Saturday, August 8, 2020

Cancelled games - T

Cancelled video games project

This project concerns cancelled games in the range of 1995-2005.

Section: T

 

####################################################################


Take the Bullet


Take the Bullet is a cancelled Dreamcast game from Red Lemon Studios.
It was Sega's answer to Goldeneye 007.

Expected release: Q4 1999, then December 1999, then January 2000, then March 2001


Electronic Gaming Monthly issue 121 (August 1999)

You would play as Jack Travis, bodyguard to a presidential candidate, Kincade.
Your job is to protect him from terrorist attacks from the Children of Gabrielle.
Take the Bullet is set in the late 60's. Definitely a JFK vibe going on.


You are not alone; much like a Rainbow Six game you have a squad of fellow bodyguards to organise.

There are 12 big levels. There are 18 different weapons.
You can play 4-player split-screen. You can play 16 players online at once.
Take the Bullet was going to be a big game.

The gameplay was going to the sort where you can switch between first-person and third-person.
You would control the game with a light-gun somehow.

Hopes were high for this game. It was one of the few FPS games coming out at the time.
The Unreal and Unreal Tournament DC ports were earlier canned.


Official Dreamcast Monthly issue 3 (January 2000)

When Take the Bullet missed its Xmas 1999 release, Sega assured us all the game was coming.
When Sega declared in March 2001 that the game was not coming to the USA, it was coming.
When the Sega Dreamcast was discontinued later that year, Sega did not say a thing.

A prototype of Take the Bullet exists but it is held by a private collector.
Here's hoping that prototype gets released one day.


Trailer


Prototype in action


https://www.gamespot.com/articles/take-the-bullet-announced-for-the-dreamcast/1100-2451426/
https://www.gamespot.com/articles/take-the-bullet-on-course-in-europe/1100-2698643/
http://www.thedreamcastjunkyard.co.uk/2015/11/take-bullet-revealed_13.html
https://www.unseen64.net/2008/04/10/take-the-bullet-dc-cancelled/


####################################################################

Tarantula


Tarantula is a cancelled PS1 and Saturn game by Scavenger.
It is not to be confused with Spider for the PS1.

Expected release date: 1997



Mean Machines issue 45 (July 1996)

Tarantula was to be a simulation game.
Control a hairy legged beast and explore your new world.
Information on objectives and plot are non-existent.


PC Zone issue 47 (February 1997)


Tarantula was likely cancelled because Spider by Boss Game Studios was released.
Not to be outdone by a similar game, it was canned to focus on other games.
Or maybe Scavenger worked on it until they went defunct.

Scavenger had a botched deal with GT Interactive.
Their ambitious games were put on hold so they could fulfill their contract.
The turmoil of the deal caused the studio to close due to debt.

https://assemblergames.com/threads/scavenger-release-not-list.36077/#post-542668
https://www.unseen64.net/2010/05/22/tarantula-psx-saturn-cancelled


####################################################################

Taxi Driver




Taxi Driver is a cancelled PS2 and Xbox game from Majesco and Papaya Studio.
The game would be like GTA but set in the 70's, man.

Expected release date: Spring 2006

Taxi Driver is set two months after the movie.
So in other words, it's a sequel but with the same title.
I hate it when developers/publishers that do that.

As mentioned, this game looks like a GTA clone but with Travis Bickle.
One interesting gameplay mechanic is the stress meter: killing innocents builds the meter.
If the stress gets too much, Travis passes out and you restart at the last checkpoint.

The gameplay is akin to Crazy Taxi: pick up people and drop them off at their destination.
Some pedestrians give missions when picked up, like a driveby shooting or driving to a soon-to-be crime scene.

Since Travis wants to take out scum, there are plenty of missions that involve killing mobsters.
Run around on foot, gun in hand, and peer around corners to shoot.

Taxi Driver was to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the film.
Things were not to be...

Majesco ran out of money. Big budget games like Psychonauts drained their money.
Majesco saw bigger profits from handheld licensed games like SpongeBob.
So Majesco sadly cancelled Taxi Driver in January 2006.


E3 2005 trailer


Gameplay


https://www.gamespot.com/articles/taxi-driver-e3-2005-hands-on/1100-6126212/
https://www.gamespot.com/articles/majesco-mash-up-stock-sinks-on-declining-revs/1100-6142618/
http://au.ign.com/articles/2005/05/11/taxi-driver-the-game
http://au.ign.com/articles/2005/05/19/e3-2005-taxi-driver-hands-on
http://au.ign.com/articles/2006/01/19/majesco-sees-red-titles-dead-2
https://assemblergames.com/threads/majesco-cancels-demonik-taxi-driver.8346/#post-125755
https://www.unseen64.net/2009/05/24/taxi-driver-xbox-ps2-cancelled/


####################################################################

Team SAS




Team SAS, aka Andy McNab: Team SAS, is a cancelled Xbox game from Rage Software.
It was to be a squad-based first person shooter, like Rainbow Six and the like.

Expected release date: Fall 2002, then Fall 2003

Computer & Video Games issue 112 (July 2002)


Electronic Gaming Monthly issue 167 (June 2003)

The game would have you command a squad through 12 missions to kill General Piotr Kiminsky, Communist leader.
This Commie is holding the world hostage a la the Cuban missile crisis.
It is your mission to stop him before it is too late.

Each of the missions plays differently for lots of replayability.
The tough enemies are no pushover and will test your skills.



Official UK Xbox Magazine issue 4 (June 2002)


Andy McNab himself was brought onto the project to aid in its accuracy.
Not even the hardened ex-SAS soldier can help pull the game through.

A PS2 version was considered but dropped because the Xbox had the superior hardware.
Team SAS was cancelled when the Rage Software went bankrupt in January 2003.

https://www.gamespot.com/articles/e3-2002-andy-mcnab-team-sas/1100-2866534/
https://www.gamespot.com/articles/andy-mcnab-team-sas-details/1100-2908340/
https://www.gamespot.com/articles/new-team-sas-details/1100-2869372/
http://au.ign.com/articles/2003/01/09/team-sas
https://www.unseen64.net/2008/04/15/team-sas-xbox-unreleased/


####################################################################


Terminus


Terminus is a cancelled PS1, Saturn, and PC game by Scavenger.
It was to be a futuristic game about a bio-dominatrix. Yes.

Expected release date: 1996


Gamefan issue 38 (February 1996)


Edge issue 34 (July 1996)


In this futuristic world, a metropolis is waning in dystopia.
You play as a buxom lass with belts barely containing your tits and curves.

The 3D rendering was going to be accomplished with the new NURBS system.
This stands for Non-Uniformal Rational B-Splines.
This would draw curves more realistic than polygons could. Ooo la la.

Other than that, there's no much info about this game.
That's because Scavenger and GT Interactive were very secretive of the game.


Gamefan issue 43 (July 1996)



Mean Machines issue 45 (July 1996)


Terminus was shelved to fulfil a contract by GT Interactive.
Scavenger would work on some games for GT Interactive and then get back to their IPs.
Trouble was afoul.

When GT Interactive failed to pay, Scavenger sued them for the money they were owed.
Despite winning, Scavenger went out of business in 1998.
Them going under took down this game, as well as 4-5 others they were also working on.

