Missing in Action: The Lost Games of Xbox

This list is by no means complete -- there are plenty more games that fell through the cracks -- but these are the titles whose mystery kept us up late at night. Throughout the week we'll discover what became of former GameCube, PS2, Xbox and PC games and see if there's any hope some might make a return in the future.

What Was Promised
Based on the critically-acclaimed DC comic book of the same name, 100 Bullets was set to be a slick noir shooter on PC, PS2 and Xbox. When last we saw 100 Bullets in 2004, Acclaim was still solvent and the game was about a half-year from completion. Sadly, the expected October release date was never met due to Acclaim's financial troubles. After Acclaim crumbled, 100 Bullets went into limbo. Though a sub-par PAL version was released, 100 Bullets never arrived stateside. The license was re-absorbed by Warner Bros. (which owns DC Comics), but Acclaim's version was never heard from again.

Where It Stands
Acclaim's creation is dead -- tossed in the same landfill that claimed E.T. In May 2006, the license was picked up by D3 Publishing, which is working on a brand new version for GBA, Nintendo DS, PC, PS3, PSP and Wii. Though it is also inspired by the comic book, it has no other relationship to Acclaim's title.

What Was Promised
The original Armada came out on Dreamcast to mild success. But the addictive games of the deceptively-simple shooter caught on and a devoted fanbase was created. A sequel was promised for the Dreamcast and, after SEGA abandoned the console, was moved to PS2 and Xbox. Though Metro 3D showed the game at E3 several years in a row, it never made it to consoles. In 2005, EvStream picked up the rights to the franchise and a year later released an alpha version of Armada Online. The shooter MMO is playable at armada-online.com. The PC version is expected to be complete in about five months, though EvStream plans to continue to expand on the design throughout the game's lifetime.

Where It Stands
So what about the possibility of getting Armada on a console? Armada Online designer Mark Jordan is not against porting the game to Xbox 360. "We are interested in XBLA, if they'll have us," Jordan told IGN.

What Was Promised
Peter Molyneux loves sandbox games, but B.C. looked more promising than both Fable and Black & White. Playing the role, more or less, of God, you manipulate a tribe of cavemen, helping society to evolve. You teach them how to make fire, help them learn language and eventually spread them throughout Lionhead's fictional Fertile Crescent. At odds with you is a simian race competing for land. Lose and humanity's future looks a lot more like Planet of the Apes. With a working ecosystem and a terrifying T-Rex to boot, B.C. had the makings of a great game. So what went wrong?

When we first saw B.C. at E3 2002, Molyneux claimed the game was 50% complete. Then in late 2003, one of the more crucial members of the B.C. team, Ben Cousins, left the project for unspecified reasons. Rumors began to circulate that B.C. was in trouble. Oddly enough, a sequel to B.C. was announced before the original was ever finished. Both were put on indefinite hold in October 2004. At the time of its cancellation, Molyneux said, "We hope to revive the project at a later date." Members of the B.C. team were assigned to other Lionehead projects, including Fable.

Where It Stands
According to Microsoft, which purchased Lionhead Studios in April 2006, there are currently no plans to revive B.C. All of Lionhead's resources are focusing on Fable 2 and another unannounced title. The decision to revive B.C. appears to be in Molyneux's hand, but even if it sees new life, don't expect it for several more years.

What Was Promised
Announced in September 2001, six months after the release of the P.C. version, Black & White: Titan (or B&W: Next Generation) never seemed to get very far in production. Peter Molyneux, known for showing games several years before release, never put the console version of B&W on display. It disappeared quickly and quietly, announced and then never heard from again.

Where It Stands
Lionhead is not a particularly large studio and can't take on too many projects at once. A Microsoft representative told IGN that, while a version of Black & White on 360 is possible some day, right now all of Lionhead's resources are directed elsewhere. Frankly, we'd prefer something new in the "playing God" genre (B.C.), than another B&W. Ultimately, the decision comes down to Molyneux and Microsoft.

What Was Promised
H.P. Lovecraft provides perfect source material for survival-horror games. Bethesda and developer Headfirst Productions realized this and released the chilling FPS, Call of Cthulu: Dark Corners of the Earth. Future Cthulu titles were quickly announced. Both Destiny's End and Beyond the Mountains of Madness were to be developed by Headfirst, though a new publisher, Hip Interactive was brought into the mix. Shortly after the two sequels were announced, both Hip Interactive and Headfirst Productions went out of business, leaving the Cthulu franchise in limbo.

Where It Stands
Lovecraft's view into insanity so easily fits horror gaming that it seems likely someone else will pick up the license. However, with Headfirst out of action, whatever new Cthulu titles emerge could potentially be quite different than Dark Corners of the Earth. Beyond the Cthulu license, other horror games may emerge that are inspired by Lovecraft's work. Silicon Knights' Eternal Darkness is a great example of a game that is clearly an homage to Lovecraft without using the Cthulu license.

