Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess slips to 2006

By Tom Bramwell Published 16 August, 2005

Miyamoto and Aonuma want more time.

Nintendo has confirmed that its main hope for Christmas, The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess on GameCube, has slipped to 2006. The platform holder says creative leads Shigeru Miyamoto and Eiji Aonuma want it to spend more time in development, and said the result would be a "more enjoyable gaming experience".

Despite the unveiling of its next-generation Revolution console and a new iteration of the Game Boy design, Twilight Princess was arguably Nintendo's biggest draw at this year's E3 conference in Los Angeles, and news that it will miss the end of the year is likely to be viewed as a huge blow for Nintendo.

In a statement released worldwide this morning, Nintendo said: "Our development team has decided to take extra time to add some incredible new elements to The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess. As a result, the game will now launch in 2006 globally. We recognise there may be some disappointed fans; however we firmly believe this additional time will result in a more enjoyable gaming experience."

The statement went on to point out that Mario Smash Football (née Super Mario Strikers), Battalion Wars, Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance and Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness would all be out in time for Christmas.

In order to try and lift dampened spirits, Nintendo released seven new screenshots of Twilight Princess to accompany the statement.

Picture of Tom.

About Tom Bramwell

Tom is Operations director of Eurogamer Network and Editor-at-Large of Eurogamer.net. He joined the company in February 2000. Follow him on Twitter.

Read more articles from Tom by visiting the Tom Bramwell archive page.

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Comments (95) Latest comment 7 years ago

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  • rinoaMW #1 7 years ago

    AAAAAARRRRRRGGGGGGGHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • martyngates #2 7 years ago


    NOOOOOOOoooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

  • Genji #3 7 years ago

    Huge blow for Nintendo? I doubt it would've had that much of an effect even if it was released for Christmas. Waiting a couple of extra months is something I've grown acustomed to, as a Nintendo fan, so this isn't a big deal for me.
    Edited by Genji at 16/08/05 @ 09:22

  • Scimarad #4 7 years ago

    I'd rather it was late than shite!

  • FairgroundTown #5 7 years ago

    Hum - well, I am personally disappointed, because I was looking forward to it filling the long, dark Xmas holiday, but I think Genji is right – thems that were gonna buy it, will buy it anyway, Xmas or not. It was never going to be the game that millions of kids were asking for in their stockings.

  • Blerk #6 7 years ago

    No swan-song big game for the Cube's last Christmas, then? Or am I forgetting something obvious?

    Anyway, I'd rather they delayed and got it right. It's not like I'm short on stuff to play.

  • Genji #7 7 years ago

    Yeah. As long as Fire Emblem is there, I will be happy.

  • HairyArse #8 7 years ago

    In some ways I'm glad it's been delayed. No doubt it would have got buried under all the other xmas tripe and sales would be potentially affected. Whereas if it's released at a time when there are no other massive releases, then it can hog all the deserved glory it will surely warrant!

  • zErOb_cOOl #9 7 years ago

    I don't have a Cube, but this looks like a game I could seriously get lost in. Really resembles the Ocarina of Time. It looks awesome now, so when they have added in these improvements, you Cube fans are in for a mighty treat (as if you dodn't already know.)

  • lost_soul #10 7 years ago

    Is there anything else to look forward to on the Cube?

  • sonmi451 #11 7 years ago

    we've always had to wait for the next Zelda. it's always been worth it though.

    would've been nice to have been playing it over the winter though.

  • OldWormsFan #12 7 years ago

    I'm sure Battalion Wars will keep me busy enough until Zelda comes out...

  • drumbaby #13 7 years ago

    A revolutionary marketing ploy!

  • tomacwhite #14 7 years ago

    Gutted. Christmas is officially OFF.. :(

    Ah well.. It will be worth the wait.. hopefully!

  • dadrester #15 7 years ago

    nintendo set us up the bomb

  • Floppy #16 7 years ago

    Twighlight Princess... delayed until 2006. When, Dec'06?
    New Super Mario Bros DS... original release Dec'04, still no date.
    Sequel to Mario Sunshine (Mario 128?)... indefinitely delayed, possibly Rev now.

