Cancelled video games project
This project concerns cancelled games in the range of 1995-2005.
Section: M
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Madden NFL '96
Madden NFL '96 was a cancelled PS1 game, developed by Visual Concepts.
It was intended to be the first NFL game on PS1.
Expected release date: Q4 1995, then Fall 1996
Computer and Video Games issue 170 (January 1996)
EA Sports wanted a different developer for the PS1 version of the game.
Visual Concepts were doing a horrible inefficient job of making the game.
EA was doubtful the game could be released in 1996.
Once the press got early builds to play around with, Electronic Arts saw the truth.
EA wisely canned the game.
Electronic Gaming Monthly issue 137 (December 2000)
EA cancelled it because it did not meet their standards.
That's right, folks: EA has standards. The same standards that killed Bullfrog?
The prototype is floating around on the internet. Download link below.
http://hiddenpalace.org/Madden_NFL_%2796_(Oct_25,_1995)
Trailer
https://www.polygon.com/features/2017/8/22/16175256/madden-nfl-96-playstation-canceled-ea-sports-history
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Magical Ninjya
Magical Ninjya: Jiraiya Kenzan is a cancelled PS2 game by Capcom.
It was to be a retelling of the classic folktale Jiraiya Goketsu Monogatari.
Expected release date: March 2004
Edge issue 130 (December 2002)
You would play as Jiraiya who must take on the evil organization Ojamato.
The main villain is Orochimaru, who has snake magic.
You are accompanied by two beasts, Dongama and Kazemaro.
When you defeat bosses you'll earn more beasts to summon.
The game could be played in two player co-op.
You could both be ninjas or one plays ninja and the other plays a beast.
The game was cancelled for unknown reasons.
http://www.susumumatsushita.com/press/release/pr2003_10_a.html
http://web.archive.org/web/20040614180714/http://www.capcom.co.jp/jiraiya/index.html
https://www.unseen64.net/2010/02/03/the-magical-ninjya-jiraiya-kenzan-ps2-cancelled/
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Magicosm
Magicosm is a cancelled PC MMORPG by Magicosm Team .
It was to a Java-based medieval fantasy MMO. Never seen that before.
Expected release date: 2003
Magicosm started off as Cosm until trademark conflict forced a name change.
When making a character you'll put points into attributes.
These will shape your playstyle and ultimately progression.
These come in three forms: Physical attributes, Mental Attributes, and Secondary Attributes.
These attributes have a points from 1 from 100, with 50 being the average.
The higher the attribute the more stamina and/or mana something will drain.
Magicosm seems to have been cancelled in early 2003.
It went into beta for a time but it never advanced beyond beta testing.
The game was probably cancelled for being underfuned and for World of Warcraft coming out.
http://www.magicosm.net/
http://www.cosm-game.com/
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MagBall
MagZone/Mag Zone/MagBall/Mag Ball is a cancelled PS1 and PC game from Trimark Interactive.
The game plays like soccer but with futurist ships. Football + Wipeout?
Expected release date: October 1996, then December 1996
GamePro Spring 1996 issue
MagBall, later retitled MagZone, was to be the home version of the arcade game.
The works like this: the Magball is dropped into the field.
You have to use your MagField to attract the ball to your metal discs.
Then you fire it away into your opponent's goal to score.
MagZone was to take it to the next level.
Instead of just a square/circular arena, the playing field would be immense.
Obstacles, ramps, and other hazards I tell ya what.
GamePro issue 84 (July 1996)
The game was likely cancelled due to Trimark Interactive having financial difficulties.
The parent company Trimark Pictures went bankrupt in 2000.
Another company tried to do a MagZone game for the PC but it probably didn't get released.
full size ad that has the game's premise
Trailer for the PC version
https://www.arcade-history.com/?n=magball&page=detail&id=12615
https://www.unseen64.net/2009/09/03/markball-psx-cancelled
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Major Damage
Major Damage is an cancelled Saturn and PlayStation sidescroller by Capcom.
