Two sites reveal canceled THQ game: Stormbirds [update]
We knew that THQ's financial turmoil last year led to the unceremonious execution of a few of their in-development titles, but the extent of the damage still isn't fully known to those outside of the company. Recently, two different sources confirmed one of the games that was given the ax -- a flying action game titled Stormbirds, which was being developed by the recently "realigned" THQ-owned studio Juice Games.
In addition to an opening cinematic for the game (captures from which are located in the gallery below) which was uploaded by CGI company Realtime:UK, tons of renders and gameplay details were recently posted to the personal blog of former Juice Games environmental artist Greg Calvert. Said blog post has since vanished, but not before our eagle-eyed PC-centric sister site Big Downloadgrabbed the images. Shame, really -- it looks kind of neat.
[Update: The source requested we remove the copyrighted renders from the post.]
In addition to an opening cinematic for the game (captures from which are located in the gallery below) which was uploaded by CGI company Realtime:UK, tons of renders and gameplay details were recently posted to the personal blog of former Juice Games environmental artist Greg Calvert. Said blog post has since vanished, but not before our eagle-eyed PC-centric sister site Big Download
[Update: The source requested we remove the copyrighted renders from the post.]






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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
PastaGabe @ Jan 3rd 2009 2:08PM
Oh darn! I love airplane/action games!
This actually looks pretty sweet!
Too bad it was cancelled...=[
Dr Jeckyl and Mr ESC. @ Jan 3rd 2009 2:48PM
I want a new Ace Combat game.
Wiinterfang @ Jan 3rd 2009 2:20PM
that's sad, even if it's THQ fault somehow for relying on star power to sell their games, not everybody ones to buy crappy Nicktoons games.
Deck @ Jan 3rd 2009 2:20PM
That doesn't look so bad. Too bad its now gone :(
BigD145 @ Jan 3rd 2009 2:22PM
Lots of wasted money.
seamonkey420 @ Jan 3rd 2009 2:31PM
dang! that looked good! i wish there more sweet flying games. my PS3 got its ace combat stolen by the x360 :( and no one dogfights on warhawk anymore either.
Luke @ Jan 3rd 2009 3:45PM
I'll dogfight with ya.
Strategy_Panda (The Sandwich Poisoning Crew) @ Jan 3rd 2009 3:55PM
HAWX
Tez @ Jan 3rd 2009 2:38PM
HAWX will fill the void nicely, I imagine.
Haggard @ Jan 3rd 2009 2:58PM
Could do, but I fear the hand of generic-ness. Seems more like Wipeout but without the floor at the moment.
Strategy_Panda (The Sandwich Poisoning Crew) @ Jan 3rd 2009 3:58PM
Clancy branded games are generally pretty good about delivering a polished and fun to play experience.
Hashbrown Hunter @ Jan 4th 2009 7:06AM
I hope HAWX is just a way more fun to play version of Ace Combat. Ace Combat does flight well, but it definitely needs a shot of adrenaline. Tom Clancy games are usually pretty good about that.
...wait, what the hell happened to GRAW? I would like to see a GRAW 3.
jmarto @ Jan 3rd 2009 2:47PM
Aw...oh well
Dr Jeckyl and Mr ESC. @ Jan 3rd 2009 2:47PM
Why they canceled this?
The intro is badass.
GundamWingEW @ Jan 3rd 2009 3:10PM
Wow that looked amazing. I hate THQ now...
Oh well hopefully HAWX is that amazing.
Joel @ Jan 3rd 2009 3:16PM
Dude that sucks. That trailer actually looked pretty sweet. I am bummed now.
Joe @ Jan 3rd 2009 3:20PM
Smart move on THQ part.....NOT I think this game could have been cool there is far to few of these kinds of games out there and if the game play could be any thing like the trailer the game would have been really sweet. So it sucks to see a game that could have been really cool not see the light of day.
Piddy @ Jan 3rd 2009 3:30PM
Bummer!!!!
I would definately have bought this, if not just for the opening cinematic - the sound is awesome!!
The PS3 needs something like this, someone should pick it up if it plays well.
GundamWingEW @ Jan 3rd 2009 4:33PM
MS should buy this immediately...and publish it as an exclusive...
Haggard @ Jan 3rd 2009 6:11PM
Fuck that.. Nintendo could use one.
Hashbrown Hunter @ Jan 4th 2009 7:33AM
Nintendo could REALLY use one.
Ryan @ Jan 5th 2009 12:03PM
THQ decided that no one buys Air Combat games. And they're probably right. You want this game? Buy a bunch of copies of HAWX. If HAWX sells 1.5 Million, then THQ might think about putting out a game like this, but for the time being publishers are sticking to the garunteed money makers.
Jon A. @ Jan 3rd 2009 5:26PM
I don't give a damn about how good this game looks. I'm skeptical of any game developed by the same people who make Juiced.
THQ probably made a wise decision.
Courtney @ Jan 3rd 2009 11:34PM
Man, there seems to be a ton of designers who have posted their work to their blog after a canceled project, only to have it yanked immediately. The guys are just trying to show off their work, at least some of them to get a new job.