We’ve all seen it happen before. Whether a game is destined to tank, or if the money well just runs dry, sometimes interesting games are lost at the hands of the video game gods. This generation, we’ve seen a few games that were announced early on, but were either canceled, or have slipped into the shadows for years with little to no mention of progress in development. Not to mention the fact that there are several games still waiting to either be finished with a true sequel, or some franchises that are basically screaming for a new installment. To keep things fairly manageable, let’s take a look at some of this generation of gaming’s MIAs.
Remember this one? You know, the Namco-developed open world shooter? It wouldn’t come as a shock if you don’t. Frame City Killer generated quite a bit of hype during its time in development, mostly because it appeared to fill the absence of any next-gen Grand Theft Auto at the time. While the game featured some fancy graphics and lighting, some of the concepts looked a bit shoddy, and it’s understandable that some internal testing might have made it painfully apparent that the game just wasn’t going to be a hit with the mainstream. While no one will ever know what Frame City Killer would’ve been like, it’s a safe bet (especially after watching this trailer from 2005) that Namco probably made the right choice in pulling the plug.
Oh sweet Jesus that’s ugly.
Ubisoft got a lot of flak after announcing that its newest rendition in the Splinter Cell franchise was going to take an even more drastic turn away from its stealthy roots. Myself included, many Splinter Cell fans felt that the departure from the classic Splinter Cell gameplay in Double Agent was borderline blasphemy, yet not quite crossing the line. Sam Fisher as a hobo was that final straw. Fighting police officers in broad daylight also wasn’t something that fans were thrilled with. While the reinvention of the gameplay to keep the things fresh and new was admirable, Splinter Cell never really got old to begin with. I know I speak for a number of people when I say that it’s about damn time for another classic Splinter Cell to hit current-gen consoles, iconic NVGs and all. Fortunately, Ubisoft announced that it plans on doing just that. Can I get a collective “hell yes?”
We’re still waiting, Sam.
This is one of those games that got me really psyched for the next-generation of consoles back in 2004. The mere prospect of a MMOFPS with stunning graphics (powered by the Unreal Engine 3, no less) was something that really blew me away, especially since the only thing I had ever really seen that was relatively close was the inspired, but flawed PlanetSide. Huxley’s developer had a lot to say on the game at the numerous conventions, until one day, it just disappeared. Murmurs throughout the industry are pointing to this year’s E3 for more info regarding the game, but until then, mum’s the word on this promising MMOFPS. I know I’m excited to see what WebZen is up to, but you owe it to yourself to check this one out (video was released 2006).
Definitely an UE3 game.
GRAW 3
It’s a little strange that Ubisoft has been keeping quiet on its bigger franchise while working on building new IPs such as H.A.W.X. and EndWar. While both games were decent, they never came close to reaching the popularity and success of the GRAW franchise. Both GRAW 1 and 2 were phenomenal games, pushing consoles with gorgeous graphics and refined gameplay, and it’s puzzling to understand why we haven’t seen ANYTHING regarding GRAW 3. After such a cliffhanger ending in GRAW 2, you’d think that Ubisoft would’ve been working on the sequel right off the bat, but it seems their attention has been directed elsewhere. Perhaps we’ll see some sort of official announcement at E3 ‘09?
C’mon Ubi, keep this one going!
- Adriaan Noordzij
Is there a game we missed? Got something to say? Leave a comment in the section below!
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