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Top 10 Games in Development Hell


these are the games that took forever

these are the games that took forever welcome to watchmojo.com and today we’re

welcome to watchmojo.com and today we’re

welcome to watchmojo.com and today we’re counting down our picks for the top 10

counting down our picks for the top 10

counting down our picks for the top 10 games in development hell hell it’s

games in development hell hell it’s

games in development hell hell it’s about time for this list we’re covering

about time for this list we’re covering

about time for this list we’re covering both games that have been released and

both games that have been released and

both games that have been released and those that have yet to be released for

those that have yet to be released for

those that have yet to be released for judging these based on a combination of

judging these based on a combination of

judging these based on a combination of development time hype and the drama

development time hype and the drama

development time hype and the drama that’s associated with the development

that’s associated with the development

that’s associated with the development teleporter going up number 10 LA noire

teleporter going up number 10 LA noire

teleporter going up number 10 LA noire an ambitious title from first time

an ambitious title from first time

an ambitious title from first time developer Team Bondi noir was originally

developer Team Bondi noir was originally

developer Team Bondi noir was originally developed as a ps3 exclusive with Sony

developed as a ps3 exclusive with Sony

developed as a ps3 exclusive with Sony as the publisher for a 2008 release date

as the publisher for a 2008 release date

as the publisher for a 2008 release date however year after year the game was

however year after year the game was

however year after year the game was pushed back and the team eventually

pushed back and the team eventually

pushed back and the team eventually changed publishers to rockstar the huge

changed publishers to rockstar the huge

changed publishers to rockstar the huge amount of money invested in the game’s

amount of money invested in the game’s

amount of money invested in the game’s facial motion scan technology and the

facial motion scan technology and the

facial motion scan technology and the overall ambitious scope of the project

overall ambitious scope of the project

overall ambitious scope of the project caused Team Bondi to go belly-up soon

caused Team Bondi to go belly-up soon

caused Team Bondi to go belly-up soon after the game’s release the department

after the game’s release the department

after the game’s release the department has arranged a wee drink at the Galway

has arranged a wee drink at the Galway

has arranged a wee drink at the Galway arms to quench the mighty thirst a mine

arms to quench the mighty thirst a mine

arms to quench the mighty thirst a mine guest in 25 years of police rule number

guest in 25 years of police rule number

guest in 25 years of police rule number 9 – human this game started life as a

9 – human this game started life as a

9 – human this game started life as a four-disc ps1 game before developer

four-disc ps1 game before developer

four-disc ps1 game before developer Silicon Knights moved production to the

Silicon Knights moved production to the

Silicon Knights moved production to the Gamecube before finally settling on the

Gamecube before finally settling on the

Gamecube before finally settling on the Xbox 360 oh and naturally the game was

Xbox 360 oh and naturally the game was

Xbox 360 oh and naturally the game was intended to be part of a trilogy when it

intended to be part of a trilogy when it

intended to be part of a trilogy when it was released it was panned by critics

was released it was panned by critics

was released it was panned by critics for awkward controls bizarre animation

for awkward controls bizarre animation

for awkward controls bizarre animation and repetitive gameplay to make matters

and repetitive gameplay to make matters

and repetitive gameplay to make matters even worse the game was recalled

even worse the game was recalled

even worse the game was recalled following a court case with epic games

following a court case with epic games

following a court case with epic games over a dispute with the Unreal Engine yo

over a dispute with the Unreal Engine yo

over a dispute with the Unreal Engine yo this isn’t the kind of advisory capacity

