Metal Gear Solid Peace Walker's delay came as a huge surprise, coming a week after retail posters for the game had been printed and a day after Konami had kicked off its lavish Piece Walker promotional site.

Following Friday's announcement, Peace Walker director and Metal Gear series father Hideo Kojima made a post at the Kojima Productions blog concerning the delay.

To say Kojima feels sorry about the delay is an understatement.

Wrote Kojima, "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."

Kojima also managed to fit a movie analogy in there, stating that the delay of a game is like a movie being cancelled after its opening date has been announced.

Closing off, Kojima wrote, "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."

"At present, Kojima Productions is putting our full efforts on final tuning and brush ups, in aim of completion," wrote Kojima.

If you'd like to see the assurances of support from Kojima Productions' many fans, view the lengthy reader comment list at the blog.

In addition to the calls of support, some even had some great ideas, like a new demo. You can do it, Kojima!

http://www.andriasang.com/e/blog/2010/01/31/kojima_on_peace_walker_delay/