Cancelled video games project
This project concerns cancelled games in the range of 1995-2005.
Section: Z
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Zenith / Climber
Zenith, previously known as Climber, is a cancelled N64 game by DMA Design.
It was to be an action/racing hybrid of sorts. Weird.
Expected release date: 1997
When the N64 was being unveiled, DMA Design had some ideas.
One of these was Body Harvest, which at the time was to be more like GTA.
Zenith was to be the fun arcade game platformer racing game.
Climber was one of the early names during the design phase.
Cling On was another prototype name; obvious Star Trek reference.
In Zenith, you could choose between a multitude of characters, both male and female.
DMA Design were proud that they had strong female characters without sexualising them.
Some of these Zenith characters appear in Body Harvest as textures on temples.
Development of Zenith was hampered by the development of Body Harvest.
Nintendo was demanding, constantly ordering changes.
DMA decided to cancel Zenith so that they could focus on Body Harvest.
The Body Harvest team had travelled to Japan to have lunch with Shigeru Miyamoto.
Miyamoto wasn't keen on the direction Body Harvest was going.
When the team returned they learned that Zenith had been cancelled.
So the Zenith team were moved onto Body Harvest.
Body Harvest inherited not only the team but also the tools.
And then Nintendo pulled out, leaving it in limbo for two years. Almost cancelled!
http://web.archive.org/web/20100611062540/http://www.edge-online.com/magazine/the-making-of-body-harvest?
http://www.nesworld.com/n64-unr-zenith.php
http://www.juicygamereviews.com/retro-blog/dma-designs-nintendo-codemasters-and-more-paul-reeves-did-it-all
https://www.unseen64.net/2015/11/09/zenith-climber-nintendo-64-cancelled/
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Zero-G Marines
Zero-G Marines is a cancelled PC game by Strategy First.
It was to be Rainbow Six crossed with System Shock.
Expected release date: Q4 2001, then 2002, then 2003
PC Zone issue 98 (January 2001)
Zero-G Marines was to be a futuristic squad-based first person shooter.
It was to take the sci-fi action of Halo but add strategy.
The plot is that the year is 2353. A secret military project has gone awry.
The Council of 9. run by the mysterious Nihilo, has taken control over the facility.
He has taken the project - a virus that makes people obedient - and uses it on the people.
Next Generation issue 78 (June 2001)
Your lead the Zero-G Marines team. Your task is to neutralize the threat.
There are six major space stations, i.e. levels, to play on.
Defeat the zealots and destroy Nihilo and the source of the virus.
The game was to combine thoughtful squad decisions of Rainbow Six with fast Quake action.
Well, since it is futuristic, make that more like Unreal Tournament.
The game was ahead of its time; you could use vehicles and thrusters and gravboots.
You would need to raid supplies and free imprisoned marines to build your forces.
Deathmatch multiplayer was also in the mix.
Using an impressive custom-made original engine, it sounded like a treat.
PC Zone issue 117 (July 2002)
Zero-G Marines had its development suspended in 2002 when Strategy First moved locations.
They merged their Ottawa studio with the Montreal studio. Many projects got dropped.
The game was ultimately cancelled in early 2003, between February and April.
https://www.gamespot.com/articles/zero-g-marines-preview/1100-2764100/
https://www.gamespot.com/articles/zero-g-marines-suspended/1100-2863470/
http://au.ign.com/articles/2004/04/02/missing-in-action-the-lost-games-of-the-pc-part-2?page=3
https://web.archive.org/web/20020605220429fw_/http://www.strategyfirst.com:80/games/GameInfo.asp?sLanguageCode=EN&iGameID=6&sSection=Overview
https://web.archive.org/web/20030417163601/http://www.strategyfirst.com:80/forum/cgi/ultimatebb.cgi?category=2
https://www.unseen64.net/2019/05/16/zerog-marines-pc-cancelled/
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Zeta Quadrant
Zeta Quadrant is a cancelled Xbox game by CodeFire Inc.
It was to be a MMORPG space shooter launch game for Xbox Live.
Expected release date: Q1 2003
The game was developed under the codename Starcadia.
It was showcased at E3 2002 under that name.
Why it changed from Starcadia to Zeta Quandrant is unknown.
The game was certainly ambitious.
It was to be the first Xbox Live game to have client/server before Xbox Live's launch.
Unfortunately it was all a test.
Juts copypasting from the archived website:
* Multiplayer online action, with up to 16 players competing against each other at a time
* 12 weapons
* 6 different ships, each with unique capabilities
* 4 levels of stunning graphics and engaging competition
* Power-ups located throughout the game, letting you search for upgrades while evading other ships
* Special one-person offline training mode
* Voice chat with other players using the Xbox Communicator
* Ability to invite your favorite competitors to play Zeta Quadrant using the Xbox Live * Friends list
* And much more!
CodeFire would cease to exist before this game was launched.
A user at The ASSEMbler Forums purchased a debug Xbox console and discovered the game.
https://hiddenpalace.org/Zeta_Quadrant_(Nov_4,_2002_prototype)
https://web.archive.org/web/20030425112207/http://www.speculararts.com:80/portfolio/websites/zeta_quadrant/index.htm
https://web.archive.org/web/20030517133035/http://www.speculararts.com:80/portfolio/websites/zeta_quadrant/e3coverage_booth.htm
https://web.archive.org/web/20030624211626/http://www.codefire.com:80/ecommerce/starcadia.php
https://trademarks.justia.com/781/54/zeta-quadrant-78154337.html
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Zoiks! / Pandemonium
Zoiks! / Pandemonium is a cancelled PS1, Saturn, PC game by Ocean/Tribe.
It was to be a point and click game featuring classic Hanna Barbera characters.
Expected release date: Xmas 1996, then January 1997, then 1997
Play (UK) issue 9 (July 1996)
Dick Dastardly has stolen the sounds from their world. Your job is to get them back.
You would control sprites over painted backdrops, over 12,000 images total.
The game was cancelled likely because Ocean merged with Infogrames in 1996.
Whenever there is a merger there is always trimming of the fat, and thus Zoiks had to go.
Just as well it still wasn't called Pandemonium due to the release of the Toys for Bob game.
PlayStation Plus UK issue 21 (June 1997)
https://www.dailymotion.com/video/xes4m7
E3 1996 trailer... I think.
https://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=es&u=https://www.alfabetajuega.com/noticia/sabias-que-ocean-iba-a-reunir-a-los-personajes-de-hannah-barbera-en-un-juego-n-41504&prev=search
https://www.unseen64.net/2010/03/23/zoiks-pc-cancelled/
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Zulu Wars
Zulu Wars is a cancelled PC game by Twylit Productions.
It was to be a turn-based RTS game.
Expected release date: Summer 2001, then November 2001, then mid-2002
PC Zone issue 101 (April 2001)
There are two campaign missions in this game: the battles Isandwana and Rorke's Drift.
Realism is of the essence here: you must deal with visibility, troop morale, and health.
You could play as either the British or the Zulus.
Zulu Wars was ambitious.
You could control up to 30,000 units on the battlefield.
There was even plans for an expansion to be released in mid-2002.
Zulu Wars got cancelled when Twylit Productions went defunct in mid-2001.
https://web.archive.org/web/20010713020935/http://twilyt.com/zuluwar/game.html
https://web.archive.org/web/20010411183020/http://www.zdnet.com/gamespot/stories/news/0,10870,2677071,00.html
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