First it was Grand Theft Auto IV. Then Nintendo dropped a bomb a few weeks ago by announcing that the heavily anticipated Super Smash Bros. Brawl wouldn’t be coming out until February. Most recently, Army of Two made the list of hot holiday titles pushed back to next year. It’s not like we’re hurting for hot new games to play, but it can still be disappointing when a game you’ve been waiting and waiting for gets delayed. Super Smash Bros. Brawl was one of several titles delayed this holiday season. So why does it happen? More often that not, developers just need some extra time to make sure their upcoming title is complete and glitch-free. With newer systems, it can take some time to get used to working with the hardware, and developers sometimes underestimate how long it will take to complete their newest masterpiece. But wouldn’t it be nicer if they could stop getting our hopes up, only to be crushed to bits soon after, and just announce a later launch date so no one is let down? Unfortunately, sometimes other factors come into play that cause a new title to miss its release date. For example, if a development team changes, that will often cause delays in upcoming titles. Other times, the company behind the game will switch its focus to other, more marketable titles, putting the current one on the back burner. Games in development can switch writers, directors, and even engines before they’re finally released, and all of these factors add time to the production. System launches can also have an effect on anticipated titles. If a company is making a game for a system that’s soon to become obsolete as the next generation approaches, they may rethink their project and redevelop it for the new console instead. This has happened many times in the past; games like Super Paper Mario and Perfect Dark Zero were supposed to come out on last gen’s systems, but instead were pushed back so that they could meet their full potential on the newer generation of consoles. Twilight Princess was pushed back multiple times, but the final product was one of the greatest video games ever. Yes, it really sucks when something you want to play is pushed back, sometimes for months or even years at a time. Believe me, no one was a bigger crybaby than me every time Nintendo announced they were once again delaying Twilight Princess last year. However, the alternative is far worse. Would you rather have a mediocre version of a game now or a phenomenal one six months from now? I think most gamers would rather wait for better graphics and gameplay than play something as completely broken and blemished as, let’s say, Two Worlds. As long as it comes out in a reasonable amount of time, you’re better off being patient. Like I said, you’ve got more than enough to play, no matter what system you have. I know that some games, despite their ever-changing release dates, still don’t always meet expectations, and this is even more upsetting to gamers. However, many times, these delays help the game’s development, and in the end, the product that is released is much better because of the extra time put into it. So next time a game you’re waiting for gets pushed back, just think about how much better it’s going to be when it finally does hit stores. Unless the game you’re waiting for happens to be Duke Nukem Forever. In that case, sorry, guys. It’s coming out any day now… right?