Another stunning Molyneux climb-down – Minter's Unity is canned!
UK legends fail badly to make good on latest brilliance claims
In shock news breaking today, it would appear that Jeff Minter’s Unity project, underway at Lionhead Studios, has been completely derailed, with all work on the game grinding to a halt.
The project, arguably representing the latest case of a UK development source fatally over-promising on a game, saw Molyneux and Minter combine to form what would, perhaps should have been the defining release of this generation.
However, much like BC, the whole thing turned out to be, well seemingly, nothing at all! This news follows Molyneux's own stunning climb-down cum admission that certain promised elements in the Xbox RPG Fable were little more that fantasy.
Reading between the lines of the released statements, it seems as though Lionhead simply got sick of waiting for Minter – See what you think: Molyneux said, “Everyone at Lionhead has the utmost respect and admiration for Jeff’s unique talents. However, we’ve both been in the industry a long time and it was becoming increasingly apparent to us that we would not be able to finish Unity in an acceptable time frame. On a personal level, I have very much enjoyed working with Jeff.”
Minter on the other hand, seems crushed: “Everyone at Lionhead has been incredibly supportive and the decision to stop working on Unity has been a difficult one for us. But being realistic, I felt it was better for everyone concerned that we cease work on Unity. I’d like to thank Lionhead for all their help and support over the past two years.”
This news, hitting today, will serve to further dent the credibility of Molyneux, which has been questioned more than usual of late. It would be possible to argue that something of a AAA developmental crisis is afflicting the UK right now. The sham that was Tomb Raider: Angel of Darkness and the embarrassment (on so many levels) that was DRIV3R have been compounded by news in which we have two of our most celebrated studio heads being unable to simply manage a realistic project.
Again. SPOnG hopes for a turnaround of these events sooner rather than later.
The project, arguably representing the latest case of a UK development source fatally over-promising on a game, saw Molyneux and Minter combine to form what would, perhaps should have been the defining release of this generation.
However, much like BC, the whole thing turned out to be, well seemingly, nothing at all! This news follows Molyneux's own stunning climb-down cum admission that certain promised elements in the Xbox RPG Fable were little more that fantasy.
Reading between the lines of the released statements, it seems as though Lionhead simply got sick of waiting for Minter – See what you think: Molyneux said, “Everyone at Lionhead has the utmost respect and admiration for Jeff’s unique talents. However, we’ve both been in the industry a long time and it was becoming increasingly apparent to us that we would not be able to finish Unity in an acceptable time frame. On a personal level, I have very much enjoyed working with Jeff.”
Minter on the other hand, seems crushed: “Everyone at Lionhead has been incredibly supportive and the decision to stop working on Unity has been a difficult one for us. But being realistic, I felt it was better for everyone concerned that we cease work on Unity. I’d like to thank Lionhead for all their help and support over the past two years.”
This news, hitting today, will serve to further dent the credibility of Molyneux, which has been questioned more than usual of late. It would be possible to argue that something of a AAA developmental crisis is afflicting the UK right now. The sham that was Tomb Raider: Angel of Darkness and the embarrassment (on so many levels) that was DRIV3R have been compounded by news in which we have two of our most celebrated studio heads being unable to simply manage a realistic project.
Again. SPOnG hopes for a turnaround of these events sooner rather than later.
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Comments
ohms 10 Dec 2004 17:34
1/11
Gutted!
Though I'd heard virtually nothing about the game in question, the prospect of something from two of the greatest game geniuses in the UK would have been interesting.
*sigh*
Though I'd heard virtually nothing about the game in question, the prospect of something from two of the greatest game geniuses in the UK would have been interesting.
*sigh*
config 10 Dec 2004 18:54
2/11
It is almost two years since the press release announcing the partnership went out. I'm hardly surprised it's been canned, but disappointed none the less.
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kid_77 12 Dec 2004 12:30
3/11
Obviously Minter's old school attitude ("it'll be done when I'm ready"), doesn't fit in with the business-savvy model of the modern gaming industry. *cough* Half-Life 2 *cough*
NiktheGreek 13 Dec 2004 00:53
4/11
Not enough people are upset about this, yet they go mental when Gran Turismo 4 (a driving game that in itself is a sequel) is merely pushed back.
There's no hope left for humanity.
(Hi all, long time no see. I've fixed my PC now.)
There's no hope left for humanity.
(Hi all, long time no see. I've fixed my PC now.)
TigerUppercut 13 Dec 2004 10:55
5/11
NiktheGreek wrote:
Not enough people are upset about this, yet they go mental when Gran Turismo 4 (a driving game that in itself is a sequel) is merely pushed back.
There's no hope left for humanity.
(Hi all, long time no see. I've fixed my PC now.)
:-OThere's no hope left for humanity.
(Hi all, long time no see. I've fixed my PC now.)
NickTheGreek from GAF?
NiktheGreek 13 Dec 2004 17:31
6/11
TigerUppercut wrote:
NiktheGreek wrote:
Not enough people are upset about this, yet they go mental when Gran Turismo 4 (a driving game that in itself is a sequel) is merely pushed back.
There's no hope left for humanity.
(Hi all, long time no see. I've fixed my PC now.)
:-OThere's no hope left for humanity.
(Hi all, long time no see. I've fixed my PC now.)
NickTheGreek from GAF?
If that's taken to mean GamesAnimal Forums, then absolutely.
saurian 14 Dec 2004 09:58
7/11
NiktheGreek wrote:
Not enough people are upset about this, yet they go mental when Gran Turismo 4 (a driving game that in itself is a sequel) is merely pushed back.
As this was to be a Gamecube exclusive, there was no chance of it ever making any money anyway.
As this was to be a Gamecube exclusive, there was no chance of it ever making any money anyway.
NiktheGreek 14 Dec 2004 13:17
8/11
saurian wrote:
NiktheGreek wrote:
Not enough people are upset about this, yet they go mental when Gran Turismo 4 (a driving game that in itself is a sequel) is merely pushed back.
As this was to be a Gamecube exclusive, there was no chance of it ever making any money anyway.
Some of us play games for more than the glory associated with contributing to high sales figures.
tyrion 14 Dec 2004 13:35
9/11
NiktheGreek wrote:
Some of us play games for more than the glory associated with contributing to high sales figures.
Unfortunatly, not many developers or publishers think likewise when deciding what games to present to you.
NiktheGreek 14 Dec 2004 13:47
10/11
tyrion wrote:
NiktheGreek wrote:
Some of us play games for more than the glory associated with contributing to high sales figures.
Unfortunatly, not many developers or publishers think likewise when deciding what games to present to you.
Exactly, and this is why more people should be unhappy that this happened. Instead, we'll be getting generic sequels year after year.
I think EA's latest move has made it all the more annoying. One really promising project gets canned, whilst an already-monolithic publisher takes massive steps to ensure an iron grip at the first hint of competition, which is ultimately what drives developers to make better titles. EA wants to give you sports games and movie licenses. If you do succeed outside of their model, you shall be bought and made to make endless rehashes.
garretty 15 Dec 2004 22:53
11/11
At least Bizarre Creations is still doing great games.