EGM's Shane Bettenhausen has caused quite a ruckus as of late by suggesting in the latest 1UP Yours podcast that a high-profile first-party Microsoft game has been canceled. The first game confirmed to be alive was Banjo-Kazooie 3. Now, the developers of Fable 2 and Alan Wake have both chimed in to say their games are also still breathing. We wonder if all Microsoft developers wouldn't benefit from a role call meeting, where attendees are told to simply raise their hands if their project was canned.
Of course, that's assuming any project was canceled at all. Bettenhausen originally said, "a big Microsoft first-party title that has been in the works for a very long time, that people are very excited for, sounds like it's being canceled." That's far from a confirmation, although there may be some merit to a project being in trouble. Bettenhausen responded to the proliferation of his statement in the comments to one of his blog posts (search for "egmshane"), but only to confirm the game in question was neither Alan Wake nor Banjo-Kazooie.
IGN's Matt Casamassina silenced (most) of his critics by providing video footage to prove he did, in fact, play a DS version of Halo. C'mon Bettenhausen, at least give us a riddle or some enigmatic limerick to analyze.
Update: As noted by GameSpot, the developers of Too Human and Halo Wars have also chimed in to say, "It's not our game!"
Read - Is Alan Wake canceled?
Read - Is Fable 2 canceled?
Reader Comments (53)
Posted: Nov 13th 2007 3:00PM DonaldMick said
"Everyone whose game we are going to release, raise your hand.
Rare, don't bother."
Reply
Rare, don't bother."
Posted: Nov 13th 2007 3:20PM (Unverified) said
Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!
Don't you ever scare me like that! (mean face)
Reply
Don't you ever scare me like that! (mean face)
Posted: Nov 13th 2007 3:30PM (Unverified) said
Dude, may all teh flamez of teh internets be on you. Such blasphemy is not welcome!
;)
Reply
;)
Posted: Nov 13th 2007 3:31PM (Unverified) said
Dude, may all teh flamez of teh internets fall on you. Such blasphemy is not welcome!
;)
Reply
;)
Posted: Nov 13th 2007 4:20PM (Unverified) said
I would cry as well... and I meant my post as a joke... but isn't that the only game that hasn't yet confirmed???
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Posted: Nov 13th 2007 4:00PM darth vader said
It's definitely Halo Wars. Every other first party title has responded by saying its not them except for Ensemble Studios making Halo Wars.
It's dead in the water, sorry Halo fanboys.
Reply
It's dead in the water, sorry Halo fanboys.
Posted: Nov 13th 2007 3:27PM (Unverified) said
I think King Kong the Video Game would disagree!
Oh wait, no it wouldn't.....
Reply
Oh wait, no it wouldn't.....
Posted: Nov 13th 2007 4:12PM (Unverified) said
Oh my GOD PJKKTOGOTM sucked balls, is one of the worst games I have ever played and I played dr. jekyll and mr. hyde in the NES.
Reply
Posted: Nov 13th 2007 4:29PM (Unverified) said
Chris, King Kong was a good game. It would have been great if it would have had a decent length. The only part of the whole thing I didn't enjoy was the fact that I was able to beat it twice in a weekend without pushing myself very hard.
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Posted: Nov 13th 2007 3:28PM Shagittarius said
I wouldn't be surprised if it were Alan Wake and the Dev team just doesn't know it yet.
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Posted: Nov 13th 2007 3:34PM (Unverified) said
It could very well be Too Human...with all of the Unreal Engine lawsuit
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Posted: Nov 13th 2007 3:53PM (Unverified) said
Sorry guys its not Too Human, and by the way the lastest build looks fantastic.
Reply
Posted: Nov 13th 2007 4:07PM (Unverified) said
Oh Noes I was so looking foward to that game,I loved Halo kart double dash,well at least we have Halo Strikers:charged confirmed for 09
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Posted: Nov 13th 2007 6:53PM finnith said
It's better that Halo Kart Derby doesn't come out lest people think that MS (no $ see?) is manipulating they're IP's (*cough* Mario *cough).
Not to say that all the Mario games have been bad. I think games like Mario Galaxy and Super Smash Bros are awesome, it's just that there's so many of them.
I'll just proceed to be marked down to half a heart.
Reply
Not to say that all the Mario games have been bad. I think games like Mario Galaxy and Super Smash Bros are awesome, it's just that there's so many of them.
I'll just proceed to be marked down to half a heart.
Posted: Nov 13th 2007 4:04PM falcomadol said
I'm not sure I'd miss Too Human. The idea that it's similar to Phantasy Star Online is appealing, but the video looked appalling. Maybe the game looks better than the CG.
Halo Wars has been confirmed not to be dead as well, IIRC.
I'm having trouble thinking of anything that I was looking forward to that hasn't already been confirmed alive.
Reply
Halo Wars has been confirmed not to be dead as well, IIRC.
I'm having trouble thinking of anything that I was looking forward to that hasn't already been confirmed alive.
Posted: Nov 13th 2007 4:26PM (Unverified) said
ZOMG IT'S "PROJECT H.A.M.M.E.R." and "DISASTER: DAY OF CRISIS"
oh wait wrong system
still sucks those haven't seen daylight lately, or um... ever.
Reply
oh wait wrong system
still sucks those haven't seen daylight lately, or um... ever.