The game was like a superhero version of Gunstar Heroes.
Expected release date: Q4 1996, then January 1997
Computer & Video Games issue 176 (July 1996)
GamePro issue 85 (August 1996)
You would play as Major Damage, the superhero saviour of Retro City.
Your job is to destroy the bad guys by causing major damage.
This gives the construction workers jobs to do. Economy solved!
Capcom used Silicon Graphics workstations to give the game its mid-90's shine.
The goal of the game was to create a fast shoot 'em up sidescroller. They didn't succeed.
Electronic Gaming Monthly issue 137 (December 2000)
Major Damage was cancelled in 1997 due to the failing Sega Saturn.
Capcom also wasn't too pleased about the game's quality.
They also took the opportunity to kill their other US projects, like Werewolf.
The game was almost complete, so it was pitched to Sony.
Sony turned them down due to Major Damage looking like Blasto.
Some prototypes for the Saturn version exists and have been dumped.
http://hiddenpalace.org/Major_Damage_(Jun_14,_1996_prototype)
http://hiddenpalace.org/Major_Damage_(Jul_14,_1996_prototype)
Gameplay
http://www.sega-saturn.net/majordamage/majordamage.htm
https://web.archive.org/web/20080507034324/http://www.segadatabase.net/segafreak/md.htm
https://www.unseen64.net/2008/04/10/major-damage-saturn-unreleased/
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Master Slave
Master Slave is a cancelled Xbox by Takuyo.
It was to be an RPG. Of course.
Expected release date: Autumn 2002, then Spring 2002
You would play as Shishiro Clandart.
In this imaginary world, you must retrieve your lost memories.
You would be assisted by several people (Slaves) to take on the bosses (Masters).
The Slaves:
Shishiro Crandato -- the protagonist.
Iris Kandia -- the genki girl who helps you retrieve your memories.
Riggs B. Volg -- the muscle guy, silent and has his own demons to deal with.
The Masters:
Dior Balkirmer -- an elite arrogant person yet is honourable in battle.
Mair Blair -- a powerful magician, one fo the four Tenno.
Kaiser D. Foster -- a powerful berserker fighter, one of the four Tenno.
The game concerns the Forest of Healing.
Iris' parents went there seven years prior and never came back.
That is where they are, and where Shishiro's memories are.
The game was cancelled for unknown reasons.
Maybe because the Xbox wasn't big enough in Japan to warrant development.
http://www.takuyo.co.jp/products/masterslave/
https://www.unseen64.net/2010/10/13/master-slave-xbox-cancelled/
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Maximum Surge
Maximum Surge is a cancelled Saturn, 3DO, and PC game by Digital Pictures.
It was to be a FMV style game like their Sega CD games.
Expected release date: Winter 1995, then November 1995, then December 1995, then Q1 1996
Game Players issue 56 (September 1995)
The game was to revolve around Jo, a mercenary, hired to defeat the evil Drxel.
Drexel wants to replace humanity with cyborgs. What a fiend.
There are also mutants running about.
Our protagnist Jo was to be played by Yasmine Bleeth, who was Caroline Holden in Baywatch.
Our villain Drexel was to be played by Walter Koenig, who was Pavel Chekov in Star Trek.
The director was William Mesa, whose company provides visual effects for films.
Next Generation issue 10 (October 1995)
Joining you on your quest is a computer hacker and a resistance commando.
Together you must battle Drexel's mutants with a range of weapons.
There was to be first-person scenes, presumably with 'press now' button prompts or death.
GamePro Spring 1996
Maximum Surge was cancelled when the studio Digital Pictures went defunct.
FMV games were out of fashion. Digital Pictures was acquired by Cyber Cinema Interactive.
The filmed scenes for this game were repurposed to create a released film.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maximum_Surge
http://www.flashfilmworks.com/games/max.html
https://www.unseen64.net/2008/05/07/maximum-surge-unreleased/
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Metal Shell
Metal Shell is a cancelled PS2, PSP, and Xbox game by Tantalus.
