an added bonus. If you pop it in your Gamecube, or else use your Gamecube controller with the Revolution, you'll still be able to play it exactly how its been being developed this whole time.
Kevout is the only person who knows what he's talking about in here. Best Buy knows absolutely nothing. They know just as much as you, me, or IGN. We all know nothing about the release date, and we will continue to know nothing until Nintendo releases a press statement.
Just be patient and wait. Otherwise, if you want a 50 hour half-complete TP, go ahead and complain. If that's really what you want, make your voices heard. But if you want the best Zelda game ever, just be patient and wait, and be thankful that Nintendo cares enough about their games that they're willing to disappoint consumers in order to make it a masterpiece, as opposed to a brand-name-only high-selling game that is mediocre.
Grumbler @ Feb 13th 2006 1:57PM
That's it, Nintendo are utter bastards. if this isn't the best game evre made I'll never buy anaything from them again. [/lies]
Brian @ Feb 13th 2006 2:06PM
And if none of that above jargon convinced you, take a look at this:
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=7190443&type=product&id=1113534516323
Square Enix recently said that they planned to have Advent Children released in the 'States around Holiday seasoson, 2006. Best Buy has it listed June 1st. Hah.
GlitchCog @ Feb 13th 2006 2:16PM
Brian, take your meds.
Dave @ Feb 13th 2006 2:21PM
I'm really sick of having a Gamecube sitting on my shelf waiting to play this game. I'm not sure what happened in development, but that's really really annoying.
I don't WANT Revolution features added. I want it to be a GAMECUBE game. The Gamecube was such a cool system, inside and out! Nintendo wasted SO much opportunity with this thing. I'm starting to dislike it more than I did the N64...
GlitchCog @ Feb 13th 2006 2:22PM
Brian,
It gets harder and harder to believe it'll really be 100% for the GameCube with each new delay.
I don't want it to be for the Revolution. I used to be as faithful as you, but I'm starting to wonder:
http://www.joystiq.com/2006/01/11/ngc-denies-nintendos-non-denial/#c917755
Dave @ Feb 13th 2006 2:24PM
Brian, you're a Blind Nintendo Fanboy. Fortunately, there's no greater punishment for that right now than owning a Gamecube.
Brian @ Feb 13th 2006 2:24PM
GlitchCog: You get a bit annoyed at people freaking out at the release date after being on the GameFAQs forums for a day. :-)
jay @ Feb 13th 2006 2:26PM
Aw, shame I have to wait longer for what's going to be the greatest game yet. Nevermind.
It's pretty obvious that its going to be a Cube game. After all... what could they do to make it better on the Rev?
Wifi? Rev controller? updated graphics?
This game is going to be beyond that. its going to be what Nintendo are always on about. It's going to have gameplay through the roof. so far through the roof that we'll (or you'll) be playing pathetic clones of it on PS3 and Xbox 360, trying to surpass a game released on a console launched in 2001/2.
Phil @ Feb 13th 2006 2:32PM
I still want to hear official word from Nintendo on this. I'm not entirely convinced that this isn't a glitch in Best Buy's systems - it's entirely possible that the 11/1 date from last year just got stuck somewhere and when updating it, instead of 4/1 or whenever the game is supposed to come out, the email now says 11/1/06.
Also, like the overly-excited Brian said, Reggie and Iwata _have_ stressed repeatedly that it's going to be for Gamecube. Unless they changed their mind in the past couple months, of course, which would suck. Still, I don't think everyone needs to panic.
jay @ Feb 13th 2006 2:34PM
Dave; your not the only one. I haven't touched my Xbox since October. I haven't played a full game through on my Cube since Prime. Machines have to wait. or play the good ol stuff again, Smash Bros, Metroid etc.
The way I see it my Cube is on a nice break for a bit. god knows it's going to need the strength soon as TP is out :P ... though I'm waiting for a Rev and its monitor output for optimal image quality.
Matthew @ Feb 13th 2006 2:36PM
This is just Nintendo doing what they've always done to us. For those of you who are tired of waiting, all I can say is that Nintendo has always focused on quality before timeliness.