this isn’t the kind of advisory capacity

this isn’t the kind of advisory capacity I had in mind

I had in mind

I had in mind the quiet number 8 Diablo 3 originally

the quiet number 8 Diablo 3 originally

the quiet number 8 Diablo 3 originally beginning development back in 2001 fans

beginning development back in 2001 fans

beginning development back in 2001 fans of the popular series were forced to

of the popular series were forced to

of the popular series were forced to wait patiently for 11 years between

wait patiently for 11 years between

wait patiently for 11 years between Diablo 2’s expansion and this title the

Diablo 2’s expansion and this title the

Diablo 2’s expansion and this title the main reason for the delay was the game

main reason for the delay was the game

main reason for the delay was the game was scrapped and restarted three times

was scrapped and restarted three times

was scrapped and restarted three times because Blizzard weren’t happy with the

because Blizzard weren’t happy with the

because Blizzard weren’t happy with the results the game finally arrived in the

results the game finally arrived in the

results the game finally arrived in the hands of

hands of

hands of Asian fans in 2012 many of whose

Asian fans in 2012 many of whose

Asian fans in 2012 many of whose patients instantly turn to anger with

patients instantly turn to anger with

patients instantly turn to anger with the games always-online DRM and real

the games always-online DRM and real

the games always-online DRM and real money auction house

money auction house

money auction house oh well get away from the wall number

oh well get away from the wall number

oh well get away from the wall number seven The Last Guardian being developed

seven The Last Guardian being developed

seven The Last Guardian being developed by the team who brought us ICO and

by the team who brought us ICO and

by the team who brought us ICO and Shadow of the Colossus this game was

Shadow of the Colossus this game was

Shadow of the Colossus this game was originally announced at e3 2009 with a

originally announced at e3 2009 with a

originally announced at e3 2009 with a spectacular trailer that wowed critics

spectacular trailer that wowed critics

spectacular trailer that wowed critics and fans alike and that’s all we’ve

and fans alike and that’s all we’ve

and fans alike and that’s all we’ve heard of it

heard of it

heard of it we were about to write this title off as

we were about to write this title off as

we were about to write this title off as vaporware but Sony insists that the game

vaporware but Sony insists that the game

vaporware but Sony insists that the game is still in development

number six aliens colonial marines

number six aliens colonial marines aliens was developed by Fox interactive

aliens was developed by Fox interactive

aliens was developed by Fox interactive and EA for the ps2 before being

and EA for the ps2 before being

and EA for the ps2 before being cancelled for reasons unknown in 2001

cancelled for reasons unknown in 2001

cancelled for reasons unknown in 2001 then in 2006 Sega acquired the aliens

then in 2006 Sega acquired the aliens

then in 2006 Sega acquired the aliens license and assigned gearbox software to

license and assigned gearbox software to

license and assigned gearbox software to develop the game under the same name but

develop the game under the same name but

develop the game under the same name but it was cancelled in 2008 then later

it was cancelled in 2008 then later

it was cancelled in 2008 then later restarted the game was eventually

restarted the game was eventually

restarted the game was eventually released and instantly garnered Fame for

released and instantly garnered Fame for

released and instantly garnered Fame for being borderline unplayable if we die

being borderline unplayable if we die

being borderline unplayable if we die it’s on you

it’s on you

it’s on you number 5 Final Fantasy 15 back at e3

number 5 Final Fantasy 15 back at e3

number 5 Final Fantasy 15 back at e3 2006 before the ps3 had been released

2006 before the ps3 had been released

2006 before the ps3 had been released the game was originally announced as

the game was originally announced as

the game was originally announced as Final Fantasy 13 vs. intended as an

Final Fantasy 13 vs. intended as an

Final Fantasy 13 vs. intended as an exclusive for that system however with

exclusive for that system however with

exclusive for that system however with details of the game being kept very

details of the game being kept very

details of the game being kept very hush-hush Square Enix frequently had to

hush-hush Square Enix frequently had to

hush-hush Square Enix frequently had to fend off rumours that it had been

fend off rumours that it had been

fend off rumours that it had been cancelled it’s now slated as a ps4 and

cancelled it’s now slated as a ps4 and

cancelled it’s now slated as a ps4 and Xbox one title with release date unknown

Xbox one title with release date unknown

Xbox one title with release date unknown graphics sure do look pretty though none

