Project H.A.M.M.E.R. development in doubt (still)

by Ross Miller { Jul 19th 2007 at 2:21PM }

Project H.A.M.M.E.R. for Wii, initially shown at E3 2006 alongside the console's unveiling, has since been left in the tool shed to collect dust. After the title was rumored to be axed, and was conspicuously missing from their E3 presentation, we asked Nintendo's Beth Llewellyn to clarify.

What's the status of Project H.A.M.M.E.R. or Disaster: Day of Crisis?

Disaster is still in development. Project H.A.M.M.E.R. we've sort of shifted resources off that title. But Disaster is still in development. Again, you have to remember, E3 is one small little blip in time and we tried to focus on a few key titles. Rest assured, there is a lot more going on behind the scenes at Nintendo. You know the company, and we always have stuff going on ...

Are you talking about the reasons why H.A.M.M.E.R. has been cancelled?

No.

Now, Ms. Llewellyn did not use the word "cancelled" but, coupled with the existing rumor, the vague shifting of resources, and a lack of protest when we specifically referred to the project as being "cancelled," the nebulous status of the project can only be interpreted as such.

[Update: Reader WiNG just reminded us of the H.A.M.M.E.R. acronym's true meaning – Hiatus: Ambiguously Muttered Message Extinguishes Reassurances.]

Tags: ProjectHAMMER

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Tony @ Jul 19th 2007 2:23PM

I'm not really sure what the interest was in it. From all I saw, it almost just seemed like blind swinging of the remote. New IPs are nice and every thing, but did I miss something about this title?

copa @ Jul 19th 2007 2:24PM

Project H.A.M.M.E.R. is deader than Harry Potter.

Crono @ Jul 19th 2007 3:27PM

Thanks for the reminder to cloister myself away from the internet until I finish that book.

Sky_Shark @ Jul 19th 2007 2:28PM

Didn't really care for this title anyways. It had a cool concept but nothing else seemed to be anything great.

Anam @ Jul 19th 2007 2:28PM

Did H.A.M.M.E.R. actually stand for something?

liqwid @ Jul 19th 2007 3:49PM

Horses.Are.Moving.Mountains.Eating.Rivers

lol

vidGuy @ Jul 19th 2007 2:29PM

"Day of Disaster"

It's Disaster: Day of Crisis

Christopher Grant @ Jul 19th 2007 2:39PM

Updated, thanks. I couldn't think of the title for the life of me when I asked that question.

Jake @ Jul 19th 2007 2:29PM

That game looked stupid anyways. Yes, I am a Wii owner.

Negativecool @ Jul 19th 2007 2:30PM

H.A.M.M.E.R. =

Hords of Angry Motherless Morons Entering Rehab

Henry @ Jul 19th 2007 2:32PM

Do I smell the first WiiWare title?

Adv2k1 @ Jul 19th 2007 2:32PM

yeah i don't care about that game whatsoever, it was a rental at most.

Twinkie @ Jul 19th 2007 2:34PM

I really wanted it. I'm hoping it goes into development again.

Konny @ Jul 19th 2007 2:37PM

I dont think there will ever be a good platforming, hack and slash, adventure type game on the Wii... unless the devs decide to NOT use the wiimote and go with GC or the classic controller.

samfish @ Jul 19th 2007 2:51PM

The Wii was practically made for Hack 'n' Slash games. What are you smoking?

samfish @ Jul 19th 2007 2:37PM

I was looking forward to it. There aren't enough Smash 'n' Bash games out there.

Seemed like it had a lot of potential.

megapenguinx @ Jul 19th 2007 2:42PM

I was really excited about this when I first heard.
But now I really dont care.

JodyAnthony @ Jul 19th 2007 2:43PM

Horribly Angry Man Makes Energetic Razamataz

Spirit @ Jul 19th 2007 2:48PM

You know... I kinda want pointless (but not horrible) hack and slash Wii action. Seriously, give me Dynasty Warriors Wii or something of the sort. I'm easily amused.

I didn't spend $250 on a Wii to just hold my Wiimote sideways and use it like a normal controller. Wasn't the Wii supposed to NOT be that?

samfish @ Jul 19th 2007 2:50PM

Horny Albino Monkeys Must Enthusiastically Rape

hydralisk456 @ Jul 19th 2007 9:44PM

I lol'd!! Good one samfish!!

IslandLife @ Jul 19th 2007 2:50PM

Hip-hop Anger Management Mentor Enters Rehab

WiNG @ Jul 19th 2007 2:58PM

based on this interview I'd say it stands for:

Hiatus: Ambiguously Muttered Message Extinguishes Reassurances

also I wanted this game to come out

also Streets of RAge 2 is still the best mindless beatem up.

Also check out this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TyXUVd2c83c

JodyAnthony @ Jul 19th 2007 2:58PM

Happy Andy Merrily Manhandles Extreme Robot

Mr Khan @ Jul 19th 2007 3:00PM

Hurry! Angry Mongols Might Enrage Russians!

But in all seriousness, you have to remember that, as far as i know, Disaster is being made by the Japanese central dev team (EAD), while HAMMER was being done by their main American team (NST), and that its being put into development limbo means that other NST franchises are ripe to re-emerge

chris @ Jul 19th 2007 3:14PM

1080 with the balance board? Is that what you're implying?

Mr Khan @ Jul 19th 2007 3:43PM

Something like that

1080, Wave Race. It was said that it was cancelled (or put in dev limbo) for something with more mainstream appeal

Either of those could be said to have that

cyberdependent @ Jul 19th 2007 3:08PM

Hairy Armpits Make Me Extra Raunchy.

samfish @ Jul 19th 2007 3:11PM

Hungry Already, Melancholy Mortimer Eats Racoons

hvnlysoldr @ Jul 19th 2007 3:14PM

Maybe they're being put to Pikmin or Urban Champion.

Henry @ Jul 19th 2007 3:18PM

HELP! Agressive Man Mashing Enemies Ridiculously!

Crono @ Jul 19th 2007 3:30PM

How Are Married Men Even Ready?

JodyAnthony @ Jul 19th 2007 3:35PM

Harry Anderson Makes Me Emphatically ROFLMAO

Mighty Shockwave @ Jul 19th 2007 3:53PM

Is it just me, or did anybody miss the most important line in the interview, "But Disaster is still in developement." Thnk Primus that isn't cancelled. It's a shame though that H.A.M.M.E.R. has been put on hold. Hopefully it will be revived in '08. Seriously, what other big titles does Nintendo have after Christmas other than Mario Kart.

Crono @ Jul 19th 2007 4:05PM

Horny Are Many Merry Elven Rakes

is @ Jul 19th 2007 4:00PM

Watch it turn up in about a year as a budget WiiWare title...from what I heard it the premise was shallower than a spiders vagina, and could probably only sustain a small game. What they should do is get sega to do a streets of rage update and make "Bare Knuckle - Lead Pipes Only Edition"

Glad to hear disasters still going though

zwarrior @ Jul 19th 2007 10:03PM

I think Nintendo did to it what they did to Retro Studios' projects before Metroid Prime. They set it off aside and told the developers to work on another (casual) game