Gaming can be a very frustrating hobby. While playing video games can be a lot of fun, making them certainly isn't. It's often an exercise in frustration and problem-solving, not to mention balancing an often massive and finicky budget. Problems eventually grow and percolate, and before long, progress is too far gone to be salvaged, resulting in a canceled project.
Backers on Kickstarter are no strangers to canceled projects, and Kickstarter-reliant developers are no strangers to the frustration that comes with game development. But it's not always independent developers that suffer setbacks. Sometimes, even the biggest names in the world fall victim to failed attempts at creation.
CCTV
CCTV was in development at Nikitova Games. As the title suggests, CCTV was going to have players playing as a security guard, looking at various CCTV screens in an attempt to find criminals.
The game was being specifically developed for the Wii and Nintendo DS, but the process faced numerous problems and the game was eventually canceled. Lead designer Jon Hare attributed the game's failure to its unique concept, stating that most potential publishers weren't interested.
Super Mario 128
Super Mario 128 was the code name given to a potential new Mario game that never saw the light of day. The original Super Mario 128 was supposed to be a direct sequel to the beloved Super Mario 64, and the second was a GameCube tech demo that was displayed at a trade show.
The project was later canceled for the GameCube, with a rumor stating that development had moved to the then- Wii. However, the game obviously never came to fruition.
God: The Game
Not much is known about God: The Game. As the title suggests, it was supposed to be some type of God simulation game in which the player plays as an all-knowing, all-creating deity (perhaps with gameplay similar to Godus). It was also being made by popular development company THQ, which seemed to promise good things for the title.
Unfortunately, THQ suffered some extreme financial difficulties in the late 2000s, and money problems eventually forced the complete cancellation of God: The Game.
The Next Big Thing
Somewhat ironically, The Next Big Thing was not the next big thing. The project was reportedly in development at Pandemic Studios, and it was set to be a cross between platformer and racing game.
Players would race through the streets of Los Angeles while performing stunts, collecting items, and jumping over various rooftops. Unfortunately, no publisher was interested in releasing the game, and Pandemic Studios Brisbane was subsequently shut down.
Project H.A.M.M.E.R.
Originally announced at E3 2006, Project H.A.M.M.E.R. was set to be a beat-em-up video game developed by Nintendo Software Technology - the developers behind games like Metroid Prime Hunters and 1080° Avalanche.
Unfortunately, development soon stalled, and the developers went radio silent. It was formally announced at the next year's E3 that the game had been put on hold, and word was later given that the project had been canceled owing to internal creative conflicts.
Red Faction: B.E.A.S.T.
Serving as a spinoff of the popular Red Faction series, Red Faction: B.E.A.S.T. was a third-person shooter being being exclusively developed for the Wii. The game was being developed by Locomotive Games, with THQ serving as publisher. A trailer and various screenshots were leaked by THQ employees, confirming the existence of the game.
However, the aforementioned financial difficulties resulted in THQ shutting down Locomotive Games and subsequently canceling development on Red Faction: B.E.A.S.T.
Son Of The Dragon
Like many canceled projects, not much is known about Son of the Dragon. It was reportedly an action game in development at Renegade Kid, the makers of games like Moon, Dementium, and Mutant Mudds.
The company's co-founder, Jools Watsham, described the game as a light RPG in the vein of Castlevania in which players controlled a Dracula who had been stripped of his powers. Unfortunately, the late 2000s financial crisis also affected the game's publisher, Gamecock, and they were forced to shut down. Without a publisher, development of Son of the Dragon came to an end.
Rogue Squadron Trilogy
Developed by Factor 5 and LucasArts, the Rogue Squadron trilogy are some of the most popular and beloved video games belonging to the Star Wars franchise. They found great success on consoles like the Nintendo 64, Windows, and the GameCube.
Factor 5 announced plans to release a Rogue Squadron compilation trilogy for the Wii, but plans fell through thanks again to the 2008 financial crisis. The completed game was without a publisher and has never seen the light of day.
TimeSplitters 4
The TimeSplitters series was quite popular in the early 2000s, and its third and final entry, Future Perfect, was released to great acclaim in 2005. Rumors immediately began swirling that a fourth game was in development, and the series' writer eventually confirmed that it was indeed in development.
Unfortunately, TimeSplitters 4 quickly became trapped in development hell, with development being placed on indefinite hiatus following the closure of Free Radical Design (yet another victim of the financial crisis).
Brütal Legend
In 2009, an music-based RTS titled Brütal Legend was released to great acclaim for Windows, PS3, and Xbox 360. The game is notable for starring Jack Black as the game's protagonist, a roadie for a heavy metal band named Eddie Riggs. Other celebrities also make appearances, including Tim Curry and Ozzy Osbourne.
Rumors of a Wii port began to circulate, but these were quickly squashed. The Wii was not a powerful console (at least not compared to the PS3 and Xbox 360), and it did not prove technically viable for a successful port. Development was quickly and firmly canceled, and the Wii never saw the release of Brütal Legend.