Nobody call me a fan boy, but I have a deep respect for Shigeru Miyamoto. In my opinion he is the best video game designed ever. If he wants to delay TP until 2007, I have faith in him that it's for the right reasons, not just because they are trying to incorporate new Revolution functionality to sell systems.
The delays are the only disadvantage of Nintendo's development practices. What we get in return are highly-polished, innovative and production ready games that are the creme-de-la-creme of the industry. It's a trade off I've always been willing to make.
GlitchCog @ Feb 13th 2006 2:39PM
Yeah, GameFAQs is certainly a zoo.
Still, do you really think if they release Twilight Princess at the same time as the Revolution they'll keep to their word and not add on extra stuff for it? I'm a fan of Nintendo, but I don't trust them to pass on more money just to cater to die hard fans. Look at what they did to Mother 3 when it got caught inbetween consoles.
sizcoz @ Feb 13th 2006 2:47PM
Mario 128 anyone?, but seriously Brian is angry because he thinks you--the gamer-- don't appreciate the difference between a average run of the mill game, and a soon to be classic, but Brian , this is the very reason why everybody has a thirst for this game because it will be a classic, and us impatient lot will be rewarded, so in conclusion:
yes: It will be worth the wait
yes: we all want it now
and yes: we will as stated be able to play it on Rev or Cube.
Soon be here.
http://www.nintendoinfo.com
Dave @ Feb 13th 2006 2:54PM
I just... I really want to play the games we've been getting on PS2 on my Gamecube instead. It's such a nicer system technically... the PS2 has such severe graphical limitations. As well, I really prefer the GC gamepad.
It WAS to be my favorite system of this past generation. I had it and no other, but eventually it became necessity to get a PS2. That broke repeatedly. If it wasn't for the stellar DS lineup, I'd be setting fire to Nintendo HQ.
Dave @ Feb 13th 2006 2:57PM
I totally understand Brian's point here, but the main problem is that it is a stupid one. I'm not dumb, I can tell the difference. However, having a system that is soley a vehicle for 2 games a year is a little upsetting after a while. And Nintendo's played this game for two generations. I can't say exactly when I'll just give up on their home consoles, if this continues to happen (and by all accounts it could go on) but someday I won't buy a Nintendo home system becase I can just play that one AAA title on a friend's machine.
Pretty Obvious @ Feb 13th 2006 2:59PM
I feel sorry for all you Gamecube owners. This is exactly the reason I stopped supporting Nintendo. Its bad enough you guys dont get as many quality titles as the Xbox or PS2, but when you finally think your getting something good Nintendo delays it. Again....
Grissom @ Feb 13th 2006 3:00PM
Heh.At least i will have Oblivion.If they dont delay it too,I mean
Brian @ Feb 13th 2006 3:06PM
This just in: Advent Children will be releasd on April 26, 2006.
http://games.slashdot.org/games/06/02/13/1544223.shtml
That still makes Best Buy's June 1st incorrect.
...Just thought I'd post this before someone scolded me for not knowing of the announced-a-few-hours-ago news. :-)
Mike @ Feb 13th 2006 3:11PM
Stop whinning guys. You know its gonna be amazing now, nintendo's had an extra year to work on perfecting it.
James @ Feb 13th 2006 3:15PM
It would be utterly ridiculous for them to release this game for gamecube at this point. It would make no practical buisness sense at all. What's more important, keeping a few million gamecube fans happy, or pushing the all importatn launch of the revolution? I would like to be able to play this game in the current gen so i wouldn't have to spring for a new system. But if i were in nintendo's shoes, i wouldn't waste time putting it out on the GC when you could use it to help push your new console.
KilgoreTrout XL @ Feb 13th 2006 3:41PM
I don't have a gamecube, but I'll definitely consider buying a revolution for this.
Hell, I was going to get one anyways.
As for the possible delay- my brother has been waiting for this one for forever. He's gonna be pissed.
Joshi @ Feb 13th 2006 3:42PM
James, it makes no sense to put it on the Revolution.