    I've been a Nintendo fan for donkeys years, especially on their 1st party big name titles, but they're seriously losing their older audience to the competition. They may get new 'fans' with diluted Mario (enter sports name here), or bloody Pokemon... but they'll be very unwise to piss off their established crowd.

  • Aysir #17 7 years ago

    Well at least its a global release...
    Still Xmas is gonna lose them a lot of audience. Kids and their parents would have have certainly bought the game and they probably could've even shifted a few cheap hardware units too.

  • freedumb #18 7 years ago

    Floppy, so you'd rather want them to relaese the game in an unfinished state? Look at Half Life 2 last year, just like you said, a lot of people were losing interest in that one after the constant delays. It came out when it was ready and blew everyone away, why can't the same apply for Nintendo. Besides, if you call yourself a real Nintedndo fan, you'd appreciate the extra time to get the game into high quality, rather than being pissed off.

  • groovychainsaw #19 7 years ago

    oh well more money to spend on the rival systems, i guess....

  • freedumb #20 7 years ago

    Whenever Twilight Princess comes out, it'll still sell by the bucketload. And with Nintendo's DS line up this year (including Online Mario Kart! and Nintendogs), they've got more than a few aces up their sleeve to counter this delay.
    Edited by freedumb at 16/08/05 @ 10:14

  • Blerk #21 7 years ago

    Well at least its a global release...

    I didn't read it as 'it'll come out everywhere at the same time'. I read it as 'it'll launch everywhere at some point in 2006'. I'd kind of already resigned myself to the PAL version being a 2006 release anyway even before this news.

  • tengu #22 7 years ago

    That is annoying news... last GC I was acyually looking forward to that was!

  • kinger #23 7 years ago

    Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

  • Aysir #24 7 years ago

    "I didn't read it as 'it'll come out everywhere at the same time'. I read it as 'it'll launch everywhere at some point in 2006'. I'd kind of already resigned myself to the PAL version being a 2006 release anyway even before this news.
    "
    oh....yeah... darn....I think you're right :(

  • Floppy #25 7 years ago

    "if you call yourself a real Nintedndo fan, you'd appreciate the extra time to get the game into high quality, rather than being pissed off."

    I'd love to believe this is to give it extra time for extra quality, but I think it's purely marketing based. Releasing it at the end of the year would mean it clashes with the global Xbox360 launch. Holding off a few months to 2006 brings it nearer to the next E3, when the Revolution and the next Nintendo 'push' is due.

    I'm in software development, and can appreciate some necessary delays. Just that in my experience, a lot of the time products are held back just to please the shareholders. By the time this has been released, we would have had 'teaser' screens and vids out in the open for over a year.

  • Teeth #26 7 years ago

    Well I'm in game development, and in my experience there's always something better you can add or something you wished you'd put in or something you wished you'd fixed and not left completely broken.

  • Rahul #27 7 years ago

    Consider this: Wind Waker was pushed to release on its original launch date, and they had to cut several dungeons which led to both Aonuma and Miyamoto admitting they could have done better. Maybe they won't want the same with Twilight Princess.

    Or, as suggested, it could be to avoid getting raped by Xbox360. Who knows, really?

  • Kiigan #28 7 years ago

    What with the PSP and Xbox360 taking up more shelf-space in shops, will anyone still have a GameCube section in 2006? Sadly, this is pretty much the final nail in the coffin of the Cube and no matter how great Zelda may be, it's just too late. They should hold onto it for the Revolution.

  • nick_f Verified Senior Producer, Microsoft #29 7 years ago

    I think most of the people who would have bought the game in November will be buying it in 2006 anyway. I'm all for quality over hitting the pre-Xmas window, although it has an undeniable effect on sales (unfortunately).

    Kudos to Nintendo for not rushing out a key iteration of their flagship franchise. If it makes the difference between a 9/10 and a 10/10, I'm all for it.

  • MARKIV #30 7 years ago

    RE "Our development team has decided to take extra time to add some incredible new elements to The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess. "

    The only incredible element in my eyes would be on-line play. Despite Eiji Aonuma criticisms of Wind-waker I enjoyed it very much. I think the majority of us would rather TP came at sooner than wait after a christmas for a 5 or 10 percent improvement.

