New Cancelled Games & Their Lost Media Added to the Archive

Others, PC / MAC

The Witcher (1997 version) [PC – Cancelled]

monokoma
17-09-2010
4 Comments

The Witcher is a book series by Polish author Andrzej Sapkowski. In 1997, a video game based on these books was in development for PC by Polish team, Metropolis Software, but this version of the game was never released for reasons unknown. In 2008, Metropolis were acquired by CD Projekt, a Polish company that in 2007 published the acclaimed The Witcher action RPG, which later became one of the most popular and successful RPG series in Europe and North America.

the witcher by metropolis software cancelled

The Witcher 1997 by Metropolis Software was a completely different game from The 2007 Witcher project by CD Projekt RED. It was merely a coincidence that CD Projekt happened to purchase a studio that was working on a cancelled game of the same name. The Witcher 1997 would have been an ambitious action RPG with a big 3D world to explore filled with quests to complete and branching paths based upon decisions made during the story; aspects that also featured in the 2007 game.

We can speculate that Metropolis could possibly have encountered some issues in realising a large scale 3D open world RPG of this nature, as all their other games released from 1992 to 1998 were in 2D. It’s also possible that they simply were unable to find the backing of a publisher.

In 2009, CD Projekt closed Metropolis Software whilst they were working on a new FPS titled “They“.

An article about The Witcher by Metropolis Software was published in EDGE magazine issue #50.

Thanks to Celine and Roninakuma for the contribution!

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Microsoft, Playstation 2 (PS2), Sony, Xbox

Lobo [XBOX PS2 – Cancelled]

monokoma
17-09-2010
No Comments

A beat ’em up based on the Lobo comic was in development in 2003 by Kemco USA for the Playstation 2 and XBOX. The project was officially canned after a couple of years for unknown reasons, but we can speculate that it was because of its quality. Players would have been able to use knives, chains, guns, rocket launchers, grenades, and Lobo’s signature weapon, a hook and chain, or to morph into different creatures, such as a ghost, a skeleton, and a variety of mutant animals. Sadly Kemco never shown any in-game screens or video to the public, even if the title shoud have been presented to the press at E3 2003.

The cover design planned for the game’s box preserve the existence of the game:

Original Game Art Painting ‘Montage Poster’ for Lobo Videogame. This is one of the original paintings Simon Bisley did in 2003 for the Lobo videogame developed by Kemco Games. Simon is best known for the greatest depiction of this famous character published by DC and licensed for videogame production. The piece was also signed by Simon Bisley in 2005 when he received the art back from the games company.

In September 2021, Bleeding Cool revealed another artwork by Bisley, titled Lobo Vs The Rat King:

A bunch of Simon Bisley original painted artwork is goes under the hammer today as part of an extensive and desirable original artwork lot up for auction today from Heritage Auctions. There’s tonnes of amazing stuff, including artwork, neverbeforeseen by Simon Bisley for a Lobo video game developed by Kemco USA Game, that never happened. Lobo Vs The Rat King, apparently. A beat ’em up for the Playstation 2 and XBOX.

If you know someone that worked on this game and could help us to preserve more images, please let us know!

Thanks to ForWhomTheBellTolls for the contribution!

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Saturn, Sega

Spearhead [Saturn – Cancelled]

monokoma
16-09-2010
1 Comment

Spearhead is a cancelled action / puzzle game that was in development by Scavenger for the Sega Saturn. There are not many info available on the project, but it seems that players would had take control of a “sphere suit” to explore 7 levels / mazes in the same vein as Marble Madness / Spindizzy Worlds / Super Monkey Ball. Sadly Scavenger had to close down in 1997 for economic issues and most of their games were never released.

Thanks to Rod_Wod for the scan!

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Microsoft, Playstation 2 (PS2), Sony, Xbox

Agent (RockStar) [XBOX PS2 – Cancelled]

monokoma
15-09-2010
5 Comments

Agent is a cancelled action / sandbox style game that was in development in 2003 by Rockstar San Diego / Angel Studios, for the Playstation 2 and Xbox. There are not many info available on the project, as it was never officially announced, but we can assume that it was going to be somehow similar to the GTA series. In the end the game was never finished for unknown reasons, but it’s possible that Rockstar San Diego had to shift resources to finish Red Dead Revolver. Only few screens  and a video from an ealry prototype / tech demo are saved in the gallery below, to preserve its existence.

A new project also called Agent is now in development at Rockstar North for the Playstation 3, but we are not sure if the 2 games are somehow related. As we can read in Wikipedia, Agent by Rockstar Nord will be set in the world of the late 1970s and it will “take players on a paranoid journey into the world of counter-intelligence, espionage, and political assassinations”.

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