Famed Metal Gear Solid creator Hideo Kojima has weighed in on the practice of delaying titles, which he feels is the ultimate crime as a  game developer.

I always preach to the staff, ‘You must not have a delay after a release date has been announced. There is no greater crime as a game developer.

Official announcement of a release date is nothing less than a promise to fans and business partners. In other words, a release date change is like betraying the expectations of everyone.

It probably takes a long time to earn back trust that has been lost. However we will work hard, with the hope that we will one day earn the support of everyone again.

Kojima words are centered on the recent delay of Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker, which was pushed back in Japan from March to April 29. Given his perfectionism, we weren’t exactly surprised at the setback. However, Kojima brings up a solid point, delays should always be avoided unless the situation absolutely calls for one.

Makes us wonder if the onslaught of delays we witnessed close to Modern Warfare 2’s release were absolutely necessary. Apart from a few special cases, I’d put the majority down to hasty planning. These days, it feels as if a large number of studios commit to a date far too early. Sure, this keeps shareholders happy, but doing so incurs the risk of disappointing loyal fans in the event of an unexpected snag midway into development.

Hideo Kojima Takes Peace Walker Delay Seriously [Andriasang]

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