    Nintendo certainly know how to alienate their fans. The PS3 will be out let alone the XBox 360 by the time Nintendo get this one out.

    So that just means one game purchase for my Cube this year, Batallion Wars. Thank god, for the Xbox, PSP and DS then.

  • Dizzy #31 7 years ago

    Doesn't matter that much IMHO. It was never going to sell extra GCs (so close to the next gen arrival) so it will sell to the existing fan base and they can easily wait since they are probably just keeping the GC for this game (well that is what I do). So Nintendo better make sure it is good... a bad Zelda will hurt them more.

  • Chtulie #32 7 years ago

    Er, am I the only one who noticed the seven new screens? They're quite remarkable (considering how gamecube screenshots tend to look), the number of characters onscreen in the city shots is rather amazing, a genuine bustle, and some of those natural enviroments, like the coral bottom, has the ammount of detail you'd associate with a Mayazaki movie.

  • Firewine #33 7 years ago

    I'd rather it was late than shite!

    I concur.

  • Burton2000 #34 7 years ago

    nice those screenshots are quite gud.

  • Xerx3s #35 7 years ago

    As long as its with the kewl graphics im oke with it.

  • mattigan #36 7 years ago

    Nintendo in "Killer app release date slipping to exact same day as PS3 launch" shocker!!

  • Tiiti #37 7 years ago

    It came out when it was ready and blew everyone away

    Didn't blow me away and I certainly don't think it was ready. I'm basing that on the hype of the 'super' AI and 'super' lighting/graphics which were a no show as far as I'm concerned. It was all to flat for my liking.

  • L0cky #38 7 years ago

    I don't feel like I'm being alienated. This is one game I'll buy regardless of when it comes out. I agree, better late than shite (or rather, as good as it can be).

    If ninty bowed to marketing pressure, this would have been rushed out last Christmas.

  • ProfessorLesser #39 7 years ago

    Get in!!!

  • MBar #40 7 years ago

    Darn. ah well, good things come to those who ... wait.

    I think the majority of us would rather TP came at sooner than wait after a christmas for a 5 or 10 percent improvement.

    nope, I think the majority of us would rather TP came out later and as complete and as great as possible, rather than in rushed WW style. 5 or 10 percent improvement changes a good game into one of the best you've ever played.

  • Toonster #41 7 years ago

    Good... I'd prefer to get it closer to when the Revolution comes out.

  • Kay #42 7 years ago

    Everyone seems to be forgetting that The Wind Waker clearly had at least two dungons missing that had to be taken out due to time constraints. Although TWW was still brilliant, an extra few months could have enabled Anouma and co. to put in those extra dungeons, and TWW could have potentially been the best game this generation instead of just being 'very good'.

    This delay, plus Anouma's comments recently regarding the disappointment of TWW, means that I am confident that this will turn out to be the best Zelda yet. Although I've enjoyed all the Zelda games since OOT, and they have all been brilliant in their own way, none have been as refined or perfectly balanced as OOT was (and still is). As someone already said, Nintendo want to make sure that Twilight Princess is, like OOT, a 10/10 game rather than a 9/10.

    As for sales, I don't think it will make a difference, as most of today's kids used to playing Halo and GTA aren't interested in Zelda anyway - although it's true that sales would have been slightly lower in the Christmas rush.

    The people who will buy this game will still be buying it, whether it comes out in 2006 or 2007. Those people know exactly what they want - a Zelda games that cements the series reputation as the best franchise in the videogame industry.
    Edited by Kay at 16/08/05 @ 12:08

  • caligari #43 7 years ago

    Okay....maybe I'll use this 'gap' to Ebay up a copy of Tales of Symphonia

    It's either that or heroin if I'm to fill the void

  • freedumb #44 7 years ago

    'I'd love to believe this is to give it extra time for extra quality, but I think it's purely marketing based. Releasing it at the end of the year would mean it clashes with the global Xbox360 launch. Holding off a few months to 2006 brings it nearer to the next E3, when the Revolution and the next Nintendo 'push' is due.'

    Apologies for my tone earlier, and I didn't think of that suggestion. But its probably both reasons, extra polish and a more suitable marketing release date to avoid clashes and tune in with the next E3 and Revolution.

