probably not finished just yet. they might be looking for any bugs / glitches things like that making sure the game runs smooth without crashing and all that stuff before the game goes gold for production..
but my biggest question is, has MK7 begun production already since the MK team that worked on shaolin monks have pretty much achieved their goals? I would think so, reason being that midway confirmed that they are going to release an MK game every year.. so let's hope MK7 will be released next year.

I actually dont think they are 100% finished, like, there is a new kung lao posted some days ago (better than the old one). Most provably they will finish the game and send the master disk to reproduction one week before the official release date.

I think the game is in its final touches,like testing bugs or polishing other aspects.When they talked about releasing a MK game every year they weren't talking about MK7,they were refering to Action Adventure games like MKSM,dont expect MK7 until 2007 or 2008,i dont want a rushed game,unfinished and with a broken engine,i prefer to wait and have an awesome game with great graphics and most important an excelent fighting engine.

Im not sure I think MK7 may be released next year in 2006 after MKSM, thats what I expect will happen.
But Im with the above user on this one. I want the game to be released at the very earliest in 2008. Christmas time maybe? Woopie!
Besides, what is everyone crying about? MK has a VS mode DAMMIT!

mksm is being released in september so the next mk game will be out in 2006.....207 and so on and so on so stop complaining lol

Probably now the Midway LA (Paradox Team, not Midway Chicago aka MK Team) are finalizing the "beta phase" or they are already in the "debug phase" of the game. The game will be considered finalized in the "gold phase", when the game are distribuited to the shops, and usually happened 2 weeks before the release of the game. Shaolin Monks will not delay for anything the MK7, because is other team whick developes the fighting MK games...

Ed Boon said in E32005 that his plan is released one year an action/adventure game and the next game a fighting game (MK: SM in 2005, MK7 in 2006, MK: SM 2? in 2007, MK8 in 2008, etc...)

If this game turns out to be a big success, Midway should let Paradox work on Shaolin Monks 2,3,4,etc. And they would have that on their plate and the fighting MK's won't be so rushed if there will be an MK every year. I'm saying that just so people won't freak out and think that the MK fighters will be rushed and of lesser quality because of the MK every year thing. I think it will still be good, because MK has delivered good fighters these past two games. Of course, all you uppity "fighting engine experts" will disagree, saying "The engine's all broken and bugged!" You guys are just unlucky enough to come across those bugs. It works fine for me. That being said:
They're probably done with the level design and (almost)done with the whole programming thing, and possibly in debug mode now. Not to worry, it'll get here by Sept.20...in the mean time, those of us with a lot of money can pre-order and then maybe buy the demo.....I hope the EB Games near me has the Liu Kang/Kung Lao action figures...