Rumor: Tech issues ruined Dark Knight game, pushed Pandemic AU to ruin
by Ross Miller 
{ Jan 16th 2009 at 12:58PM }
Reportedly, a second team was working on an open-world Wii title and managed to retain rights to the project after the studio closed. We're still waiting to discover the studio's fate, but in the meantime, the report is definitely worth a read. After the break, check out footage from a different -- some would say fake -- Dark Knight game.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
The Dark Wayne @ Jan 16th 2009 1:04PM
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
Kye says: Left4 dead is fun. @ Jan 16th 2009 1:24PM
You still wants play lego batmans wif me?
The Dark Wayne @ Jan 16th 2009 1:32PM
*sniff* it's just not the same
Kye says: Left4 dead is fun. @ Jan 16th 2009 2:52PM
I feels yur pain.
You can has hugs nao
Deeznuts420 @ Jan 16th 2009 3:15PM
why so furious?
Trickob @ Jan 16th 2009 8:14PM
@Deeznuts420
It seriously took me about 30 seconds to figure out why that was funny, then I ROFLOLed
...yeah, I'm kind of slow sometimes...
ThornedVenom (Harley Quinn Defense Force) @ Jan 16th 2009 10:01PM
You still have Arkham Asylum to look forward to.
Deck @ Jan 16th 2009 1:07PM
Liscensed games... *sigh*
Huey2k2 @ Jan 16th 2009 1:08PM
That's ok, the Arkham Asylum game still looks really cool anyways.
Dr Jeckyl and Mr ESC. @ Jan 16th 2009 1:40PM
I was afraid this article was about that precise game. Phew I'm relieved.
Aaron @ Jan 17th 2009 4:16PM
Not
The
Same.
Shagittarius @ Jan 16th 2009 1:13PM
Well at least they saved the Wii version...oh god wait...
jumpshot @ Jan 16th 2009 3:36PM
Wasnt that a video of the Wii version?
I kid, I kid.
Courtney @ Jan 16th 2009 1:25PM
It seems like this would be a strong enough brand to do well even without a release close to the DVD. I would have to think that they game wasn't particularly impressive for them to go ahead and kill the entire studio over it.
The Dark Wayne @ Jan 16th 2009 1:33PM
Apparently EA's Batman license ran out in December 08 so if it wasnt done then there was no doing it
Noshino @ Jan 16th 2009 2:05PM
Also, according to some people it seems Riccitiello is really demanding when it comes to the quality of the titles.
Which could explain the sudden rise in quality of EA's games
Mognet T @ Jan 17th 2009 1:41PM
@Noshino
If EA gave two sh*ts about quality, Mirror's Edge would have been worth the $60 price tag.
Osman @ Jan 16th 2009 1:35PM
:( so many good games and developers being axed, WHATS WRONG WITH THE WORLD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Rod @ Jan 16th 2009 1:47PM
No Dough. No Show.
The Dark Wayne @ Jan 16th 2009 1:47PM
apparently at least, BF3 HAS been handed off to someone, unfortunately the ability to fly from ground combat into space seamlessly is now replaced by a mini cutscene
Osman @ Jan 16th 2009 2:07PM
who knows what else they changed in BF3
Adam @ Jan 16th 2009 1:46PM
Damn, now I really want to play an 8-bit version of The Dark Knight. That was awesome!
LancerX @ Jan 16th 2009 1:48PM
I'm just glad they didn't throw something together in time for the release. I'd be upset to see a crappy TDK game just to go along with the movie. ...Still skeptical on the Arkham game. I'll be watching it closely.
The Dark Wayne @ Jan 16th 2009 1:52PM
I think I have to go buy another Batman statue to make myself feel better
Chris Are @ Jan 16th 2009 2:19PM
God bless America.
J-Link @ Jan 16th 2009 3:22PM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Snjh1hT853g&feature=related
J.Goodwin @ Jan 16th 2009 2:04PM
Nice to see that letting EA buy them is working out so well for Bioware/Pandemic.
Do these companies never learn?
I'm waiting for the axe to fall on DICE.
Strategy_Panda (The Sandwich Poisoning Crew) @ Jan 16th 2009 2:49PM
I heard the team went over budget
meist3r @ Jan 16th 2009 4:04PM
I believe that is what "lack of technology / tools" and "short timeframe" means in business speak.
meist3r @ Jan 16th 2009 4:03PM
Oh man, how come no game studio can pull off a movie title release in 9 months and produce a multi-million dollar seller anymore. The world's just not fair.
nealbailey @ Jan 16th 2009 4:09PM
ET was developed in 6 weeks, why not TDK?
phil @ Jan 21st 2009 10:04AM
OK I have two questions. is this Pandemic the same company that just put out LOTR: Conquest? Second, where did you guys here about BF3?? Links please. XD
Espezito @ Jan 16th 2009 11:54PM
LOTR was done at Pandemic LA, Batman was Pandemic Brisbane, Australia.
I was actually contracted to the Brisbane studio late 2007. This really sucks.
Shmil @ Jan 16th 2009 4:27PM
Is it my imagination of was the song they used Mars by Gustav Holst?
t_m @ Jan 17th 2009 9:21AM
Jeez... I've been waiting for an open world Batman game for 5 years now... with a drivable batmobile and mysteries and crimes to solve...