I think publishers should stop announcing release dates.

[daimashin]

At least until they are certain the game is done and ready to be shipped. Seriously, what's the point of a release date when they are not going to uphold it. So many games got delayed this year it is frustrating. If they never said anything about dates then the games wouldn't have to be "delayed." Also, when there is no anticipation, there'd be no outcry when news like this breaks out. Let's see, how many games got delayed again?

 

[Haze]

It's pretty darn disappointing with how many games have been delayed. I agree that they shouldn't give you an official release date until closer to the date. Had I of known how many games were going to be delayed until 2015, I would of held off grabbing a PS4 until next year,

 

[ajally123]

The thing with having a date is it ensures a hype train and gets people excited about the game. If they just said "oh we are making *insert game*" and like a year passes people will forget about it. It is obviously annoying that a game you anticipate is delayed, but more often than not that is a good sign as they aren't shovelling the game out broken and they want to spend more time making it better. I think a place holder release date would be better or a seasonal release date like fall or something would be a better standard as it gives fan a vague timeline but also doesn't mean they have to stick to a certain date.

 

[Ridge]

How much does this really affect us either way? I know people get excited, but I don't really plan my gaming schedule 6 months in advance. If something gets pushed back I'll just play it whenever it comes out, and play something else when the game was originally supposed to come out.

Plus I'd rather everything get pushed back if the other option is getting a game that isn't ready. A bad game is bad forever, something coming out a few months later can help prevent that.

 

[Ciel]

How much does this really affect us either way? I know people get excited, but I don't really plan my gaming schedule 6 months in advance. If something gets pushed back I'll just play it whenever it comes out, and play something else when the game was originally supposed to come out.

Plus I'd rather everything get pushed back if the other option is getting a game that isn't ready. A bad game is bad forever, something coming out a few months later can help prevent that.

Pretty much this. Not many games are scrapped--although I have to admit most of the ones that are, I have an interest in--and if a game is announced I expect to play it eventually. I am rarely effected by the hype gravy-train a game might carry--often regarded to now as a stigma of sorts. Release dates are nice because it allows me to create a window. A game has never been pushed forward... has it? As such I expect it to get released at some point between when the developers and publishers say, to six-eight months from then.

 

[Nackles]

People get hyped to the point of pre ordering games and if the game sucks and they get it day 1 the money is gone. That marines game by gearbox (can't remember the name) is a perfect example. I very rarely pre order and I don't care if a game is pushed back either as long as they are making improvements.

 

[Cpt Blackadder]

I think this year has been the exception to the rule simply because dev's haven't had enough time to get to understand the systems ( PS4 / XB1 ). It's pretty obvious the systems were dumped on developers pretty late in the day and dev's have been playing catch up since, so want to get their product right. Its' never been this bad before in the last 8 years i've been gaming and i'm sure this is just a suck it up year.

In a way, i kind like it that there isn't as many games as i hoped this year as it means i'm playing a lot of games i thought i wouldn't have the time for and discovering new gems. Most of us get sucked into the triple A titles and play the others when we get a chance, which sometimes is never.

Example now there isn't much about i'm playing Resi Evil 4 HD remake on my PS3 and loving it. One of those games i bought and thought i'll play it sometime.

 

[daimashin]

Publishers don't need a release date to get the hype train going. They just need to release new info every now and then to keep the interest up. Having a release date and then pushing it back sometimes is worse than not having a release date at all. Many people like to pre-order games a few months in advance, they expect to play the games at that time only to get disappointed midway.