Cancelled video games project
This project concerns cancelled games in the range of 1995-2005.
Section: V
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Vampire Hunter
Vampire Hunter is a cancelled PC game by Spellbound.
This was to be a Commandos-type of real-time tactical horror game.
Expected release date: December 2003
PC Zone issue 121 (November 2002)
This game was to be set in 1890.
We will visit various places, such as Transylvania, Paris, and Prague.
Our objective: to eradicate the vampires.
You could play as various classes.
These include the private detective, journalist, actress, doctor, ex-soldier, or pastor.
Each class has various perks and skills, such as hypnosis, lockpicking, and first aid.
The game was quietly cancelled around 2003 for unknown reasons.
https://games.tiscali.cz/obrazky/vampire-hunter-hon-na-upiry-17726
https://www.pcgames.de/Vampire-Hunter-Spiel-40873/News/Vampire-Hunter-Termin-und-Fakten-77473/
https://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=de&u=https://www.gameswelt.de/vampire-hunter/news/spellbound-enthuellt-weitere-informationen,68514&prev=search&pto=aue
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Vampire Hunter: The Dark Prophecy
Vampire Hunter: The Dark Prophecy is a cancelled PC game by Psyonix.
It was to be a survival-horror action game of vampire slaying.
Expected release date: Q1 2003
Every attack you did would cause a bit of slo-mo for emphasis and impact.
You can switch between first-person and third-person on a whim.
You would play as Jack Houston, who gains vampire powers from a vampire attack. Ok, Blade.
The story would unfold through in-game sequences, not cutscenes that take away the gameplay.
Not much of the story was ever divulged, so who knows what this 'dark prophecy' is.
This game had some strong points going for it.
It was being built on the Unreal engine.
Vampire Hunter: The Dark Prophecy was cancelled for possibly not finding a publisher.
https://web.archive.org/web/20020323052014/http://gamespot.com/gamespot/stories/news/0,10870,2856766,00.html
https://web.archive.org/web/20020803165659/http://www.psyonix.com/vamphunter/main.htm
https://www.bluesnews.com/a/327/vampire-hunter-the-dark-prophecy-announced
https://www.gamespot.com/articles/vampire-hunter-interview/1100-2856766/
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Vectorman
Vectorman for the PlayStation2 was a cancelled game from Pseudo Interactive and Sega.
It was an opportunity to make a 3D version of the classic Vectorman for the modern ages.
Expected release date: January 2004, then Spring 2004
Electronic Gaming Monthly issue 168 (June 2003)
The game was to have multiple weapons and a grappling hook, like Ratchet and Clank.
The plot is you is defeat an evil orbot named Volt to protect Gamma 6.
Something unique about the game is the advanced AI, that would allow enemies take cover and flank you.
GMR issue 6 (July 2003)
Vectorman was going to be able to transform into different vehicles.
The game was cancelled before such a feature could be implemented.
Two-player co-op was also a feature to be added.
The game was cancelled for Vectorman bearing too much resemblance to Master Chief from Halo... ... even though Vectorman predates Halo by six years. Oh well. Pffft.
Preview
https://www.gamespot.com/articles/new-vectorman-title-to-debut-at-e3/1100-6025488/
https://www.gamespot.com/articles/vectorman-impressions/1100-6026944/
http://segaretro.org/Vectorman_(PlayStation_2)
https://www.unseen64.net/2008/04/15/vectorman-ps2-cancelled/
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Vermin
Vermin is a cancelled PS1 game from Kronos and to be published by Eidos.
The game appears to be a modern version of Dig Dug in 3D.
Estimated release date: 1998, then Q1 1999, then February 1999, then June 1999
Electronic Gaming Monthly issue 110 (September 1998)
You would play as a one of three parasitic vermin.
Infect the local aliens and burrow inside them Dig Dug style, harvesting their tissue.
The aim of the game is to achieve that sweet high score.
It's a throwback to the old school days when score mattered.
The game would combine fantasy and Sci-Fi with resource management.
Intriguing, yes, but not destined to sell well.
Kronos Digital Entertainment was in a difficult spot.
Their previous games were adequate but not big sellers.
Eidos, their new partner, wanted a real bestseller.