Some of the team members from this game's development were hired by Shiny Entertainment.
The technology they were working on was used to help develop Messiah.

http://www.gamasutra.com/view/feature/3379/behind_the_scenes_of_messiahs_.php
https://assemblergames.com/threads/various-unreleased-and-beta-games.33095/page-14#post-744905
https://www.unseen64.net/2010/07/31/terminus-saturn-psx-cancelled/


####################################################################

The 10th Planet


The 10th Planet is a cancelled PC game by Bethesda.
It was to be a space simulation combat game.

Expected release date: Winter 1997, then Q4 1997, then 1998




Next Generation issue 26 (February 1997)

This game came about as a teamup between Bethesda and Centropolis Entertainment.
Centropolis Entertainment, the creator of scu-fi 'hits', wanted a space game.

The mysterious tenth planet has been cited as the source of 'natural disasters' of ancient times.
A research base on Pluto has been destroyed by alien forces.
As the only survibor, you might fight off the invaders to save Earth.

The gameplay was to be fast and furious dogfighting.
You can customize your ship with over 100 parts, each with their uses.
These is some strategy to crafting the right ship for the job.


PC PowerPlay issue 18 (November 1997)


The 10th Planet was cancelled to save money.
First Centropolis pulled out, delaying the game, then it got unceremoniously canned.
Creating giant space battles and gorgeous FMVs cost too much money for them to bare.

https://web.archive.org/web/19970605103437/http://www.bethsoft.com/html/10thplanet.html
https://web.archive.org/web/19971012034806/http://www.pcgamer.com:80/p_10thplanet.html
https://web.archive.org/web/19990916101545/http://avault.com/previews/preview_temp.asp?game=10planp&page=1
http://www.thecomputershow.com/computershow/previews/10thplanet.htm
https://web.archive.org/web/19971012034806/http://www.pcgamer.com:80/p_10thplanet.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_10th_Planet
https://www.unseen64.net/2016/01/12/10th-planet-bethesda-pc-cancelled/


####################################################################

The Big One


The Big One is a cancelled PS2 game from Atari Melbourne House.
It was to be a set after a fictional huge earthquake and the disaster relief.

Expected release date: 2003/2004/2005/2006

The Big One would have been an action-adventure game in which you aid the relief effort.
Atari was going to do the Transformers game sequel but had to sell the rights.
Using the leftover team, they set to work on this game.

You would have played as different characters, such as a firefighter (see video below).
There was also a karma system based on your actions.
Sadly, Atari cancelled the game due to being constantly strapped for cash.


Prototype footage

http://www.retrogamingaus.com/wiki/index.php?title=The_Big_One
https://en.wikinews.org/wiki/Atari_Melbourne_Project_revealed
https://www.unseen64.net/2010/07/08/the-big-one-ps2-cancelled/


####################################################################

The Contract


The Contract is a cancelled PS1 game by Psygnosis.
It was to be a third person action mob mafia adventure.

Expected release date: Q4 1998, then January 1999


GamePro issue 113 (December 1998)

The year is 1973.
Some of Coluscha family has been massacred.
It is up to you to avenge them.

You play as two mob henchmen, Simon McClaren and Natasha Morland.
The objectives change depending on which henchmen you play as.

Simon was to be stealth-based.
Natasha was to be the violent aggressive one.

There was to be 30 missions.
These were to be set across sixteen unique environments.
You've got the streets, prison, the sewer, naval ships...

There was to be more than 50 weapons.
There was also going to be 20 stealthy moves.
Psygnosis enlisted Andy McNab to help advise the dev team.

The Contract was cancelled near the end of 1998.
For what purpose? Probably due to Syphon Filter, which looks and plays similarly.


Trailer with game info in description

http://haydndaltoncom.ipage.com/hdn/games-history/the-contract
https://assemblergames.com/threads/the-contract-psygnosis.55661
https://www.unseen64.net/2008/04/11/the-contract-psx-cancelled


####################################################################

The Diabolical Adventures of Tobu



The Diabolical Adventures of Tobu is a cancelled PlayStation game from 989 Studios.
The game was in development from 1997 to 1999.

Expected release date: November 1998,


Next Generation issue 45 (September 1998)


Electronic Gaming Monthly issue 110 (September 1998)

The Diabolical Adventures of Tobu was an action-flight game wherein you play Tobu.
Your task is to save your uncle from an evil emperor.

To save your uncle you have to collect seven lotus leaves in every level for some reason.
The game would have outdoor levels to explore and indoor levels with puzzles.

The game would control like a hybrid of Pilotwings and Panzer Dragoon.
You would need to take advantage of up-drafts, chutes, and collect powerups to succeed.
The game sounds like it should have succeeded, but alas the game was not to be.


GamePro issue 111 (October 1998)


Gamers' Republic issue 6 (November 1998)


989 Studios did some restructuring and focused on Twisted Metal 4 instead of this game.
On April 1st, 2000, 989 Studios merged back into SCEA to prepare for the PS2.


http://au.ign.com/games/the-diabolical-adventures-of-tobu
https://trademarks.justia.com/755/55/the-diabolical-adventures-of-tobu-75555385.html
https://www.unseen64.net/2009/07/07/the-diabolical-adventures-of-tobu-psx-cancelled/


####################################################################

The Dreamland Chronicles: Freedom Ridge


The Dreamland Chronicles: Freedom Ridge is a cancelled PS2 and PC game from Mythos Games.
It was to be a reboot of the original X-COM game.

Expected release date: November 2000, then Q4 2000, then April 2001


PC Zone issue 87 (March 2000)


Julian Gollop, founder and head of Mythos Games, had grand ideas for the X-COM franchise.
Next gen technology had him salivating over the possibilities.
It was time to take his beloved game series into the third dimension.

The Dreamland Chronicles: Freedom Ridge was to be a turn-based squad strategy game.
It would be second nature to X-COM veterans.


Edge issue 89 (October 2000)


The Saurans, an lizard-like alien race, has invaded and taken over Earth in 2003.
You lead a small resistance group, the Terran Liberation Army.

All seems lost and hopeless. That is, until you detect strange signals coming from Area 51.
This is 'Dreamland', which is nearby Freedom Ridge. See what they did there?

It's not just the Saurans; you've got more races in the colourful cast of characters.
The Reticulans are enemies of the Saurans but maintain neutrality.
The Men In Black are ones to watch out for. It's said they have a hybrid breeding program.

The gameplay stems from building a base and building it up.
Intercept enemy vehicles, complete reconnaissance missions, and attack enemy bases.
Oh and of course defend your own base from enemy attacks from time to time.

From your base you can build up your forces.
Science labs, workshops, and barracks beef up your troops and their capabilities.
Studying alien technology and their corpses can yeild equipment upgrades.

Much like an RPG, your soldiers get stronger with time.
They build up experience points which can then be spent on their stats.
You can boost their strength, bravery, accuracy or leadership.

Vehicles are an interesting feature.
You can capture enemy alien vehicles and retool them for your own purposes.
You can obtain Scout ships, Strike ships for interceptions, and Manta Ray Battleships.




Next Generation issue 69 (September 2000)


PC Zone issue 102 (May 2001)


The Dreamland Chronicles: Freedom Ridge was cancelled around May 2001.
Mythos Games was liquidated. The staff created a new studio: Codo Technologies.
All is not lost for this game yet.

Altar Interactive purchased the unfinished game in 2002 and reworked it.
They released it as UFO: Aftermath in 2003.
It spawned its own line of sequels. Not bad for a cancelled game.