What Was Promised
Through its lifetime, the original Xbox had several rumored MMOs. Citizen Zero was the only one that ever seemed like it would actually make it before the death of the system. Microsoft invested a chunk of money into Australian developer Micro Forte to create a PC/Xbox MMO that relied heavily on community. Set on a prison world gone wild, gamers joined a faction, created their own headquarters and both bartered and battled with rival groups. Sounded cool and when last we saw it at E3 2004, it was looking solid. Then, without warning, Citizen Zero fell off the face of the Earth. The dev team, which previously was very involved in its forums, seemed to have been abducted. For nearly two years there has been not a peep about this game.

Where It Stands
Microsoft's official stance is that there is "no update," but to "stay tuned." Our guess is that MS wants to upgrade Citizen Zero for DX10 on PC and a possible simultaneous release on Xbox 360. Even though the developers have grown silent and Microsoft is mum, our money is that by year's end we will hear something new on Citizen Zero. As Microsoft said, stay tuned.

What Was Promised
At E3 2002, Phantagram showed off two Xbox/PC trailers that had fans buzzing for years. Nothing (and we mean nothing) ever really came out beyond these trailers, but still these two titles come up in conversations to this day. In 2005, Phantagram put an official hold on both games. But, of course, putting a game "on hold" isn't the same as saying it is cancelled. If you listen very closely to IGN's message boards, you can still hear the names "Duality" and "Strident" whispered beneath the keystrokes.

Where It Stands
Phantagram did not return our requests for an official status on either game. However, a former employee told us that both games had been deemed economically infeasible. They doubted either would see the light of day.

What Was Promised
In April 2004, during a call to investors, Interplay revealed it was working on a new Fallout title for Xbox. This was not officially Fallout 3 and no further details on the action-RPG were ever revealed. Then in July 2004, Bethesda Softworks grabbed the rights to Fallout. Though Bethesda does not own the rights to make a Fallout MMO (sorry, gang), it opened the way for Fallout 3.

Where It Stands
It's believed that Interplay's intention with Xbox was to make a title that would be different from Fallout 3. That idea is dead now. If a Fallout game is coming to 360 from Bethesda (and that remains unconfirmed), it will be Fallout 3. Bethesda's official stand is that Fallout 3 is still in development for PC, but the companu would not comment on its development for other platforms. Any announcements about Fallout 3 aren't expected until later in the year, perhaps closer to E3 in July.

What Was Promised
Announced in 2004, Fate of Ages was a stylish RPG from first-time developer Onisoft. Little was known about the game, save a smattering of info on the official website. It was never shown and quickly faded away into obscurity.

Where It Stands
It's unclear if Fate of Ages found its way to a publisher. The website remains, but emails were bounced back from Onisoft's server and the listed phone number was no longer in service. It appears the Fate was sealed early for another Xbox RPG.

What Was Promised
In 2003, Activision secured the rights to Lionhead's The Movies with the intent of releasing it first on PC and then on consoles. A few months after the release of The Movies on PC, Activision put the kabosh on the console versions due to poor PC sales. Molyneux then promised to shop The Movies around. It wasn't long after this that Microsoft purchased Lionhead and became the only hope for a console release (which would have to be 360-exclusive).

Where It Stands
The picture business is a tough racket, as Molyneux has discovered. Microsoft offered little hope for The Movies in the future, stating that Lionhead's resources were devoted elsewhere. Should Peter Molyneux truly want to revive the franchise on 360, then it may still happen. But consider that Lionhead also has the option to renew development on B.C. and Black & White (as well as create new IPs). There's only so much one company can do. While you can't count The Movies out, we wouldn't recommend holding your breath awaiting its release.

What Was Promised
No one expects the Spanish Inquisition! Somehow this Monty Python joke lead to the creation of a horror game focused on one of the darker times of the past millennia. With the Inquisition as backdrop, you play as a mysterious young girl with (you guessed it) mysterious powers. No sooner was this game announced than it slipped into a black void.

Where It Stands
As best we can tell, Neocell Factory went belly up. Its website is no more and its email and phone numbers are gone. As a first time developer working on a new IP that caused only minor buzz, it's very unlikely anyone would scoop up this title and revive it.

What Was Promised
Based on the critically-acclaimed comic book, The Red Star was a classic arcade-style shooter that blended big guns and magic powers. Planned for a 2004 release, The Red Star (which was finished, no less!) went into limbo following the demise of Acclaim. It was later picked up by XS Games with the expectation that it would ship for Xbox and PS2 in 2006. Here we are in 2007 and The Red Star remains hidden, even though we've had a copy of the completed game sitting in our drawer for the past three years.

Where It Stands
XS Games is no longer going to publishing The Red Star, adding another sour note to the long life of the little shooter that almost could. The good news, however, is that Jack of All Games has picked up the title and is expected to release The Red Star on February 14. The bad news (at least for Xbox owners): The Red Star is coming only to PS2.