  • Daryoon #45 7 years ago

    I haven't even thought about this "next-gen" malarky... Nor do a few extra months in development phase me... Personally, I'm not seeing a problem.

  • Cloudane #46 7 years ago

    I suppose RE4 will fill the gap for the rest of 2005.

    *shrugs*

    What exactly is going to be released on the GameCube this year, especially from Nintendo?

  • gerg #47 7 years ago

    Apaprently gba.n64europe.com think there's going to be some GBA or DS and GC connectivity... inetresting

    Personally, I was always going to buy this game, and although my first comment replicated martyngates's, I can wait. A good game's a good game.

  • Chtulie #48 7 years ago

    Did a release early in the year rather then toward the end of the year hurt RE4 sales? Didn't seem so (only thing that might've hurt those sales was the lack of available copies), so I doubt a delay of this game for a few months from the end of november this year to some time early next year will make much of a difrence.

  • Floppy #49 7 years ago

    "Apologies for my tone earlier, and I didn't think of that suggestion. But its probably both reasons, extra polish and a more suitable marketing release date to avoid clashes and tune in with the next E3 and Revolution."

    No offense taken in the slightest. I'm disappointed, as are most people. I'll still be getting it, but am just a little miffed that my Christmas treat has been diluted a bit.

    Just hoping fill the void with something worthy, rather than bringing some pap forward a few months. (Hoping the US 'Chibi Robo!' release date is still on for late-November)

  • sumanai #50 7 years ago

    What's the next gen got to do with this? Revo is backwards compatible, remember? Also changing it to Revo would have made it drop on to even later, no matter how much similiar the dev tools are, it's still different. Also, people would have gone all "why does it look so bad? Can't Revo do better?".

    I agree on the "Marketing strategy and dev team gets more time" -theory.
    Good to hear I'm not the only one waiting to see Battalion Wars and the Chibi Robo.

  • Carrybagma #51 7 years ago

    Screens are great! I hope the gameplay matches the graphics though - moving a block to climb a ladder is a lacklustre challenge no matter how nice it looks.

  • Rob #52 7 years ago

    This delay will probably mean a heavier marketing spend on Battalion Wars this xmas then...it better be good.

  • Chtulie #53 7 years ago

    But you gotta have a move block to climb ladder once in the game, what's next, do away with the shoot arrow through flames to light a torch?
    Edited by Chtulie at 16/08/05 @ 13:59

  • smelly #54 7 years ago

    Ah well. It's still probably going to be the best exclusive on any platform. Who cares, i'll play it when it's good and ready and not before.

    As long as they dont screw up cube pokemon i'll be happy.

  • MARKIV #55 7 years ago

    So when will this game come out for UK Cube owners? We all know if a Nintendo game is released outside of the Christmas period it usually takes months for it to reach the UK market after JAP and US releases. Wind Waker was a case in point.

    Also, I note Batallion Wars hasn't even got a UK release date yet.. I'm just glad I didn't buy a UK Cube! :)

  • deaner #56 7 years ago

    I'll probably never bother playing it now.

    By the time it gets a PAL release I'll be playing on a different generation of console.

    Thats sad.

  • deaner #57 7 years ago

    Once the PS2 et al were released - the N64 got put on a shelf.

  • varsas #58 7 years ago

    "Old good games suck"

    Eh? Erm...I disagree with this statement.

    I'm glad that they are taking their time with Zelda especially considering the fact that they had to rush WW though I still really enjoyed it. The new town screenshots are very cool, lots of npcs milling around. I'm really looking forward to this!

    At least Fire Emblem is being released before Xmas! I'm in the midst of playing Paper Mario and RE4 at the moment.

  • Chtulie #59 7 years ago

    Yeah, very sad. Old good games suck.
    Since it's only a matter of time before new games become old games, does that mean all games, regardless of quality suck?

  • spazmo #60 7 years ago

    Of course, you can always play this game on the Revolution.

  • deaner #61 7 years ago

    True... but it's not likely.

    With the launch of new systems comes a glut of new jazzy games.

    And with all the best intentions, if I have a great Gamecube title and similar X360 title to choose from, I'll play the latter to make forking out the £300 seem like less of a waste of money.