Gameplay footage from a 2000 alpha build


https://www.polygon.com/2017/4/26/15435024/dreamland-chronicles-freedom-ridge-valkyria-chronicles-xcom-julian-gollop
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Dreamland_Chronicles:_Freedom_Ridge
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UFO:_Aftermath
https://web.archive.org/web/20000816092443/http://www.mythosgames.com:80/dreamland.htm
https://web.archive.org/web/20010529124553/http://www.gamespy.com:80/interviews/september00/freedomridge
https://web.archive.org/web/20010412235116/http://www.freelancer.ag.ru:80/dream/index_eng.shtml
https://www.unseen64.net/2008/09/22/dreamland-chronicles-freedom-ridge-ps2pc-cancelled


####################################################################

The Fallen


The Fallen is a cancelled PS1 and PC game from Sensory Deception.
The game would have been a sort of early open world sandbox game.

Expected release date: Fall 1996, then October 1996, then December 1996, then Q1 1997


Official Australian PlayStation Magazine issue 2 (Summer 1997)

The Fallen started off as a M2 game. The M2 was supposed to be the sequel to the 3DO.
Soon after E3 1996 Psygnosis abandoned the vaporware M2 and moved onto the PS1 and PC.

The Fallen is a third person action-adventure strategy RPG game set in a city.
The world is set in a post-apocalyptic society run by The Lords.
The outcasts, the eponymous Fallen, want to live in a free society.


Edge issue 33 (June 1996)

You can play as a Lord or Fallen, either by enforcing the law or invoking anarchy.
How you act shapes the world and the people who inhabit it.

There is lots of things wrong with this city: violence, corruption, bribery...
How you deal with it is up to you.

Psygnosis likely cancelled the game because it probably wouldn't be worth the money.
It was an ambitious project for 1996. There was likely framerate issues.

https://www.alternatehistory.com/forum/threads/beyond-the-genesis-an-alternate-video-game-history.301531/page-4
http://psygnosis.spokintosh.org/E3/fallen.html
http://www.oocities.org/timessquare/arcade/1513/Psygnosis.html
https://www.unseen64.net/2010/04/23/the-fallen-psx-pc-cancelled/


####################################################################

The Genome Project




The Genome Project is a cancelled PC game by Saber Interactive.
It was to be a third-person action adventure game.

Expected release date: 2002

You would play as a military researcher in a world gone wrong.
Genetic manipulation has created swarms of mutated scientists.
Then you would harvest their DNA and do some Mega-Maning to gain their abilities.

Some of these abilities would include night vision, boosts in speed or aim, and resistances.
These splices would also affect your physical appearance.

This game was canned in favour of Will Rock, which was released in 2003.

https://kanobu.ru/games/the-genome-project/
https://ag.ru/games/the-genome-project
https://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=es&u=https://as.com/meristation/2001/11/12/noticias/1005548400_047554.html&prev=search


####################################################################

The Incredible Shrinking Character


The Incredible Shrinking Character is a cancelled PS1, Saturn, and PC game by Go-Go Interactive Studios.
The game is kind of like a cross between Ico and Honey I Shrunk the Kids.

Expected release date: Fall 1996


Next Generation issue 14 (February 1996)

The year in 1959.
You play as Sam, a private investigator on the hunt for a powerful family's daughter, Julie Caldwell.
The prime suspect is Dr. Franklin, who is a mad scientist type.

You pretend to apply for an assistant job but included in the business dinner was shrinking potion.
You must find the antidote before you shrink out of existence!

There are 12 levels.
Every puzzle you complete advances the game clock, shrinking you a little more.
With around 20 puzzles to complete, you will shrink quite a bit. This also means no backtracking.

As you shrink the problems pile up.
Bugs that used to be pests are now powerful enemies to duel.
Mice and cats will gang up on you.

Cyberdreams, the publisher, had some problems on their end.
In 1995 anxious investors forced the company to cater towards third party publishing rather in-house publishing.
The move would lead to Cyberdreams going defunct in 1997, taking this game among others.

In 1997 the official Go-Go Interactive hosted a PC demo of the game. That has been archived.
http://hiddenpalace.org/The_Incredible_Shrinking_Character_Demo
https://archive.org/details/Gogodemo.


Trailer

http://lostmediawiki.com/The_Incredible_Shrinking_Character_(cancelled_PC/Playstation/Saturn_action-adventure_game;_1996)
http://www.mobygames.com/company/cyberdreams-inc
https://www.unseen64.net/2010/10/31/the-shrinking-characters-psx-sat-pc-cancelled/


####################################################################

The Indestructibles


The Indestructibles is a cancelled PS1, Saturn, and PC game by Bullfrog.
The game was formally known as M.I.S.T. (My Indestructible Superhero Team).

Expected release date: December 1995, then July 1996, then August 1997


PC Zone issue 32 (November 1995)

Create and design your own superhero or superheroine and either fight for good or evil.
With your powers you can fly, kill anyone or anything.

As a hero you would work for the government.
As a villain you would work as a mercenary for hire.
Either way you get paid, which pays for better technology or sidekicks.



PC Zone issue 35 (February 1996)


PC Zone issue 36 (March 1996)


PC Zone issue 37 (April 1996)


The Indestructibles was originally going to be set in a dark futuristic setting.
The game was shifted to early 20th century to make the setting brighter.
It was still going to use the Magic Carpet engine but tweak it for supreme power.
Development for the game stalled when producer programmer Sean Cooper left.
The team behind The Indestructibles went on to form a game company: Mucky Foot.
With no one working on the game, it was put on hold, never to come out.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Indestructibles_(video_game)
https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2012-10-18-the-lost-worlds-of-lionhead-and-bullfrog
https://www.abandonware-france.org/ltf_abandon/ltf_jeu.php?id=1501
https://www.unseen64.net/2008/12/08/the-indestructibles-cancelled/


####################################################################

The Island of Dr Moreau


The Island of Dr Moreau is a cancelled PS1 and PC game by Haiku Studios for Psygnosis.
It was to be based on the book and maybe as a tie-in in the 1996 film.

Expected release date: Winter 1996, then 1997


Official UK PlayStation Magazine issue 8 (July 1996)


You would play as Edward Prendick, a man shipwrecked onto the eponymous island.
You must find a way off while battling human-animal hybrids and battles.

The gameplay would have been similar to Resident Evil.
It was to be a non-linear game with cutting edge (at the time) graphics.

Although it was shown at E3 1997 it was cancelled months before its release.
The cancellation was due to Haiku Studios going defunct in 1997.

https://www.dailymotion.com/video/xrwuy
Teaser, possibly the intro cutscene

https://web.archive.org/web/19970415121557/http://www.haikustudios.com/moreau/moreau.htm
https://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=fr&u=https://www.abandonware-france.org/ltf_abandon/ltf_jeu.php%3Fid%3D1474&prev=search
https://www.unseen64.net/2017/10/02/island-dr-moreau-playstation-pc-cancelled/


####################################################################

The Lady, The Mage and The Knight


The Lady, The Mage and The Knight (aka LMK) is a cancelled PC game by Larian studios.
It was a Diablo-esque character-based RPG.

Expected release date: 1998

Latrian, a fresh-face company, got to work on Unless: The Treachery of Death in 1996.
Attic Entertainment Software then joined forces.
Unless then became The Lady, The Mage and The Knight, set in the The Dark Eye universe.

The game met its Waterloo at E3, where Diablo II was shown off.
Diablo II was 16-bit, whereas LMK was 8-bit.
This was one of the major factors that led to its cancellation.