Vermin was likely axed to work on a better project: Fear Effect.
Kronos found their calling, and Eidos found their cashcow.
However, the funding got pulled for Fear Effect: Inferno, so that got cancelled.
Kronos Digital Entertainment disbanded in 2002.
https://web.archive.org/web/19990209091137/http://www.kronosdigital.com:80/vermin/vermsplash/splash2.htm
https://assemblergames.com/threads/various-unreleased-and-beta-games.33095/page-14#post-753399
http://au.ign.com/articles/1998/12/10/flight-board
http://www.mobygames.com/company/kronos-digital-entertainment
https://www.unseen64.net/2008/04/11/vermin-psx-cancelled/
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Viewpoint 2064
Viewpoint 2064 is a cancelled Nintendo 64 game from Sammy Corporation.
It was to be the sequel to Viewpoint for the Neo Geo arcade original.
Expected release date: late 1999. then November 2000
Edge issue 78 (November 1999)
Viewpoint 2064 was to be a on-rails shmup with different selectable perspectives.
It's like Star Fox 64 but more limiting as you can't go back and forth on the Z axis.
This game was just another notch in the trend of classics being remade in 3D.
Consensus from those who played it at game shows described it as disappointing.
Gamers' Republic issue 22 (March 2000)
After the Space World 1999, the game was quietly cancelled by Sammy.
In early 2000 the project was resurrected... and then cancelled again.
In September 2015, an eBay auction for the prototype was sold for a whopping $2999.
The game was just about done. How crushing it must be to have your game cancelled so late.
The video below was recorded by the original owner, not the new owner.
This cost $3000.
In March 2020 the prototype was dumped:
https://hiddenpalace.org/Viewpoint_2064_(Prototype)
https://www.gamespot.com/articles/first-impressions-viewpoint-2064/1100-2450583/
https://www.gamespot.com/articles/new-impressions-viewpoint-2064/1100-2460833/
https://www.gamespot.com/articles/viewpoint-2064-cancelled
http://au.ign.com/articles/1999/08/28/viewpoint-2064-exposed
http://au.ign.com/articles/2000/08/15/one-point-for-tokyo-game-show
http://au.ign.com/articles/2000/08/17/viewpoint-2064http://www.denofgeek.com/games/viewpoint/37205/viewpoint-2064-the-n64-game-we-never-got-to-play
https://www.unseen64.net/2008/04/04/viewpoint-2064-n64-cancelled/
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Violent Seed
Violent Seed was a cancelled for the PS1 by Rabid Entertainment (formerly Viacom New Media).
It was a shmup, a top down shooter that would make use of the power of the PlayStation.
Expected release date: October 1997, then Q3 1997, then Q4 1997
Gamefan issue 56 (August 1997)
Game Informer issue 52 (August 1997)
Electronic Gaming Monthly issue 137 (December 2000)
Work started in 1996 and would end a year later.
Viacom, the company that owned Rabid Entertainment, decided it didn't want to be in the game industry.
In mid-August 1997 Viacom exited the game industry, taking with it Rabid Entertainment and this game.
Both programmers for the game had moved to California to work on other projects.
Virgin Interactive was not interested in picking up the game.
The game was doomed.
Trailer from 1997
https://www.evl.uic.edu/beu/SEED/violentSeed.html
https://web.archive.org/web/19981206093105/http://www.phyd.org/violent.htm
https://web.archive.org/web/19981202172414/http://headline.gamespot.com:80/news/97_07/15_violent/index.html
https://web.archive.org/web/19981206174134/http://headline.gamespot.com:80/news/97_05/30_rabid/index.html
https://web.archive.org/web/19991117144527/http://home.pon.net:80/zehner/violentseed/home/index.html
https://www.unseen64.net/2008/04/10/violent-seed-psx-cancelled/
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Voodoo Islands
Voodoo Islands is a cancelled PS2 and PC game by Spirit and 10TACLE Studios.
It would be a third-person action adventure pirate-themed swashbuckler of a game.
Expected release date: November 2002, then 2003, then Q1 2004
PC Zone issue (July 2002)
You would play as Captain Kidd. Your quest is to repair the damage of the English attack.
This involves the use of voodoo, which could be used in combat to gain an edge.