Maybe if the Revolution was any other console, you'd be correct. But the Revolution has an entirely different control method. It makes much more sense to release it as the last hurrah on the Gamecube than to retrofit it with the new motion control scheme and rush it out for the Revolution launch. Nintendo's going to have to prove that motion control isn't a gimmick, and a hastily-adapted Zelda games wouldn't help.
Oh, and I like how you say "keep a few MILLION fans happy" so nonchalantly, as if it's only a million fans or something.
Matt @ Feb 13th 2006 3:44PM
Another delay for Twilight Princess may very well be the death nail for the GameCube and could have a disastrous effect on Nintendo's Revolution roll out.
I am a HUGE Nintendo fan, but Nintendo has a LONG, LONG history of delays and limited game title for their systems that started with the N64. (Thank god for Rare)
Nintendo promised that the lack of games that plagued the N64 would never happen to the GambeCube but it did. And they're making even the most loyal fans question the value of sticking with Nintendo.
Very serious mistake on Nintendo's part IMHO
madcrasher @ Feb 13th 2006 3:44PM
Two words guys: Halo 2.
It was delayed who knows how many times? And did it not kick @$$ when it was finally released?
Keep in mind that they began work on Twilight Princess right after Wind Waker with the intent of using the same graphical style. And in the E3 trailer you could even see some remnants of the old Wind Waker. Do you want them to change it or not?
Of course, I don't have a GameCube; I'm holding out for the Rev. So it's a lot easier for me to be patient. :)
Scott @ Feb 13th 2006 3:52PM
Twilight Princess for revolution would rule. The revolution needs some killer titles.
Kenofthedead @ Feb 13th 2006 4:01PM
I've never trusted Best Buy all that much for release dates. Too many times have I been given incorrect infomation.
Oh and if you have a Gamecube and it's just sitting there, get Chibi Robo. It really is a great game.
simon @ Feb 13th 2006 4:02PM
TO JOYSTIQ STAFF/MEMBERS:
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=7083229&type=product&id=1109233322481
wth?
i like it how BBe-mail = Nintendo official press release...
apparently.
webrunner @ Feb 13th 2006 4:27PM
According to ME it'll be out on may 30th.
And beleiving that is just as confirmed a rumor as beleiving an online retailer's date change.
THIS ISN'T NEWS.
Angry guy @ Feb 13th 2006 4:40PM
Dont listen to the bullsh** best buy says.They dont know s**t about the release date of twilight princess.Nintendo would inform to everyone that the new zelda game has been delayed even longer before a dam store that has sh*** customer service and doesnt know sh** about release dates.I pre ordered from circuit city and they didnt say sh** about twilight princess being delayed till november.Neither did any other store.Best buy always took so long to know about important news and im pretty sure they wouldnt know a release date even before nintendo would.Just dont spread a bullsh** rumor that didnt even come from nintendo.I wouldnt think a store with sh*** customer service would know best about important release dates before anything else.
charlig @ Feb 13th 2006 4:45PM
FUCK
im tired of waiting!!!!!
i guess the twilight princess will be the axact same situation as starcraft ghost
bd @ Feb 13th 2006 4:53PM
"Two words guys: Halo 2.
It was delayed who knows how many times? And did it not kick @$$ when it was finally released?"
No; it sucked. The only thing it is good for is for the "LIVE" part of the game, and frankly, if that's how long they took to make it, it is a disappointment.
nazuraki @ Feb 13th 2006 5:24PM
EB, GameStop, IGN and GameSpot all still list it for Q2 2006 release.
Worst Buy is full of shit.
Todd @ Feb 13th 2006 5:29PM
I've been secretly been hoping for it to be on BOTH the Revolution and the Gamecube. I say make the game where when you play it on the Gamecube it looks just like the video and images shown, but when you play it on the Revolution the render depth will be increased and it will utilize displacement mapping to make everything look like it has a higher poly count. That, with the advantages of the new controller would really make it the best Zelda ever.
BlackYoshi @ Feb 13th 2006 5:41PM
Pushing it for a Revolution release just makes Nintendo a bunch of liars and con artists. Which is what I fear is happening. I hope Best Buy is wrong on this one.