  • MARKIV #62 7 years ago

    Yes, I can see this game slipping so far, it will eventually become a launch game for the Revolution..!

  • bencompston #63 7 years ago

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nintendo_Revolution
    look at gamecube backwards compatability! now how many people will buy a revolution! i thinks i for one will do as i want to play f-zero GX as that game looked awesome as does resident evil on gamecube too! so forget buying a gamecube why not all buy a revolution as it will be next gen, and is backwards compatible what more could we all need in life!
    wait! some people are going to say ps3 right hmmmm how many of you have £400-£500 to waste i for one dont
    Edited by bencompston at 16/08/05 @ 15:04

  • smelly #64 7 years ago

    discussing next gen machines is pretty pointless when none of them are out yet, and asside from the press and the games developers, none of us have seen finsihed games running on finished hardware yet.

    next gen a way off yet... That's if you (like me) are intending to wait for decent games before splashing out on a new system.

  • Lost_in_Darkness #65 7 years ago

    I'm hugely dissappointed as this was my most anticipated game, over anything next gen even. But if they need more time to make it a mind blowing experience, then i'm all for it. They don't wanna rush it like they rushed the tri-force quest in WW.
    Also Aonuma had been talking about adding some very unique things to the game, so they probably decided to go ahead with that.....maybe even some form of voice acting (as he said they were experimenting with that, but don't worry, if that is the case, link won't talk)
    It's just that now i'll have to wait in this despair longer.

  • smelly #66 7 years ago

    Actually i'll put money on this pissing all over the release titles on the next gen machines (perhaps not the revo)

  • Sid-Nice #67 7 years ago

    I'm so upset that I broke into song. To the tune of Delilah (Tom Jones)

    I couldn't hide my delight,
    On my very first sight,
    Of the Twilight Princess.

    The greatest gift for me,
    Is if it was under my tree,
    This Christmas.
    This was my most wanted,
    Now that it's delayed,
    I'll just go out of my mind.
    Chorus:
    Miy, Miy, Miy-a-moto,
    Why, why, why Miyamoto,
    So you say,
    There's going to be a delay,
    Forgive me Miyamoto,
    I just couldn't take any more.

    Forgive me Miyamoto,
    I just couldn't take any moooooooore,oooooooooooooore ah.

    :(

  • MARKIV #68 7 years ago

    Project Gotham Racing 3, Gears of War & Need for Speed Most Wanted look awesome on the XBox360 which all should be out in less than 3 and half months now. Checkout the new sample video on Xbox360.com by clicking on the American Footballer's head.

  • Sid-Nice #69 7 years ago

    Project Gotham Racing 3, Gears of War & Need for Speed Most Wanted look awesome on the XBox360 which all should be out in less than 3 and half months now. Checkout the new sample video on Xbox360.com by clicking on the American Footballer's head.

    These were my first thoughts when I heard Zelda was delayed.

  • tengu #70 7 years ago

    Don't give up the day job Sid ;)

  • Carrybagma #71 7 years ago

    Urrghh. Sorry, but all three of those will probably be high gloss turds in single-player mode. Microscoffed can't hold a candle to Nintendo for this type of title.

    Sid Nice - more! more! Another song! Please! He he!

  • Sid-Nice #72 7 years ago

    It is my day job, you know those jingles on adverts etc; That could of been me. :)

  • Killerbee #73 7 years ago

    Fair play to Nintendo. I'd also much rather they got it right than rushed it for what will probably be a completely overcrowded Christmas release schedule anyway.

    Having said that, I'm hoping Fire Emblem is worth a punt, otherwise my Cube is going to have a dusty Chrimbo...

  • ProfessorLesser #74 7 years ago

    If all else fails for reasoning:

    Look where delays got OoT.

  • smelliot #75 7 years ago

    I'll have to put up with Battalion Wars and Fire Emblem then.

  • deaner #76 7 years ago

    Or Final Fantasy.

  • Blerk #77 7 years ago

    Battalion Wars still looks cack. Is Chibi Robo coming out over here?

  • Daryoon #78 7 years ago

    As long as they dont screw up cube pokemon i'll be happy.

    They already did - XD is just a rehash (literally) of Colosseum, with a few extra areas.