Both companies had financial problems, including unpaid wages to its employees.
Both dev teams had to rent one big dirty grotty apartment, which was unbearable.
THe game was cancelled in 1999 and they got to work on a hit: Divine Divinity.

Users who purchased Divine Divinity from GoG would also get the LMK tech demo.
Also Divinity II: Developer's Cut Edition has it too.


trailer from 1998

E3 trailer from 2000


https://web.archive.org/web/19980524054916/http://www.larian.com/lmkover.htm
https://web.archive.org/web/20010815212428/http://www.larian.com/ubb/Forum3/HTML/000408.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Divine_Divinity#Development
https://www.pcgamer.com/au/how-larian-studios-skirted-bankruptcy-before-making-divinity-original-sin/
https://www.betaarchive.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=26564


####################################################################

The Last Job


The Last Job is a cancelled PS2 and Xbox games by Acclaim.
It was basically Payday before its time.

Expected release date: Winter 2005, then Spring 2005


Game Informer issue 134 (June 2004)

The Last job concerns a part of four and their quest for a heist.
You are called out of retirement for one final heist; the last job.
Rob banks, jewelry stores, warehouses, museums and more.

You will need strategy to shut down surveillance and prevent the cops from arriving.
Cracking safes need time and you need to be vigilant that no one tries to be a hero.
Once you've nicked the scratch, dash to the getaway car and book it. Simple, right?


Official UK PlayStation2 Magazine issue 48 (July 2004)

The Last Job was cancelled when Acclaim went bankrupt in 2004.
The game's assets were up for sale at the following bankruptcy sale.

https://www.gamespot.com/articles/the-last-job-e3-2004-preshow-first-look/1100-6096772/
https://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/97429/Acclaim_Properties_ReAppear_For_Sale.php
https://www.unseen64.net/2008/04/15/the-last-job-xboxps2-cancelled/


####################################################################

The Lord of the Creatures


The Lord of the Creatures is a cancelled PC, PS3, and Xbox 360 game by Arvirago Entertainment.
It was to be a sword and sorcery RPG.

Expected release date: 2003, then 2004, then 2005, then 2006, then 2007, then 2008, etc...


Edge issue 126 (August 2002)

The Lord of the Creatures, aka The Lord of the Monsters, was to be a big hit.
You could either battle the monsters solo, or play online with other players.

You would control one of eight magicians, male or female, to play as.
Each has different spells, skills, and stats.
There was to be five different types of mana and lots of spells to cast.

As a Lord, you could lord over the 100 creatures of the world (title drop!).
You can use magic to combine creatures and use them in your army.
You can even mount them and attack castles owned by other Lords.


PC Zone issue 128 (May 2003)

The was cancelled due the global economic crisis of 2007-2008.
Atari was helping fund the game but the economic turmoil hit them hard.
They withdrew funding, enabling this ambitious project to wither and die.

Timeline:
* late 2002: development begins
* mid-2003: game unveiled at E3 2003
* mid-2005: initial cancellation, Atari becomes the publisher, uncancelled
* mid-2006: development shifts to the PS3 and 360
* mid-2006: Atari injects money to edit things and speed development along
* mid-2008: Atari drops out, will not publish the game
* December 2008: iPhone and iPad are announced as potential platforms for the game
* 2009: game finally seems to have died.
* late-2010: official website goes offline

https://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=es&u=https://as.com/meristation/juegos/the_lord_of_the_creatures/&prev=search
https://www.gamespot.com/articles/first-look-the-lord-of-the-creatures/1100-6072006/
https://web.archive.org/web/20040401215303/http://www.arvirago.com/Theproject.htm
https://web.archive.org/web/20050206091455/http://arvirago.com:80/Eng/Base.htm
https://www.unseen64.net/2016/05/30/lord-of-the-creatures-cancelled/


####################################################################

The Lost




The Lost is a cancelled PS2 and Xbox game from Irrational Games and FXLabs.
It was heavily inspired by the Inferno part of Divine Comedy.

Expected release date: Q3 2001, then Xmas 2001, then June 2002, then November 2002, then Q1 2003, then March 2003


Next Generation issue 72 (December 2000)






Next Generation issue 77 (May 2001)

You would play as Amanda Wright, waitress and medical student.
Her only daughter Beatrice is killed in a car accident.
Amanda sells her soul to the devil to enter Hell to retrieve Beatrice's soul.

Virgil, a reptilian being, guides Amanda through Hell.
How much more can they take from the epic poem?



Edge issue 98 (June 2001)

Amanda can trade identities with four beings called Entities. These grant her powers.
Shadow = stealth, Light = defensive magic, Corruption = offensive magic, and Instinct = close-combat swordsman.
Each character has six skills - that use mana - and three different weapons each.

There is nine levels throughout five levels.
Get it? Nine levels... nine levels of Hell.
Locations range from a castle to an industrial area.

The Lost was to combine third-person combat with survival horror, platformer, and RPG elements.

At E3 2002 the game was applauded for concept but thumbs down went to the framerate.
The graphics engine used was LithTech 3D, which was designed for FPS games.

The graphics engine was swapped to the Unreal Engine, delaying the game to 2003.
Irrational Games excused the delay as 'adding surprises', like a decent framerate.



Official UK PlayStation Magazine issue 25 (October 2002)

Crave Entertainment picked up the publishing rights but then changed business models.
Crave wanted to be more budget-game orientated.

The Lost was pretty much complete but was unable to be released due to these legal issues.
The Lost had truly become a lost game...

... or so you thought.
FXLabs, the Indian studio co-developing The Lost, had the rights to the game.
They updated the game to be more Indian appropriate and released it as Agni: Queen of Darkness in 2006.


Gameplay from E3 2002


https://web.archive.org/web/20030618021556/http://www.thelost.com/flat_limbo_main.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Lost_(video_game)
https://www.gamespot.com/articles/the-lost-preview/1100-2666120/
https://www.gamespot.com/articles/e3-2001-hands-onthe-lost/1100-2762264/
https://www.gamespot.com/articles/the-lost-preview/1100-2855948/
https://www.gamespot.com/articles/the-lost-impressions/1100-2869210/
https://www.gamespot.com/articles/crave-pushes-three-to-2003/1100-2878154/
https://www.gamespot.com/articles/crave-shifts-focus/1100-2910739/
https://www.gamespot.com/articles/heartbreakers/1100-6132028/
https://www.gamespot.com/articles/the-lost-to-debut-on-pcs/1100-6147622/
http://au.ign.com/articles/2001/04/13/the-lost
http://au.ign.com/articles/2002/05/24/e3-2002-ign-finds-the-lost
http://au.ign.com/articles/2002/06/28/the-lost-has-been-found
https://www.unseen64.net/2008/04/15/the-lost-xboxps2-cancelled/


####################################################################

The Rebel Planet: Chapter One: Orion


The Rebel Planet: Chapter One: Orion is a cancelled Xbox and PC game by Rebel Planet Creations.
It is a Christian game set after the Great Flood.

Expected release date: ????

You play as Adam, who has been jaded by centuries of guilt and living in sin.
He comes across Orion, based on Enoch from the Bible.
Orion's quest for redemption may well lead Adam on his own quest for redemption and hope.

This was the first chapter of a series.
It is unknown how big the series is.