What Was Promised
The original Xbox was starving for RPGs, which is why people had interest in The Roots. Developed by Tannhauser Gate Studio, The Roots promised a blending of traditional RPG elements with elements more commonly found in action games. Little was known about the game, but simply being an RPG for Xbox made it noteworthy. In 2005, The Roots disappeared, never to be heard from again.

Where It Stands
The game is officially cancelled. According to a representative at Cenega, the developers failed to deliver The Roots on time and at the quality expected. Cenega has no interest in reviving the project and it seems unlikely it will resurface with another publisher.

What Was Promised
Yu Suzuki's vision of an open-world RPG epic grew into one of the most costly titles in the history of gaming. With Dreamcast sales low, Suzuki's plans to release at least three episodes of Shenmue were cut short. Shenmue II, released in Japan and Europe on Dreamcast, was later published in North America by Microsoft on Xbox. The attention from MS raised hope that the story of Ryo Hazuki would be completed on Xbox or Xbox 360. In fact, in 2003, the man responsible for bringing Shenmue II to Xbox, Shin Ishikawa, promised fans would see more Shenmue on Xbox. Yu Suzuki has also stated that we would see Shenmue III, but possibly in a different form than expected (such as a movie).

Where It Stands
In a 2006 interview with Japanese online magazine DoNews, Suzuki broke the hearts of thousands of fans. He stated that Shenmue III was currently not in development. Suzuki did give a ray of hope, telling EGM that "if there's a demand for it, we'd love to make it." Shenmue may be a financially challenging title to resurrect, but Suzuki appears very enamored with the game. Can he really leave fans hanging for much longer?

What Was Promised
The long and ultimately fruitless journey of StarCraft: Ghost began in 2004, with its September announcement at TGS. A third-person shooter, Ghost took us deep inside the StarCraft universe, giving us an up-close look at the troops and ships previously seen on a large scale in the PC real-time strategy game. IGN was given an in-depth look at Ghost in early 2003 and the game seemed deep into its development cycle.

E3 2003 and E3 2004 seemed to cement StarCraft: Ghost as a game ready for release. Apparently that was not the view inside Blizzard's offices. The game was temporarily shelved, only to be revived in 2005 when Blizzard acquired Swingin' Ape Studios. With Swingin' Ape behind Ghost, the game was given some polish and a focus on multiplayer. It seemed, again, like a release would be forthcoming. Now, however, as the new generation of consoles pushes the last gen to the back of the shelf, Ghost is once again left with an uncertain future.

Where It Stands
To paraphrase Monty Python, "It's not dead yet!" That's right, Blizzard will not pronounce StarCraft: Ghost as being cancelled. Blizzard's official comment on Ghost reads: "No final determinations have been made yet regarding our plans for StarCraft: Ghost. The game remains on indefinite hold, and any future plans we have for StarCraft: Ghost or any other console games will be announced at a later date."

In other words, Blizzard may one day revisit the idea of an action title set in the StarCraft universe, but don't expect one anytime soon.

What Was Promised
Though it was never formally announced, in 2004, Climax posted want ads seeking developers to assist with Sudeki 2. It was later announced that the title was not in production. The original title, an Xbox-exclusive RPG, sold moderately but was well-received by fans and critics.

Where It Stands
A representative from Climax told IGN that the studio "would still like to develop a sequel to Sudeki" and that they "have lots of great ideas." Unfortunately, Climax is too busy with other projects to devote time to Sudeki 2. If there is a next-gen sequel, it won't come soon. As a side note, Climax also posted jobs for Final Option and Dragon Wars, both of which are no longer in production.

What Was Promised
Massively Multiplayer Online RPGs were the Holy Grail of the original Xbox. It was the prize many developers sought, but could never attain. The most notable and most highly-anticipated of the fallen Xbox MMOs was True Fantasy Live Online. Developed by Level-5, TFLO featured a cel-shaded look, a user-driven economy and allowed up to 3000 gamers per server. Slated for a holiday 2004 release, TFLO was cancelled in June 2004. Level-5's President, Hakihiro Hino, blamed the game's cancellation on a strained relationship with Microsoft. In the same interview, Hino hinted that production on TFLO would resume shortly.

Where It Stands
All indications are that TFLO never did hit stride in the development cycle again. However, Level-5 employees have told IGN that the company hopes to one day bring TFLO out. Currently, Level-5 has its hands full with the PS3 exclusive White Knight Story and the future of the Dragon Quest franchise. If TFLO does come back, Sony appears a more likely partner than Microsoft.

What Was Promised
Announced in August 2004, Twilight of Lareleth was an elf-filled RPG from Spinning Realities. Aside from initial screens, the game was never heard from again by the public. An official website was created, but nothing much seemed to come from the title.

Where It Stands
Spinning Reality is re-engineering Twilight of Lareleth for next-gen platforms. The game was shown privately to publishers last E3. Spinning Reality won't say whether or not a publisher was found, but the game is definitely in development. Specific consoles aren't known, though indications are that this game will hit PS3 and 360.