It was to be an arena-based tank combat game.
Expected release date: November 2004, then 2006
The game was to feature 20 different tanks.
The arenas had destructible objects and environments, falling debris, and hidden weapons.
It was also to have multiplayer, both split-screen and online.
Announced in May 2003 after being four months in development.
Shown off at E3 2003. No interested publishers.
When the PSP came about, the game was retooled for the handheld.
The trailer was shown off at E3 2005. No interested publishers.
Game presumably cancelled after that.
PSP Gameplay footage
E3 2005 trailer
https://www.tantalus.com.au/game_metalshell.html
https://www.ign.com/games/metal-shell
https://web.archive.org/web/20030621051741/http://www.metal-shell.com/
https://www.unseen64.net/2008/04/15/metal-shell-xboxps2psp-unreleased/
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Mindhack
Mindhack is a cancelled PC game by Mindware.
It was to be an MMO + FPS game. Ambitious...
Expected release date: 2002
PC Zone issue 116 (May 2002)
Mindhack is set in a persistent world that combines socializing with firearms.
It is unknown if there was a plot or missions, if any.
It could have been a free-for-all like Rust.
Mindhack would be cancelled by late 2003.
The game was likely canned because Mindware is a small company for such a big game.
Another factor is that the technology for an FPS MMO just wasn't there at the time. Oh well.
https://games.tiscali.cz/mindhack-2826
https://web.archive.org/web/20030728220131/http://www.mind-hack.com/
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Mini Racers
Mini Racers is a cancelled racing Nintendo 64 game by Looking Glass Studios.
Think of Micro Machines... yeah that's basically it.
Expected release date: October 1999, then 2000
GamePro issue 152 (May 2000)
Mini Racers was intended to hop onto the Micro Machines bandwagon.
Race tracks take inspiration from life, such as a messy bedroom and a basketball court.
You can even have a race track randomly generated.
Electronic Gaming Monthly issue 137 (December 2000)
When Looking Glass Studios became defunct in mid 2000, this game went down with it.
It was complete and ready for shipping but was sadly cancelled.
In 2012, prototypes of Mini Racers, Tamiya Racing 64, and Wildwaters were leaked.
https://hiddenpalace.org/Mini_Racers_(Prototype)
Gameplay
https://www.gamespot.com/articles/mini-racers-preview/1100-2544805/
https://web.archive.org/web/20000307194118/http://ign64.ign.com/previews/10507.html
http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=467758
https://www.unseen64.net/2008/04/04/mini-racer/
https://www.unseen64.net/2012/04/09/new-n64-protos-leaked-mini-racers-tamiya-racing-and-wildwaters/
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Mix TV Presents: Eminem
Mix TV Presents: Eminem was a PlayStation, PlayStation 2, and PC game.
The game disappeared as quickly as it was announced.
The game would have involved six puzzles for four music videos, with six different modes.
The goal would be to rearrange the music video clips in order.
Details are foggy on the other game mechanics.
There was to be two version of the game:
The watered-down radio edit version, and the uncut for more mature (or immature) audiences.
At E3 2003 Conspiracy Entertainment announced they concealed the rights to Eminem's songs.
A few months later, in July of 2003, Eminem was embroiled in a lawsuit with them.
Conspiracy Entertainment alleged that Eminem's representatives pulled out of the contract.
Apparently Eminem wanted to work with a bigger developer.
The $5m demand in damages was settled out of court (I think).
Because the game was barely worked on before it was cancelled, no known images of it exist.
https://www.gamespot.com/articles/conspiracy-entertainment-signs-eminem/1100-6028313/
https://www.gamespot.com/articles/conspiracy-sues-eminem/1100-6072102/
http://people.com/celebrity/at-your-toy-store-eminem-the-game/
http://www.mtv.com/news/1474903/eminem-accused-of-bailing-on-video-game-deal/
https://web.archive.org/web/20031212001417/http://www.conspiracygames.com:80/press.php
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Monster Breed
Monster Breed/Breeder was a cancelled Dreamcast game, developed by NEC Interchannel.