It's like Assassin's Creed IV; Black Flag but with the cartoony style of Sea of Thieves.
There was to be around 20 quests in the main campaign story-line.
There was also to be multiplayer, both local and internet.
Up to sight people can simultaneous play together, duking it out on the high seas.
The game was likely cancelled for being too big a project for a first game by a new studio.
https://web.archive.org/web/20031020132241/http://www.4players.de/rendersite.php?sid=&LAYOUT=dispbericht&SYSTEM=PC-CDROM&TYPE=Preview&BERICHTID=2121
https://web.archive.org/web/20031101031924/http://www.krawall.de/artikel.php?s=&artikel_id=7210
https://web.archive.org/web/20031005125307fw_/http://www.voodooislands.com/index.html
https://www.ign.com/articles/2002/04/25/voodoo-islands
https://www.gamepressure.com/games/voodoo-islands/z11565
https://www.unseen64.net/2010/03/14/voodoo-islands-pcps2-cancelled/
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Voodoo Nights
Voodoo Nights is a cancelled PC and Xbox 360 game by Mindware.
It was to a buddy-cop police procedure kind of game.
Expected release date: September 2006
X360 issue 3 (November 2005)
The game involved two loose-cannon cops, Jack and Samuel.
They are tasked with taking down a gang that uses Voodoo magic.
Good thing our anti-hero cop protagonists know some Voodoo magic as well.
As you take down the Voodoo goons, you learn more magic.
Some of the black art magic includes possession, levitation, and bullet time a la The Matrix.
The plan is to use good teamwork with these powers.
There was to be multiplayer, both local and internet.
It can be assumed to be co-op, doing missions or PvE hordes.
Click! (December 2005)
E3 2005 trailer
Voodoo Nights was quietly cancelled soon after its announcement.
It was probably canned for not being a good game.
This game pre-dates similar co-op games like Kane and Lynch by a few years.
https://web.archive.org/web/20051102223046/http://www.voodoonights.com/
https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/voodoo-nights-action-suspense-and-surprise
https://www.engadget.com/2005-10-10-buddy-cops-try-black-arts-in-voodoo-nights-for-pc-360.html
https://www.gamepressure.com/games/voodoo-nights/zd6a6
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Vultures
Vultures is a cancelled Xbox game from Swedish developer GRIN.
It was to be a hack and slash gladiator game.
Expected release date: Q3 2003, then November 2003, then Q4 2003, then 2004
Australian XBM issue 4
Official Australian Xbox Magazine issue 9 (December 2002)
The plot of the game is that Europe failed its colonization of North America.
A plague has wiped out almost all of Europe.
The Europeans that fled to America have been enslaved by the Native Americans.
Now the European slaves are forced to compete in gladiator combat.
You can choose sixteen characters to play as.
Each has their own strengths, weaknesses, speed, stamina, and other attributes.
There are plenty of weapons, such as swords, axes, maces, and pistols.
Kill your foes and pick up their weapons to survive.
Official Xbox Magazine issue 22 (September 2003)
GamePro issue 180 (September 2003)
Vultures was to be promising, with its use of polygon compression technology.
The game was also built on the Havok 2 engine; the same engine that Half Life 2 used.
Vultures would have you battle your way through 25 different gladiator events.
There are various environmental traps, like bridges, to take advantage of.
Co-op multiplayer was the hopeful plan.
But things would not panned out as planned.
Around June of 2004, the publisher CDV Software cancelled the game.
The cancellation was a quiet affair. CDV did not mention it on their website, rather they surreptitiously removed it from the front page and previews page.
Trailer from E3 2003
https://web.archive.org/web/20040110021646/http://www.vulturesgame.com:80/english/index1.htm
https://web.archive.org/web/20031209115446/http://www.teamxbox.com:80/article.php?id=687&t=i
http://au.ign.com/games/vultures/xbox-566971
https://www.gamespot.com/articles/vultures-announced-for-the-xbox/1100-2827139/
https://www.gamespot.com/articles/vultures-e3-2003-preshow-report/1100-6026972/
https://www.gamespot.com/articles/vultures-impressions/1100-6028861/
https://www.unseen64.net/2008/04/15/vultures-xbox-cancelled/
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