After countless rumors, screens and even a hands-on demo with our own Rory Young, it's fair to say that (judging by our numbers) The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword is highly anticipated within the gaming community. We all know it's coming soon -- but the question is, how soon is soon?

Some of you may remember numerous occasions in which Nintendo claimed that Skyward Sword would be seeing a release in 2010. As we learned at the Nintendo Press Conference at E3 2010 however, that was (unsurprisingly) pushed back to 2011. Now, new questions were raised: would it be a Holiday title? Would it release in the same window as Super Mario Galaxy 2?

In a recent interview with Official Nintendo Magazine UK, Producer Eiji Aonuma told the London-based magazine that the studio were aiming for a release in "early 2011". According to Aonuma:

"The base we have now is very, very solid. Early 2011 release -- that's what we're aiming for"

The question now is, how early is early? Personally, I don't see it being a Q1 release. If the 3DS misses Holiday 2010 and sees release in Q1 2011, then there's no way that Nintendo will force the two to compete. Some might say that the products are too dissimilar, but think of it this way: The guy/gal that walks into a GameStop and wants to buy Skyward Sword will be the same guy/gal that walks into GameStop and wants to buy the 3DS. I'd suggest a May/June release for Skyward Sword -- similar to the release date that Super Mario Galaxy 2 saw earlier this year.

The truth is though, I don't particularly care when it comes out. Of course, I'm incredibly excited for Skyward Sword, but I'd much rather than Aonuma and Co. have as much time as they need to ensure that it's the Zelda title many of us have been waiting for. I have full confidence in the development team to create a kickass Zelda title (preferably one that borrows from Majora's Mask), but they can take as much time as they want. Holiday 2011? Sure! Summer 2012? Why not! Holiday 2012? Well, it better be an absolutely awesome game...

What about you? Are you disappointed that it won't see its initial 2010 release? Or are you excited that you'll be able to play Skyward Sword by next Summer? Let us know in the comments below.

The full interview with Eiji Aonuma is now available to read in the latest ONM UK.