The game was announced in 1998 but cancelled in 2000.
Expected release date: November 1998, then after April 1999, then March 2000, then Fall 2000, then September 2000, then November 2000
Electronic Gaming Monthly issue 111 (October 1998)
Monster Breed was to be released shortly after the Dreamcast launch in November 1998.
The game is like a combination of Tamagotchi and Pokémon Stadium.
Oh wait that game already exists: Monster Rancher.
Using the Dreamcast's Visual Memory System you can trade and train your monsters on the go.
The game was cancelled sometime in 2000 for reasons unknown.
Maybe because late 2000 was too late.
Pokémon Stadium was huge and would swamp out sales. Maybe. Might have been fun.
http://archive.thegia.com/news/9912/n06a.html
http://56784980.swh.strato-hosting.eu/segazonecom/previews/dreamcast/monsterbreed.html
https://www.unseen64.net/2008/04/10/monster-breed-breeder-dc-cancelled/
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Monstrous City
Monstrous City is a cancelled PS1 game from Northstar Studios.
The game is like Sim City in reverse: instead of building a city, you are destroying it.
Expected release date: Q4 1995, then Q3 1996, then September 1996
Next Generation issue 13 (January 1996)
The goal of the game is to control a monster and go to town on the cities.
Wrecking various structures, like nuclear power plants, may yield power-ups.
The cities won't go down without a fight, however...
This is the future, and they are equipped to deal with you.
Lasers, smart rockets, they have it all to wreck you.
You can play as at least 12 monsters.
Some of these include a Godzilla-like dinosaur, a robot, and something that looks like my dad.
A cool thing about the game is the camera angles to highlight juicy moments.
The physics engine was also tooled be realistic, rather than blocky polygons.
Surely such an ambitious project would see the light of day, no?
It is believed that Northstar Studios could not find a publisher for the game.
That's the nature of the beast: you and your team work for years to finally make a product...
... and it never gets to leave the studio. Sad!
https://de.linkedin.com/in/perrymanjeff/de
http://www.flyinggoat.com/Games/MCity_p01.html
http://malditosnerds.com/notas/id/4818/TOP-10-Juegos-cancelados-de-PlayStation#3
https://www.unseen64.net/2011/05/13/monstrous-city-psx-cancelled/
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Mythica
Mythica is a cancelled PC game by Microsoft.
It was to be an MMO comprised of North mythology.
Expected release date: 2004
PC PowerPlay issue 89 (August 2003)
PC Zone issue 132 (September 2003)
You would play as a fallen hero in the afterlife.
To achieve godhood you would need to complete quests and raid dungeons, all that MMO jazz.
You can either play solo or with a group of friends.
You can control various demi-gods, each with their own powers and abilities.
With these can take out various Norse monsters, such as Jörmungandr (the Migdard Serpent).
To enter Valhalla you need to win the final battle: Ragnarok.
PC Zone issue 140 (April 2004)
Microsoft found itself in hot water when Mythic Entertainment sued them for copyright.
Microsoft then conceded and pulled the plug on the MMO, saying that the genre was crowded.
Talk about cognitive dissonance.
Timeline:
April 2003: Mythica announced
December 2003: Microsoft sued by Mythic Entertainment
February 2004: Mythica cancelled
E3 2003 footage
https://web.archive.org/web/20031002104555/http://www.mythica.com/Default.htm?c00=0
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mythica
https://www.engadget.com/2011-07-19-the-game-archaeologist-and-the-what-ifs-mythica.html
https://www.gamespot.com/articles/microsoft-announces-mythica/1100-6025752/
https://www.gamespot.com/articles/mythica-qanda/1100-6085188/
https://www.gamespot.com/articles/mythica-is-no-more/1100-6089326
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