Apparently this game is still in development (not the Xbox version obviously).
Or maybe the website never updated it since those are some old outdated screenshots.
When/if this game is cancelled I will flesh this section out. Or when released I'll remove it.

https://web.archive.org/web/20080314222635/http://www.therebelplanet.com/christian-video-games/rebel-planet-orion.html

https://www.therebelplanet.com/rebel-planet-orion/


####################################################################

The Roots


The Roots is a cancelled Xbox and PC game by Tannhauser Gate and published by Cenega.
It was to be a Fables like game from a Czech game company.

Expected release date: Q3 2004, then Q1 2005, then Q1 2006


PC Zone issue 135 (December 2003)

You play as Yan, a 19 year old lad.
He was left at the village of Corris as a baby.
You were raised by the Magic Tree of Life's sentinel to defend the trees.

In the world of Lorth, one of the five magic trees is dying.
These trees uphold peace and harmony, so them dying is a bad thing.
Your job is to save the tree.

The Roots was an ambitious third-person fantasy RPG.
The gameplay was to consist of turn-based combat.
You can increase your party to up to four characters. If female members, then romance~.

There was to be over 24 different regions with tons of items and spells to use.
Different settings would have included forests, swamps, lakes, and floating islands.
With over 120 NPCs to chat up and over 70 battle arenas, this could have been big.


PC Zone issue 144 (August 2004)

The Roots was cancelled in April 2006 for undisclosed reasons, probably financial.
The game was cancelled but the prequel, The Roots: Gates of Chaos, was released on the N-Gage.
Yes, the N-Gage.

Timeline:
March 2004: The Roots announced
April 2006: The Roots cancelled


Particle FX tech demo footage

https://web.archive.org/web/20040716083632/http://www.theroots-game.com/data_core.html
https://web.archive.org/web/20031203122810/http://www.cenega.com/index.php?shgame=14
https://web.archive.org/web/20031009002130/http://www.cenega.com/pr/Roots_Press_Release.pdf
https://web.archive.org/web/20031203094105/http://rpgvault.ign.com/articles/453/453605p1.html
https://web.archive.org/web/20031208184452/http://rpgvault.ign.com/articles/454/454418p1.html
https://www.ign.com/games/the-roots
https://www.gamespot.com/games/the-roots/
https://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/99822/Cenega_Publishing_Cancels_The_Roots.php
https://www.unseen64.net/2008/04/15/the-roots-xbox-unreleased/


####################################################################

The Unseen / WarCaster


The Unseen, also known as WarCaster, is a cancelled Xbox game by Tremor Entertainment.
It had a big tiddy goth girl... that should have saved the game, but it didn't.

Expected release date: Fall 2002, then July 2002

Around 2000, Tremor signed a contract with Microsoft to make some original Xbox games.
In 2001 Tremor and New Systems merged.
They started off with The Unseen, beginning in 2000.

The Unseen was about a goth chick named Moira.
You would need to fight the Ashen Order with your magical powers.
You can slip between unseen worlds, hence the title.

The game is also known as Warcaster.
Turns out Tremor was working on a game called WarCaster back in 1998.
So is this game a reattempt to make that cancelled original game?

Probably not; the original Warcaster was more of a 3D shooter game.
Kind of like that Wizard Quake mod that exists.
The original warcaster was cancelled sometime around 1999 or 2000.

Tremor Entertainment was broiled in scandal in 2002.
When Micrsoft rejected the contract, Tremor Entertainment went under.
The company already had loses of around $3.6 million by that point.

A civil lawsuit was launched to recover unpaid wages.
CEO Steven Oshinsky was investigated by the FBI for fraud.
Apparently he took the payroll money and ran.

The game was pretty secretive. Not even their website has news on The Unseen.
I guess the game really was unseen... from the public eye! Ha!

https://web.archive.org/web/19990911054544/http://www.tremor.net:80/prod.htm
https://web.archive.org/web/20020414044143/http://www.tremor.net:80/ir/articles.html
https://www.gamespot.com/articles/warcaster-on-xbox/1100-2609455
http://au.ign.com/articles/2001/08/30/merge-up
https://www.gamespot.com/articles/warcaster-on-xbox/1100-2609455/
https://games.slashdot.org/story/02/11/02/2024254/why-do-games-and-game-studios-fail
https://twitter.com/sydbolton/status/712744160336457728
https://www.unseen64.net/2008/04/15/the-unseen-xbox-cancelled/


####################################################################

The Vatz









The Vatz is a cancelled PC game by Beenox.
It was to be a third-person action strategy RPG puzzle game. Phew!

Expected release date: Summer 2003


PC Zone issue (July 2002)

Not much is known about the story other than it having a branching plotline.
Almost of the game would take place inside a giant city known as The Vatz.
The game was touted for its innovative Goliath engine, ideal for the large city setting.

You could of controlled multiple characters, each with different abilities and stats.
The plot and other elements would be influenced by which characters you use.

The Vatz, in essence, is basically a tech demo for their Goliath engine.
Development was halt when the company decided to port games rather than make them (for now).
Tony Hawks Pro Skater 3 and 4 ported to Mac computers took priority, so away went The Vatz.



####################################################################

The Y-Project


The Y-Project is a cancelled Xbox and PC game by Westka.
It was an experimental first-person shooter, like The Fith Element meets Starship Troopers.

Expected release date: Q1 2003, then Q2 2003, then late 2003




Edge issue 107 (February 2002)


PC Zone issue 113 (March 2002)

The game is set 200 years in the future. 70 years prior, humans land on a planet.
A mutant insect was accidentally created in a lab. It escape and create more huge hostile bugs.
There are two politically-opposed factions who both want to save the glass-dome city.

You could swap factions at will and gain access to different weapons and abilities.
Different factions give different quests and sub-quests.
There are two ways to solve the game's puzzles: military or scientific. Brains or brawn!

Announced in late 2001, The Y-Project was to be built on the Unreal engine.
Gameplay would take place inside a giant monolithic city inside the glass dome.
It was to be open world with unique architecture.


PC Zone issue 121 (November 2002)



The Y-Project was cancelled when Westka closed its doors on October 1st 2002.
There was rumblings of a resurrection, with word that ex-employees were still working on it.
That didn't pan out and the game was well and truly dead.

The ex-employees joined a German developer studio called Joylabs.
They got to work on Das Reich 2005, a FPS game set in 2005 where Nazis still rule Europe,
That game got cancelled too. Yep, two cancelled games in one entry again.



####################################################################

Thornado


Thornado is a cancelled N64 and then GameCube game by Factor 5.
It was originally meant to be Turrican 64.

Expected release date: 1999 (N64), then December 2002 (GameCube)


N64 Magazine issue 9 (December 1997)

The game started off as Turrican 64 for, what else, the Nintendo 64.
However, Factor 5 couldn't secure the rights with SoftGold.
The game was thereby christened 'Thornado'.

You would play as Thor, as in the god of thunder.
He has wind weapons, guns, and a grappling hook.

The demo of the game was shown at E3 1997.
Factor 5, however, wanted to focus on the big seller, Star Wars: Rogue Squadron.

According to Factor 5, the graphics wasn't up to scratch.
With the GameCube on the dawn, Factor 5 moved the project to the new next-gen console.



Nintendo World issue 10 (March 2000)

A demo of the GameCube version was shown off during Spaceworld 2000.
Sometime in 2002 the game was cancelled.
The Thornado page on the Factor 5 website was removed in late 2002.


