Earthworm Jim 4
Earthworm Jim 4 | |
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Platform, shoot 'em up |
Earthworm Jim 4 is a proposed video game in the
Development
Announcement
Following the quiet cancellation of a planned Earthworm Jim title for PSP in mid-2007,[1] rumors of a new Earthworm Jim game arose as early as November 2007, when Interplay, who had previously halted game development due to financial trouble, announced that they were restarting game development, listing Earthworm Jim as a series they would resurrect.[2][3] The game was officially announced as Earthworm Jim 4 shortly after this, on April 22, 2008.[4][5] Interplay also announced that original Earthworm Jim creator and voice actor Doug TenNapel would return as a "creative consultant".[6][7] While no details were released in regards to which video game console it would be released on, or a prospective release date, the company did announce the intention to release a new animated television series, and eventually a feature film, to tie in with the game.[4]
Early development
No further news was announced on the game for over two years, until April 2010, when rumors arose that TenNapel had started confirming details about the game, most notably that he was actively working on the game, and that it would be a title for the
Interplay actually wants to do the game right! We've been talking about a game now for two years. They want me to be involved, but times in games are tough right now for everyone. They have to raise a lot of money to fund the game properly... In our early discussions about the game, we had tentatively brainstormed ideas for the Wii. That is NOT a confirmation like the guy posted. We haven't presented the idea to Nintendo... As with anything in the gaming industry, the whole thing could turn on a dime and many of the facts can change about the game. What these fans don't understand is how squirly things are at the beginning of the game. It would take at least two years to bring out the game and that's after we've confirmed the budget and platform. The game could just as easily go away, get moved to the iPhone or become a Jim Tetris knock off as come out as a game on the Wii. People don't understand how unstable game design is at the start.[8]
TenNapel also emphasized the importance of getting the original team members back together (such as David Perry and Nick Bruty) and being able to adapt to the higher production values and demands of the current generation of video game consoles.[8] Overall, he said that while Interplay was still interested in doing the game, no development, or terms of it, had been completed.[8]
Another year passed before anything was heard about the game again. In May 2011, Interplay announced that they were experiencing financial troubles again, including "substantial debt" and continued operating losses, and that could leave many future games in jeopardy.[9] Despite TenNapel's comments a year prior, in these reports, Interplay listed the game as "Earthworm Jim 4, a project still in development but at an unknown state."[9][10][11][12]
At the "Develop" conference in July 2012, Shiny Entertainment founder David Perry released a statement that he's sure there will be another Earthworm Jim game.[13] He claimed the problem was "when", not "if", as, while the development team members discuss the project actively, they are all busy with their separate projects and companies.[13] A possible premise he outlined was as follows:
The thing we had talked about in the past is Jim had been in retirement...So, he's been sitting at home watching movies and eating popcorn. He's grossly overweight now. The plan was to start with him literally getting off the sofa, and it's a disaster because he just hasn't done anything since. But he's got to get back into action again.[13]
While details regarding just how much Jim being out of shape would affect game design are still up in the air, Perry mentioned being pretty certain that the game would be played in 2D.[13] In October 2015, original Earthworm Jim lead artist Nick Bruty held a
Oh man. A new EWJ game with the original team almost happened about 5 years ago but a deal with the IP owners couldn't get worked out. I think everyone would be up for it sometime. Feels like unfinished business but hard to align everyone. I wouldn't do it without the key players.[14]
Intellivision Amico development
In May 2019, a new Earthworm Jim game was announced by
The development team hosted a
The game was scheduled to release sometime after the release of Amico console, which was originally scheduled to release in October 2020,[18] but was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic to April 2021 and later October 2021.[21][22] In August 2020, alongside news of the first delay of the console, the game's first gameplay trailer was released.[23]
In early 2023, video game website Time Extension reached out to members of the development staff for an update on the game; while none outright confirmed its cancellation, Jones stated that he had not done any work beyond initial brainstorming sessions years prior, similar to Perry, who had assumed the game was on hold,[24] leading to the general belief that the game had been cancelled.[25]
References
- ^ "Atari's Earthworm Jim project is in stasis". Siliconera. 2007-06-19. Retrieved 2013-09-08.
