Mr. Crecente's Neighborhood has word that the latest iteration in Atlus' Shin Megami Tensei series, Persona 3, has been delayed only a day before it was scheduled to ship. The delay has been pinned on an error in the manufacturing of the art book that was scheduled to ship with the title and Atlus has yet to reveal a new ship date.

This wouldn't pain me so much if I didn't have a little bird whispering to me every ten minutes about how awesome the game is. I've spent the last week imagining a title that combines the greatest parts of Final Fantasy XII, Harvest Moon, Versus and Raquel Welch circa 1966, and while Persona 3 might never live up to the insane expectations that have been implanted in my head, it's almost guaranteed to be more enjoyable than a reality in which I can't tame ethereal beings to murder on my behalf.

I picked a bad week to quit practicing Wicca ...

[Update: According to a press release sent out by Atlus earlier today, the new ship date is August 14th, 2007. Hit the jump for the full release.] 

The new scheduled ship date for Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 3 is August 14^th, 2007. 

 

This is the very soonest that manufacturing of the Persona 3 art book can be completed, and also takes into account the time required for assembly of the final package.

 

The manufacturing issue with the art book was brought to our attention mere days prior to the initial ship date, and was a scenario both unforeseen and beyond our control.  Our disappointment and frustration is tempered by the knowledge that the final product will live up to our standard of quality and also the expectations of our fans.

 

While many are willing to sacrifice the art book in favor of the game alone, the package we have spent the last few months designing, one intended to honor the series and reward fans for an eight year wait, would be irreparably compromised if we were to revise or abandon the deluxe package.  Without the art book, the outer box would lack the structural integrity to endure shipping; all extras would need to be discarded.  Again, this deluxe set was created for the fans of Shin Megami Tensei and Persona, and we are determined to see the special release through to the end.

 

We apologize for the delay, and we ask for your understanding and patience.