Music for the title screen




####################################################################

Thrill Kill




Thrill Kill was a cancelled PS1 game and one of the most well-known cancelled games.
Development began by Paradox Development in 1997 but Electronic Arts refused to publish the game.

Expected release date: November 1998


Electronic Gaming Monthly issue 107 (June 1998)

The game's original title was S&M, short for Slaughter and Mutilation.
The game would allow for four players to beat each other up on the screen at once.
That technical feat was overshadowed by the sheer gore factor.

The game played like a Mortal Kombat free-for-all with characters that look like Soul Calibur characters.




Electronic Gaming Monthly issue 110 (September 1998)


In October of 1998 news broke that EA had killed the game's chances of release.
The reasons EA gave for cancelling Thrill Kill range from 'it's too violent' to 'it's too much in general'.

Electronic Gaming Monthly issue 113 (December 1998) 



Electronic Gaming Monthly issue 137 (December 2000)


The sophisticated engine was put to use to create Wu-Tang: Shaolin Style/Wu-Tang: Taste the Pain.
It was still as bloody as hell. It even had a blood code a la Mortal Kombat!
But at least they released a swanky controller for it. Well, it sucks but it looks nice.

Two prototypes are floating around on the internet. The ISOs were leaked online around 2002.


Advert




####################################################################

Times of Trouble


Times of Trouble is a cancelled PS2, Xbox, and CameCube game by 4x Studios.
The game lived up to its name and was cancelled during times of trouble.

Expected release date: late 2002, then 2003


G-Force issue 10 (February 2003)

Times of Trouble was to an arcade-action RPG with a top-down perspective.
You would play as Zak. His job at the oil well doesn't last long in-game.
Various political factions rise up and battle for supremacy. You must rebuild the world.

The game was to have an innovative real-time combat system.
Your party can have up to three characters at a time.
You can have spell combos to really punish your foes.

Times of Trouble was cancelled in late 2002 when 4x Studios closed its studio doors.
In its place Kylotonn was founded, keeping most of the team.
This makes Iron Storm the only game released by 4x Studios.

https://web.archive.org/web/20021015202405/http://www.4xstudio.com:80/times.html
https://www.ign.com/articles/2002/04/04/4x-studios-explores-times-of-trouble
https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/article_45753
https://web.archive.org/web/20030110091444/http://www.teamxbox.com:80/news.php?id=2835
https://www.unseen64.net/2009/11/08/times-of-trouble-xbox-ps2-cancelled/


####################################################################

Tiny Toon Adventures: Defenders of the Universe


Tiny Toon Adventures: Defenders of the Universe is a cancelled PS2 and GameCube game.
Treasure wanted to make a Looney Toons version of Rakugaki Showtime.

Expected release date: July 2002, then Q3 2002


Official UK PS2 Magazine issue 21 (June 2002)

The plot of the game is that a planet exists, Planet Gold Star, made entirely of gold.
Montana Max, that bad guy, has taken over the planet!
Buster, Babs, Plucky and friends have to seize it back ASAP.

The game was to be a light-hearted arcade-style romp of explosions and mayhem.
Each level would be based on actual Tiny Toons episodes.
Not only that but there was to be plenty of references to films.

The game supported up to four players simultaneously on screen at once.
There was also to be a 'Toonmatch’ - deathmatched cartoon style.
It was to be a neat fun little game, and not just for kids. But something went wrong...

The publisher was to be Conspiracy Games; a familiar face to these cancelled games entries.
Conspiracy were always strapped for cash.
The game was probably cancelled for having too niche a market to justify costs.

In 2009 a copy was leaked (will need a modded PS2 to run it on hardware).
https://hiddenpalace.org/Tiny_Toon_Adventures:_Defenders_of_the_Universe_(Jun_4,_2002_prototype)

https://web.archive.org/web/20090321034609/http://www.ttaworld.net/ttagames/ps2/#game1
http://forums.lostlevels.org/viewtopic.php?t=1965
https://www.gamespot.com/articles/first-look-defenders-of-the-universe/1100-2871593/
https://www.ign.com/articles/2001/10/03/new-info-on-tiny-toons-adventures-defenders-of-the-looniverse
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiny_Toon_Adventures:_Defenders_of_the_Universe
https://www.unseen64.net/2008/04/15/tinytoon-adventures-ps2-cancelled


####################################################################

Titan A.E.




Titan A.E. is a cancelled PC and PS1 game by Blitz Games.
The box office failure of the movie prevented the game from reaching fruition.

Expected release: Autumn 2000



Official UK PlayStation Magazine issue 61 (August 2000)



Play (UK) issue 66 (September 2000)

The game was to have nine levels, most from the movie but also adding new environments.
You could play as either Cale Tucker or Akima.
There was to be stealth sections, parts with vehicles, and even minigames.

Development on the game began soon after the movie's announcement in early 1999.
When the movie bombed with a $100m loss, Fox Interactive figured the game wasn't worth it.

In October 2000 the game was cancelled.
A demo for the PS1 version was made and distributed on a demo disk.
Hidden on the disk are more beta levels.

A trailer for the game is on Euro Demo 61 [SCED-02635].


Electronic Gaming Monthly issue 137 (December 2000)


Gameplay footage


Beta levels from the demo


https://web.archive.org/web/20011212221343fw_/http://www.blitzgames.com:80/games/Titan/titan.html
https://www.unseen64.net/2008/10/10/titan-ae-psx-cancelled


####################################################################

Titanium Angels





Titanium Angels is a cancelled PS2, GameCube, and PC game by Mobius Entertainment.
It was to be a third person action shooter with a mech to pilot.

Expected release date: Q3 2000, then Q4 2000, then Autumn 2001, then Q3 2001, then 2002


PC Zone issue 85 (January 2000)


PC PowerPlay issue 60 (July 2000)

You would play as Carmen Blake, bounty hunter.
The world has been divided, with many factions waging war for control.
You are a member of The Kindred, one of those factions.

One of the groups in The Kindred is The Titanium Angels, an all-female group of mercenaries.
Your job was to eliminate Furie, one of your rival factions.
The mission goes wrong and all your squad mates are dead, save for you.

You follow Elegia Furie into a transporter and end up on a strange planet called Reath.
Furie has sinister dark plans for Earth. Reath is its home-base of sorts.
Stranded in an alien world, you must fight off the wild life to take down Furie.

Reath, the planet you end up on, is the Baki homeworld.
Then there's the Kel, the spiritual ethereal race that helps Carmen.
It's an interesting story, if maybe a bit cliched.




Next Generation issue 70 (October 2000)


Video Gamer issue 1 (December 2000)

Gameplay would have been like Blaster Master: vehicle action and on-foot action.
The robot you ride is called a Titan and it comes from the Baki race.
It's like a steel horse. On a steel horse you ride...

The Exiles are a group of Baki warriors, presumably exiled.
These guys would join and help you randomly in battles.

There would also be a lot of puzzles like in a Zelda game.
These would be navigated and solved with the 'Tag Team' system.

There was to be 16 levels.
There was also going to be several multiplayer modes. Details on those are vague.