- ^ Kollar, Philip (2007-11-14). "Interplay Wants to Develop Games Again: News from". 1UP.com. Archived from the original on 2012-11-07. Retrieved 2013-09-08.
- ^ "Interplay restarting dev studio". GameSpot.com. 2007-11-13. Archived from the original on October 6, 2013. Retrieved 2013-09-08.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - ^ a b Hayward, Andrew (2008-04-22). "Interplay Announces Earthworm Jim 4: News from". 1UP.com. Archived from the original on 2013-03-14. Retrieved 2013-09-08.
- ^ "Earthworm Jim Returns - IGN". Wii.ign.com. 2008-04-22. Archived from the original on 2008-04-27. Retrieved 2013-09-08.
- ^ "Earthworm Jim 4 announced by an overenthusiastic Interplay, no platform yet". Joystiq. 2008-04-23. Retrieved 2013-09-08.
- ^ Plunkett, Luke. "New Earthworm Jim Games? And Cartoons? Thanks!". Kotaku. Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2015-11-14.
- ^ a b c d e "Doug TenNapel shoots down Earthworm Jim 4 but confirms 'interest' from Interplay". GamesRadar. 2012-06-23. Retrieved 2013-09-08.
- ^ a b "Fallout in doubt as Interplay fears collapse". Develop-Online.net. 2011-05-31. Retrieved 2013-09-08.
- ^ "Fallout Online, Earthworm Jim 4, in Jeopardy as Interplay Stumbles". GamePolitics. 2011-05-30. Retrieved 2013-09-08.
- ^ Gilbert, Ben (2011-05-31). "Fallout Online's future in doubt as Interplay crumbles". Joystiq. Retrieved 2013-09-08.
- ^ "Interplay hurting, Earthworm Jim 4's future uncertain | GoNintendo - What are YOU waiting for?". GoNintendo. 30 May 2011. Retrieved 2013-09-08.
- ^ a b c d Yin, Wesley (2012-07-17). "David Perry "sure" a new Earthworm Jim will be made • News •". Eurogamer.net. Retrieved 2013-09-08.
- ^ "The Team Behind Earthworm Jim Would Like to Make a Sequel". Nintendo Life. 8 October 2015.
- ^ Cork, Jeff (2019-05-01). "Earthworm Jim Developers Reunite To Make New Game". Game Informer. Retrieved 2019-05-07.
- ^ Hall, Charlie (2019-05-01). "Earthworm Jim game in development for the new Intellivision console". Polygon. Retrieved 2019-05-02.
- ^ a b "Earthworm Jim (Video Game)". IMDb. Retrieved 2019-05-07.
- ^ a b c d "Intellivision Live Stream - Earthworm Jim". YouTube. 2019-05-04.
- ^ "Intellivision delays launch to April 2021 and unveils 20 new games". 5 August 2020.
- ^ Purslow, Matt (2019-05-02). "New Earthworm Jim Game Is in Development by the Original Team". IGN. Retrieved 2019-05-03.
- ^ Takahashi, Dean (2020-08-05). "Intellivision delays launch to April 2021 and unveils 20 new games". VentureBeat. Archived from the original on 2020-09-13. Retrieved 2020-10-13.
- ^ "Intellivision Amico Release Date Delayed to Late 2021". TechRaptor. 17 February 2021. Retrieved 2021-06-12.
- ^ "Earthworm Jim 4 si mostra in un primo trailer e i fan non hanno pietà". Eurogamer.it (in Italian). 11 August 2020.
- ^ "So, What's Happening with Earthworm Jim 4?". 16 January 2023.
- ^ "Intellivision Amico 'Exclusives' Shark! Shark! And Astrosmash Are Coming to Switch". 24 May 2023.