Posted: Nov 13th 2007 4:35PM (Unverified) said
How many much wanted and long-in-development first-party games are there left? I have a feeling whatever it is, if there really is a cancellation, that it's going to be a letdown because of all the fuss this guy created.
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Posted: Nov 13th 2007 4:58PM (Unverified) said
Too Human was a logical answer I mean the first thing I thought was Too Human but it seems is not a first party game, it is a second party game also seriously how many of you were eagerly expecting this game? If I’m not wrong it has been in the works by what 7 years now?
Basically is not a first party game and no one was really exited about it so it doesn’t complete the requirements but I wouldn’t be surprised if Too human was cancelled one of these days.
Now my guess is Marvel Universe Online because this is a dream come true for every Marvel enthusiast but the studio behind this game had a problem back in February and since that day there hasn’t been any news or even images about it.
As you see Marvel Universe Online fills requirements A and B.
It could also be kingdom under fire but I see this title delayed not cancelled.
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Basically is not a first party game and no one was really exited about it so it doesn’t complete the requirements but I wouldn’t be surprised if Too human was cancelled one of these days.
Now my guess is Marvel Universe Online because this is a dream come true for every Marvel enthusiast but the studio behind this game had a problem back in February and since that day there hasn’t been any news or even images about it.
As you see Marvel Universe Online fills requirements A and B.
It could also be kingdom under fire but I see this title delayed not cancelled.
Posted: Nov 13th 2007 4:39PM (Unverified) said
Shane hasn't tried very hard over the last couple of years, to hide the fact that he isn't a fan of the 360. He's been a huge proponent of the PS3, and constantly grasps for straws when finding faults with the 360's lineup of games. Chances are, he just being a retard and his "cancelled-game" won't be a big deal. He just likes to stir up shit because he's a 30 year old baby.
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Posted: Nov 13th 2007 5:01PM CountNoobula said
My guess would be Halo Wars. Other possibilities, maybe Ninja Gaiden 2 rights were lost, now it will be published by Tecmo and go multi-platform.
Whoever said lost Odyssey you could never be so wrong, that game is crucial to their progress in Japan. Blue Dragon may not have sold well here, but in Japan it did well, considering its and Xbox game.
Reply
Whoever said lost Odyssey you could never be so wrong, that game is crucial to their progress in Japan. Blue Dragon may not have sold well here, but in Japan it did well, considering its and Xbox game.
Posted: Nov 13th 2007 5:14PM (Unverified) said
My bet is on the Peter Jackson Project
http://www.geekpulp.co.nz/2007/11/13/can-you-cancel-what-hasnt-started/
Reply
http://www.geekpulp.co.nz/2007/11/13/can-you-cancel-what-hasnt-started/
Posted: Nov 13th 2007 5:23PM (Unverified) said
*votes Solitare, just because. Need a different time-waster for once*
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Posted: Nov 13th 2007 5:47PM (Unverified) said
maybe it's one of the unnannounced but utterly predictable sequels to Crimson Skies or MechAssault?
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Posted: Nov 13th 2007 6:10PM sand0789 said
This really sounds like Marvel Universe Online with those 4 titles openly eliminated from candidacy. Of course I am assuming this rumor is real even though it most likely is not.
It is the only MS published title that fills each criteria:
1) Highly Anticipated
2) Not moments from release and has never shown near final builds. Seriously, Lost Odyssey and Too Human have each shown solid near final builds that have impressed journalists. Lost Odyssey is like gold I think.
3) Really quiet for quite a long time.
4) This is a tricky title as well because it includes a lot of license BS and has a very ambitious goal.
Other possibilities are games that were never officially announced but have been canned, I guess. This would include Perfect Dark Zero and a half, Gears 2, Halo 4, and PGR5.
And no, it is definately not Gaiden.
OMG IT IS KAMEO 2 OH NOES!!!
Reply
It is the only MS published title that fills each criteria:
1) Highly Anticipated
2) Not moments from release and has never shown near final builds. Seriously, Lost Odyssey and Too Human have each shown solid near final builds that have impressed journalists. Lost Odyssey is like gold I think.
3) Really quiet for quite a long time.
4) This is a tricky title as well because it includes a lot of license BS and has a very ambitious goal.
Other possibilities are games that were never officially announced but have been canned, I guess. This would include Perfect Dark Zero and a half, Gears 2, Halo 4, and PGR5.
And no, it is definately not Gaiden.
OMG IT IS KAMEO 2 OH NOES!!!
Posted: Nov 13th 2007 6:33PM Nick the Hero of Canton said
Beware: A random guess that I will be flamed for following:
Maybe its Banjo 3, and MS is moving Rare to work on the Halo IP now that Bungie is off it? It could be...right?
I dunno...random speculation by the village idiot.
Reply
Maybe its Banjo 3, and MS is moving Rare to work on the Halo IP now that Bungie is off it? It could be...right?
I dunno...random speculation by the village idiot.
Posted: Nov 13th 2007 7:00PM (Unverified) said
This is like some sort of TV series finale. Tonight, one cast member you've loved for the last year is going to DIE horribly and suddenly!
Reply
Posted: Nov 13th 2007 7:05PM JonahFalcon said
Everyone who listens to 1UP podcasts knows Shane is a major major Sony apologist/fanboy - even the others on the podcast make fun of him for it.
Reply
Posted: Nov 13th 2007 7:06PM JonahFalcon said
Note to people here: Unless there's a name, it's non-news.
Reply
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