PC Zone issue 114 (April 2002)


Official UK PlayStation2 Magazine issue 2 (Xmas 2002)

Titanium Angels was cancelled in 2003 for possibly being a bad game that wasn't worth it.
The studio was then acquired by Take-Two Interactive in 2004.
Now renamed Rockstar Leeds, they wanted to focus more on developing portable games.


from E3

http://web.archive.org/web/20010718062345/http://www.sci.co.uk:80/products/TAngels/tangels.htm
http://web.archive.org/web/20030805200202/http://tt.telefragged.com:80
http://web.archive.org/web/20010221033827/http://www.mobiusent.com/Artwork/titanium/features.htm
http://web.archive.org/web/20000818041410/http://tt.telefragged.com:80/interview.shtml
https://www.gamespot.com/articles/update-titanium-angels/1100-2618131
https://www.gamespot.com/articles/titanium-angels-preview/1100-2666605
https://www.gamespot.com/articles/titanium-angels-update/1100-2819479
https://www.unseen64.net/2009/11/29/titanium-angels-ps2-pc-cancelled


####################################################################

TnT: Tricks and Treasures


TnT: Tricks and Treasures was a cancelled PS1 game by Hammerhead.
It to be a 3D Tomb Raider-esque gameplay style.

Expected release date: Winter 1999, then May 2000



Official US PlayStation Magazine issue 21 (June 1999)

The plot of the game is that you are a heir to the throne.
You must battle against other heirs using traps, spells, and weapons.
Kind of like Spy vs Spy.

You must collect pieces of the crown across 18 levels to become the sole heir to the throne.
You can choose between six races to play as.
TnT: Tricks and Treasures was also going to a four-player multiplayer mode.



Electronic Gaming Monthly issue issue 120 (July 1999)


Play (UK) issue 50 (July 1999)


TnT: Tricks and Treasures was cancelled for unknown reasons/

http://au.ign.com/games/tnt-tricks-and-treasures


####################################################################

Toon Army








Toon Army is a cancelled PS2, Xbox, and PC game by Brat Designs.
Imagine Conker: Live & Reloaded but set during WII.

Expected release date: 2004

You play as GI John Doe, a soldier fighting against the Axis forces.
Missions would be spread across Europe and Africa.
The humour was sharp, with deformed characters with potty mouths making one liners.

There was to be a single player campaign and multiplayer modes.
Up to 32 players can take part in these multiplayer modes.

Toon Army was cancelled when Brat Designs went defunct.
Wait, did it? Research indicates Brat Designs went until 2006/2007.
Maybe the game was canned due to the upcoming Xbox 360. Or they ran out of money. Whatever.

https://web.archive.org/web/20040803015336/http://www.brat-designs.com/toonarmy.html
http://xbox.gamespy.com/xbox/toon-army/
https://www.mobygames.com/company/brat-designs-ltd


####################################################################

Toon Panic


Toon Panic is a cancelled N64 game by Bottom Up.
It was to be a multiplayer brawling arcade game.

Expected release date: 2000

The game was cancelled due to Bottom Up's bankruptcy in March 2000.

A prototype was sold on Yahoo Japan in 2005 and dumped online by Team CARROT in 2008.
https://hiddenpalace.org/Toon_Panic_(Prototype)

The oddest part of the prototype is the use of Final Fantasy VIII placeholder art.
Reminds me of the prototype of the Crash Bash demo using Simpsons placeholder art.


Gameplay footage


https://www.gamespot.com/articles/bottom-up-files-bankruptcy/1100-2542084/
https://gamesdb.launchbox-app.com/games/images/57231
https://www.unseen64.net/2008/04/04/toon-panic-64-unreleased/
https://www.unseen64.net/2008/12/07/the-toon-panic-64-proto-is-finally-leaked/


####################################################################

Torc: Legend Of The Ogre Crown / Killwheel



Torc: Legend Of The Ogre Crown aka Killwheel is a cancelled PS1 game by HeadGames.
The gist of the game is that you roll down hills, smash houses and crush shit. Mindless fun.

Expected release date: Q4 1997, then Q1 1998


Next Generation issue 33 (September 1997)


GamePro issue 99 (October 1997)


Electronic Gaming Monthly 99 (October 1997)

The game never published was because, like Thrill Kill, it was over the top (for the time).
The game embraces the slaughter of humans!
That, and the game isn't much fun.




In 2001 a prototype of the game was released onto the internet by KALiSTO.
http://hiddenpalace.org/Torc:_Legend_of_the_Ogre_Crown_(Dec_6,_1997_prototype)


http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=182196&page=2
https://web.archive.org/web/20041028183808/http://www.boomhower.com/titles.html
https://www.unseen64.net/2008/04/11/kill-wheel-psx-cancelled/


####################################################################

Torn


Torn is a cancelled PC game by Black Isle Studios.
It was to be a point and click fantasy game.

Expected release date: November 2001



Computer Gaming World issue 202 (May 2001)



Computer Gaming World Issue 203 (June 2001)


Torn began as The Sundering until the marketing department forced a name change.
The Sundering was the cataclysmic event that split the world into three parts.
Then there is some Architect and order and chaos and deities fighting. Backstory stuff.

You play as a nameless potential hero who lands at the land of Orislane.
The King of this land fears an attack from a mysterious army to the north.
Your quest is to stop this, as well as disover who you really are. Typical RPG stuff.


PC Zone issue 103 (June 2001)




PC PowerPlay issue 61 (June 2001)

The game followed the Fallout format but with a twist.
You can choose to play as a class; the human, elf, dwarf, halfling, ogre, or sidhe.

Torn would use a modified version of the S.P.E.C.I.A.L. system.
This change is through the class system, which determines attribute, skill, and perks.

There was to be twenty skills in the game.
These were divided into four categories: Combat, Magic, Rogue, and Other.
The Other category is for non-combat skills, like haggling and healing.

Each race also comes with traits, both positive and negative.
These are either innate (you start with them) or earned through quests and actions.

You could either explore solo or hire up to five NPC followers to assist you.
In multiplayer - both online and LAN - these will be your human-controlled party members.


PC PowerPlay issue 63 (August 2001)

In July 2001, two months after the game's announcement, Torn was cancelled.
A handful of Black Isle employees were laid off and the rest diverted to other games.
Black Isle Studios persisted until its untimely death in 2003. R.I.P.

Timeline:
March 22nd 2001: Torn announced
July 26th 2001:  Torn cancelled

https://web.archive.org/web/20010815032316/http://torn.blackisle.com:80/news.html
https://web.archive.org/web/20010807000054/http://www.gamespot.co.uk/stories/previews/0,2160,2090227,00.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Isle's_Torn
http://archive.rpgamer.com/news/Q1-2001/032301a.html
https://www.neoseeker.com/news/1169-black-isles-torn-cancelled/
https://www.unseen64.net/2009/03/27/black-isles-torn-pc-cancelled/


####################################################################

Tremors: The Game




Tremors: The Game is a cancelled PS2, Xbox, GameCube, and PC game from Rock Solid Studios.
It was to be based on the Tremors TV series and movie franchise.

Expected release date: Fall 2003

In Gold Rock, the little town is plagued with Graboids (giant landsharks).
The plot would entail ridding the town on those blighters.

This game was to be third person action game in line with Resident Evil.
Stealth is key. You would need to avoid walking on the ground and to hide your body heat.
Failure to do so would summon the Graboids.

The game was announced in August of 2002.
It had been in production since April 2002.

The game was cancelled in the summer of 2003.
Why? Maybe because the TV show got bad ratings.
But really, Vivendi Games pulled the plug for another reason.

There was a rumour going around that Starbreeze Studios was to acquire Rock Solid Studios.
The deal fell through. Vivendi quit funding the game and cancelled it.

