The developer and publisher behind series like Inazuma Eleven, Professor Layton and Yo-Kai Watch had a relatively busy year in 2019 – announcing and localising a bunch of games while experiencing some troublesome delays at the same time.
In the latest issue of Famitsu (1623), Level-5's President and CEO Akihiro Hino addressed the company's game delays – such as Inazuma Eleven: Heroes’ Great Road, stating how it was all about building up each game over time, even if it did worry fans. Here's the translation by BlackKite (via Japanese Nintendo):
Our development for games keep getting delayed, so it continues to make all our fans worry, but I want to properly build up titles we’re currently working on.
While Hino couldn't reveal any of Level-5's plans for the rest of the year, he did say the Japanese company was going to "challenge new things" in 2020.
If we're being honest, at this point we would just like to see Yo-Kai Watch 4 localised. It came out in Japan last June and since then an enhanced version has been released on the Switch and PlayStation 4.
What are your thoughts about Level-5 delaying games to "properly" build them up? Tell us down below.
[source japanesenintendo.com]
Comments 39
I love Level 5. Their games always have a great story attached and they can pack one hell of an emotional punch.
My big concern with L5 is not with the constant delays but with whether the company will even survive the coming years now that Yokai Watch's popularity has collapsed with nothing to take its place.
I'm all for them taking their time if it means a better product.
And this attitude should be commended, as opposed to the majority who now issue unfinished games on cartridges/disc and continue to make adjustments after the fact instead of delaying the release to ensure that the data on the cartridge is complete.
@westman98 : Professor Layton, perhaps?
In the end, nobody will remember it was late, they'll only remember if it was great.
Agree 100% with Him.
That such a corporate picture for C.E.O. but I love it.
Why not just give more realistic release dates? That way delays won't be needed and it will not impact the game quality.
I'd love to see a Professor Layton collection on Switch. The spin-off is fine, but I'd love to see the original six games (and maybe Layton vs. Wright) hit the console as well.
I guarantee that Metroid Prime 4 would be out by now and everybody would hate it. I bet New Horizons would be dissapointing and lacking of content and polish if it were out now. Delays are good, always respect the devs for making the bold decision for quality over money
No way man, I'd much rather a delay than a buggy, rushed, incomplete product that needs 6 months worth of patching before it's actually out of BETA.
Bethesda, Ubisoft, EA, Obsidian, basically every so-called AAA studio in 2020, I'm looking at you!
@Silly_G
Layton's Mystery Journey didn't set the world ablaze and is far, far from the hit that Professor Layton or Yokai Watch once was.
@westman98 : I wasn't referring to the spin-off, which is a far cry from the standard that Level-5 had set with earlier entries in the series.
@Heavyarms55 Obsidian, really? They’re not really AAA and throughout my playthrough of Outer Worlds I came across just the one bug and that was more a minor inconvenience than anything else.
I used to like level 5 - WKC and Fantasy Life... now it's all yo-Kai watch and professor layton, I have no interest in what they do now.
Delays in games means that I don't have to spend money right away on the game. The only time I can see it being a problem is if you pre-ordered and had some vacation time set away for the release. Anything else would be complaining for the sake of complaining.
Not need to rush on anything as long as the quality standard is met but also don't make promise you can't keep (looking at you Game Freak).
Well then stop making release dates you can't meet.
How about not giving release dates until they know how much time they'll need?
Life is too short for bad, rushed, or buggy video games. I’m sure I’m not alone in not having as much time as I’d like to spend on gaming. I couldn’t give a damn when a game releases, I just want to have a damn good time playing it when it does.
what? i love delays... not a fan though
Looking forward to Snackworld next month! My issue isn’t delays but rather the insane amount of time is takes them to translate games for the west.
@Kainbrightside @nessisonett I like Obsidian, but they have released some very buggy titles over they years. Not that it's always of even often the developer's fault, that doesn't mean it didn't happen.
Fallout New Vegas and Star Wars KOTOR 2 - 2 games I really liked, were chalk full of bugs. I know they were released in those states for reasons largely out of their control - but they still did it.
Delays to make a game as good as it can be are fine by me. If you're constantly delaying games though then it probably means that you're setting unrealistic release dates.
I wish Level-5 would put a bit more focus into their localisation, more than anything. Most other companies have gotten pretty good at releasing games outside of Japan in pretty timely fashion but with Level-5 the wait time for an English release still always seems to take forever.
I have no problem with them delaying games, but holy crap they need to work on their localization process.
@PBandSmelly,
I agree with "Metroid Prime 4", however I do not feel the same about "Animal crossing new horizons", it's pretty clear even from the initial reveal trailer the game was finished, Nintendo wanted a delay because the holiday season was pretty stacked, and already had a big killer app with Pokemon Sword and shield.
Nintendo's issue has always been having a great holiday period but then falling a little flat in the first quarter, so an Animal crossing delay was a good business move imho.
@retro_player_22,
I am surprised it took seventeen comments to get to the old "Are you listening GameFreak" line, can we just let it go now?, you do not like the games, we get it, but the masses do and they are a huge success, let's just leave it at that.
Actually I still want to see that Inazuma Eleven game complete and in my collection. My favourite L5 frachise by far.
@Silly_G
Ok gatcha. I do hope another real PL game is announced. It has been a while
But even then, I doubt it will sell much, and certainly not enough to make up for Yokai Watch's downfall.
How they manage to survive and still putting so many titles, I am expecting a merger or takeover from a bigger company.
The only oiled money machine for them at this moment is the Puni Puni game on mobile. Lots of people spend insane amounts on their Gasha system.
None of us like delays, but it's understandable why such things happen.. Prefer it to getting a buggy day-one release
It annoys me when some gamers aren't understanding with it, and complain when there's delays.. It's nice to see my fellow nintendolife fans have the same mentality as me though, and understand why games sometimes get delayed
looks at metroid prime 4 you better be good samus!
It is always good to delay games. I mean look how terrible same games turn out if they do not delay them like with Sonic 06 and Sonic Boom: Rise of Lyric.
as long as we got a new ni no kuni entry, I'm fine
Better than rushing out mediocre, unpolished games like Game Freak does. Why does Pokemon sell more than this again?
I like delays - and I'm people!
Take your time! I would always rather a better game.
I can accept delays but the one thing they gotta stop doing is censoring their games, as happened with Snack World.
@MasterGraveheart This. It could be a way for them to make some easy money for them to fund other projects.
I just wish level 5 would stop hoping everything will become a mega franchise and just focus on games. I feel like the push to make yokai watch and snack world into anime and toys diluted their brand. (Also I wish they would update and port fantasy life).
Sometimes I Like Level-5 but I Don’t Like Delays.
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