What Delay? Torchlight II Still Aiming For Summer

If the Internet serves as a representative sample (and I don't see why it shouldn't), the first thought on the minds of most humans - the goal that sustains our insatiable will to live - isn't love, sex, eating, fighting, curiosity, or figuring out how many licks it takes to get to the center of a Tootsie Pop. It's Torchlight II's release date. When word got out that the vibrant hack 'n' slash was facing an uphill battle to completion, chaos ensued. The Internet collectively wept, and hope festered into bitter sorrow. All of which is, in retrospect, pretty silly, because everything's probably going to be a-okay.

Speaking with Joystiq, Runic president Travis Baldree explained that - in spite of a billowing to-do list - Torchlight II's still got a summer release date in its sights. He (briefly) explained:

"The end of summer is September 25th or something like that, right? We're still trying to get it done for summer. It's a big game and we've still got some polish to go."

So obviously, that leaves room for more slippage, but I'm not counting Runic out yet. Clearly, though, quality's more important than timeliness, and honestly, carving out a little breathing room away from Diablo III's sulfur-soaked aromas certainly can't hurt.

There is, however, reason for more WIDESPREAD PANIC. This year's fall equinox, after all, is on September 22nd. Baldree's made a grave miscalculation, and if Torchlight II comes out on the 23rd, 24th, or 25th, it'll miss summer by eons. In other news, I've put together an infallible mathematical equation that figures out - in all situations - precisely how many licks it takes to get to the center of a Tootsie Pop, but it isn't helping at all.