The founders of Rock Solid Studios went on to found Avalanche Studios in March 2003.

http://au.ign.com/articles/2002/08/02/tremors-the-game
http://au.ign.com/articles/2004/02/10/missing-in-action-the-lost-games-of-the-playstation-2-part-ii?page=4
http://cancelled-games.wikia.com/wiki/Tremors%3A_The_Game
http://ps2.gamespy.com/playstation-2/tremors/
http://www.angelfire.com/movies/krccc/rocksolid.html
https://www.unseen64.net/2020/01/19/tremors-game-cancelled/


####################################################################

Tribal Lore


Tribal Lore is a cancelled game by Gremlin Interactive Limited.
It was to be an strategy game based in ancient caveman times.

Expected release date: Autumn 1998, then December 1998, then January 1999


GamesMaster issue 71 (August 1998)

In this ancient land, called Land, there are four tribes always at war.
There are: the Cruithn, the Shamanka, the Bruann, and the Nammad.

These tribes have typical characteristics:
Cruithn:         cannibal aboriginals (aka Africans)
Shamanka:    light-skinned magicians  (aka Europeans)
Bruann: war-like honour culture  (aka Muslims)
Nammad:      skilled Nordic warriors (aka Vikings)

Each tribes has its perks and attributes that make it viable for victory.
Collect resources and research technologies like a typical 4X game to get an edge.
The real edge comes from magic.

Magic can be found from menhirs, dolmens, and other standing stones.
Your druid can harness this magic to change the weather and terrain.
This can be useful, such as building hills for you, and digging trenches for foes.


Gameplay

Tribal Lore was cancelled in 1998 when Gremlin unexpectedly pulled the plug on the project.
The reasoning was financial grievances beyond their control.
Infogrames acquired the Gremlin in 1999. Maybe that was it.

https://web.archive.org/web/19990128091125/http://www.avault.com/previews/flash/triballore.asp
https://www.gremlinarchive.com/index.php/2016/06/23/tribal-lore-pr/
http://www.gremlinarchive.com/index.php/2016/06/23/tribal-lore-concept-renders/


####################################################################

Trinity: The Shatter Effect


Trinity: The Shatter Effect is a cancelled Xbox, GameCube, and PC game by Gray Matter.
It is a FPS game in which you can manipulate space-time. Too ambitious for its own good.

Expected release date: 2003, then 2004


Play (US) issue 19 (July 2003)

Set in the New Orleans in the distance year of 2013, the world is in trouble.
A plague is weeping across the city.
It is up to you, a genetically-enhanced hero called a Nightstalker, to stop it.

The game would evolve as you play: you gain powers, but the AI adapts to counter your powers.
Rather than health pickups or regen health, you would have to hide and heal, which takes time.
There was to be two types of powers: boosts to your physical abilities, and slow-no powers.

In late 2003, Activision reported a net loss of $10.1 million for its second quarter.
This caused them to stop production of 10 games.
Trinity was one of them. Gray Matter instead worked on Call of Duty: United Offense.

Timeline:
April 2003: game officially announced.
November 2003: game ceases development


trailer

https://www.ign.com/games/trinity-the-shatter-effect // has videos
https://www.ign.com/articles/2003/05/10/trinity-interview
https://www.gamespot.com/articles/trinity-announced/1100-6025741/
https://www.gamespot.com/articles/trinity-impressions/1100-6028307/
https://www.gamespot.com/articles/trinity-e3-2003-preshow-report/1100-6026616/
https://www.gamespot.com/articles/activision-drops-10-titles-from-lineup/1100-6079589/
https://www.unseen64.net/2008/04/15/trinity-the-shatter-effect-xbox-cancelled/


####################################################################

True Fantasy Live Online


True Fantasy Live Online is a cancelled Xbox MMORPG from Level-5.
It was an ambitious answer to Final Fantasy XI but no dice.

Expected release date: Q2 2003, then Autumn 2003, then Spring 2004


XGamer issue 10

The Xbox found itself with a wealth of capabilities with its online.
Games like Halo has proved that it was a viable strategy.
Taking cues from Everquest and Ultima Online, they set out to create an MMORPG.

It was risky venture; the technology was still young and the internet still slow.
Not to mention that this was for console.
Too many uncertain variables were brewing a tumultuous environment.


Official UK Xbox Magazine issue 10 (December 2002)


Edge issue 117 (December 2002)

Up to 3,000 people can play at once with their custom made avatars.
There was to be many items, quests, monsters, and realms to explore, obtain and conquer.

Players would have been able to talk to each other via speech bubbles.
Talk into the Voice Commander headset and what you say appears in the speech bubbles.
It's basically speech-to-text. Bound to have some funny mistranslations,


GMR issue 1 (February 2003)


GMR issue 13 (February 2004)

The dream MMORPG of East meets West had Level-5 and Microsoft butting heads often.
Akihiro Hino, CEO of Level-5, blames Microsoft for their inexperience with Japanese games.
Microsoft blames Level-5 for their inexperience with online games.

As a result, the game's development kept getting pushed further away from completion.
After an underwhelming stint at the 2003 Tokyo Game Show, the game went silent.



Electronic Gaming Monthly issue 178 (May 2004)


GMR issue 19 (August 2004)

True Fantasy Live Online was cancelled in June of 2004.
The bad experience has left a bitter taste with both companies.
This in turn means don't hold your breath for a collab with them anytime soon.

Fantasy Life for the 3DS seems to be the reincarnation of True Fantasy Live Online.


Gameplay trailer


https://web.archive.org/web/20021002120251if_/http://www.level5.co.jp:80/jp/new_p/tflo_ill.html
http://au.ign.com/articles/2002/09/11/first-look-true-fantasy-live-online
http://au.ign.com/articles/2004/06/03/true-fantasy-live-online-cancelled
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/True_Fantasy_Live_Online
https://www.engadget.com/2011/06/14/the-game-archaeologist-and-the-what-ifs-true-fantasy-live-onlin/
https://www.unseen64.net/2008/04/16/true-fantasy-live-online-xbox-cancelled/


####################################################################

Type X: Spiral Nightmare


Type X: Spiral Nightmare is a cancelled Dreamcast game from Nex Entertainment.
It is also known as Spiral Nightmare Type X.

Expected release date: Q4 2000


Official Sega Dreamcast Magazine issue 8 (November 2000)

The year is 2078. On a spaceship in Mars, aliens invade the vessel.
Three engineers - Johann Goodman, Jessica Streep, and Rod Stare - must fend them off.
Yes, it is like an Aliens film.

You play as Johann Goodman. You must help out your crew and slay the aliens.
The game responds to how you engage with your crew and changes objectives accordingly.
As such, there probably was to be multiple paths to multiple endings.


Next Generation issue 71 (November 2000)

Winning battles gets you DNA from your foes.
You can use this DNA to craft different kinds of powerful ammunition.
Effects include explosions, lightning, freezer, and more.

The game looks and plays similar to a Resident Evil clone.
That probably meant tank controls.

Edge issue 90 (November 2000)

The game was likely cancelled due to the Dreamcast dying.
The game missed its Q4 2000 release date.
By 2001 it was too late to redeem the Dreamcast.

http://forums.lostlevels.org/viewtopic.php?p=28848
https://assemblergames.com/threads/spiral-nightmare-type-x-dc.18748/#post-523418
https://www.unseen64.net/2008/04/10/spiral-nightmare-type-x-dc-unreleased/


####################################################################

Posted by at

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)