  • tengu #79 7 years ago

    Actually, on the subject of Battalion Wars, why does Amazon say they have the game in stock when it isn't out yet?

  • Tweakmonkey #80 7 years ago

    Er, am I the only one who noticed the seven new screens?

    No - they are superb aren't they? I really love the village scene.

  • Dant #81 7 years ago

    Best screen ever:

    http://www.cube-europe.com/games/zelda2/40.jpg

    Edit: Or is it.....

    http://www.cube-europe.com/games/zelda2/44.jpg
    Edited by Dant at 16/08/05 @ 17:32

  • yagisencho #82 7 years ago

    Rest in peace, Gamecube. Hope Nintendo has a great holiday season with the DS, or they're going to be facing a tight operating budget.

  • Sid-Nice #83 7 years ago

    Rest in peace, Gamecube. Hope Nintendo has a great holiday season with the DS, or they're going to be facing a tight operating budget.

    There's always one tit.

  • pac666 #84 7 years ago

    At this rate it'll be a Revolution launch title! Bugger!

  • MARKIV #85 7 years ago

    Regarding Nintendo's holiday season, aka mainly Mario Kart DS, i played it at one of Nintendo's ALLSTARS 05 events Now I've heard of the saying flogging a dead horse, but the only thing this game has got going for it is the on-line mode. Other than that you've played / seen it all before. It barely uses the touch screen either, relying on the D-pad for steering. New Super Mario Bros was also another D-pad only controlled game. They both looked good on the small screen, mind.

  • brombeer #86 7 years ago

    I'm feeling rather cubed...

  • Aga #87 7 years ago

    aga am cry :(

  • silke #88 7 years ago

    I just have to say that the screenshots look wonderful. Just look at all the people in the city! This is a game very well worth waiting for. And if Nintendo needs more time to make it what we all want it to be, then so be it. Half-Life 2 slipped over a year and turned out to be magnificient. And I have no doubt that the extra year for Half-Life 2's production was really vital for it's overall well being.

    Take all the time you need Nintendo! But make sure Zelda:TP is amazing, or else...! ;)

  • Galvanizer #89 7 years ago

    Come on peeps! It ain't the end!

    I've already put my £40 for Zelda towards Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance.

    Besides with more time we may it may become the best game of this generation! :-D

  • Sid-Nice #90 7 years ago

    Well it's been a bad day, but do I look upset?

    Thanks Hyoushi. :)

  • Chtulie #91 7 years ago

    Take all the time you need Nintendo! But make sure Zelda:TP is amazing, or else...! ;)

    (psst, if zelda tt isn't as good as it's expected to be, it might be years before I'll buy a next gen console, if even nintendo themselves can't get their two main franchises on this gen rigt -the new ip pikmin is great though-, then there's no real reason to jump onto a next gen console asap)

  • #92 7 years ago

    Surely this will be a Revolution launch title now. It makes more sense.

  • Xavier_B_OXford #93 7 years ago

    HAH! Take THAT Nintendo losers! You're last great hope for a GOOD Gamecube game is released at the same time as the BS3, so it'll be buried in the mire of bullshit Sony will inflict on the world around that tme, leaving the Xbox360 to sail across the evil in it's boat of TRIUMPH!

  • SirScratchalot #94 7 years ago

    The need to make gaming an "us against them" proposition that some people on this and other public forums have never ceases to amaze me. Seems the picking of sides is just as important as the platform or games itself to a lot of people, if not more.
    So to the people who care just a smidge too much: If the only way you can build a functional identity for yourself is to piss all over the people who enjoy parts of gaming you don´t it´s time to take a long hard look in the mirror.

    And for some reason I never really counted on it to be released before christmas anyway. It just seemed a little too good to be true... But April... That makes me sad to the core. Soooo far away....
    Edited by SirScratchalot at 20/08/05 @ 21:23

  • onimushawara #95 7 years ago

    I dont own a gamecube, but wouldnt mind owning one to get a go on this game! looks fantastic-amazing that all the adventure/ RPG games are being released about the same time. Also looking forward to Final fantasy 12!

    Regards, onimushawara
    http://www.ff12-europe.com
    Edited by onimushawara at 30/08/05 @ 13:02