graphics sure do look pretty though none

graphics sure do look pretty though none the mindo Sega latina dick tenet number

the mindo Sega latina dick tenet number

the mindo Sega latina dick tenet number 4

4

4 pray and pray to the guys at human head

pray and pray to the guys at human head

pray and pray to the guys at human head Studios must be real perfectionists

Studios must be real perfectionists

Studios must be real perfectionists first showed off in 1997 the original

first showed off in 1997 the original

first showed off in 1997 the original game went through multiple revisions

game went through multiple revisions

game went through multiple revisions before its eventual release eleven years

before its eventual release eleven years

before its eventual release eleven years after it began development miraculously

after it began development miraculously

after it began development miraculously the game was well received by critics

the game was well received by critics

the game was well received by critics and fans which led to ground being

and fans which led to ground being

and fans which led to ground being broken on the development of an

broken on the development of an

broken on the development of an ambitious sequel and guess what’s

ambitious sequel and guess what’s

ambitious sequel and guess what’s happening with that now

happening with that now

happening with that now oh my god he’s a giant number three

oh my god he’s a giant number three

oh my god he’s a giant number three half-life 2 episode 3 what was supposed

half-life 2 episode 3 what was supposed

half-life 2 episode 3 what was supposed to be a short length episodic chapter

to be a short length episodic chapter

to be a short length episodic chapter turned into one of the biggest hush-hush

turned into one of the biggest hush-hush

turned into one of the biggest hush-hush tales in the videogame industry no

tales in the videogame industry no

tales in the videogame industry no promotional media has ever been released

promotional media has ever been released

promotional media has ever been released aside from some concept art and

aside from some concept art and

aside from some concept art and employees at valve refused to comment on

employees at valve refused to comment on

employees at valve refused to comment on the game more ironically in 2006 in an

the game more ironically in 2006 in an

the game more ironically in 2006 in an interview with Eurogamer Gabe Newell

interview with Eurogamer Gabe Newell

interview with Eurogamer Gabe Newell said that the reason they went with

said that the reason they went with

said that the reason they went with episodic content for half-life was

episodic content for half-life was

episodic content for half-life was because shorter gameplay chunks were

because shorter gameplay chunks were

because shorter gameplay chunks were still better than having fans wait 6

still better than having fans wait 6

still better than having fans wait 6 years for their next installments will

years for their next installments will

years for their next installments will let you do the math but guess how long

let you do the math but guess how long

let you do the math but guess how long it’s been since episode 2 after Orange

it’s been since episode 2 after Orange

it’s been since episode 2 after Orange Box we have to get episode 3 out we know

Box we have to get episode 3 out we know

Box we have to get episode 3 out we know how the trilogy ends and they’re a bunch

how the trilogy ends and they’re a bunch

how the trilogy ends and they’re a bunch of loose ends and narrative arcs that

of loose ends and narrative arcs that

of loose ends and narrative arcs that need to come to a conclusion in episode

need to come to a conclusion in episode

need to come to a conclusion in episode 3 number 2 mother3

3 number 2 mother3

3 number 2 mother3 aka earthbound – this is pretty painful

aka earthbound – this is pretty painful

aka earthbound – this is pretty painful for earthbound fans for multiple reasons

for earthbound fans for multiple reasons

for earthbound fans for multiple reasons originally beginning development on the

originally beginning development on the

originally beginning development on the SNES when that system’s lifespan was

SNES when that system’s lifespan was

SNES when that system’s lifespan was coming to an end it was moved to the 64

coming to an end it was moved to the 64

coming to an end it was moved to the 64 disc drive

disc drive

disc drive when that failed it was moved to the n64

when that failed it was moved to the n64

when that failed it was moved to the n64 then finally to the gameboy advance but

then finally to the gameboy advance but

then finally to the gameboy advance but it was released when the D s was already

it was released when the D s was already

it was released when the D s was already on the market and even at that only in

on the market and even at that only in

on the market and even at that only in Japan much to the frustration of Western

Japan much to the frustration of Western

Japan much to the frustration of Western fans however some fan-made translations

fans however some fan-made translations

fans however some fan-made translations do exist for the true fanatics out there

before we get to our top spot let’s take

before we get to our top spot let’s take a look at a few honorable mentions

number one duke nukem forever if you

number one duke nukem forever if you know your gaming history this one should

know your gaming history this one should

know your gaming history this one should be no surprise for 15 years this game

be no surprise for 15 years this game

be no surprise for 15 years this game with the most ironic title ever was

with the most ironic title ever was

with the most ironic title ever was being cobbled together it went through

being cobbled together it went through

being cobbled together it went through multiple revisions and ended up

multiple revisions and ended up

multiple revisions and ended up switching developers and publishers and

switching developers and publishers and

switching developers and publishers and to put an end to this tragic story when

to put an end to this tragic story when

to put an end to this tragic story when it finally did come out it was absolute

it finally did come out it was absolute

it finally did come out it was absolute duty front and center was the fact that

duty front and center was the fact that

duty front and center was the fact that it seemed to be unable to decide if it

it seemed to be unable to decide if it

it seemed to be unable to decide if it wanted to be a retro or a modern shooter

wanted to be a retro or a modern shooter

wanted to be a retro or a modern shooter and featured humor that was so outdated

and featured humor that was so outdated

and featured humor that was so outdated it was way past offensive by today’s

it was way past offensive by today’s

it was way past offensive by today’s standards what’s happening – uh looks

standards what’s happening – uh looks

standards what’s happening – uh looks like you’re agree with our list which

like you’re agree with our list which

like you’re agree with our list which games made you give up hope for the

games made you give up hope for the

games made you give up hope for the future for more top 10 lists that come

future for more top 10 lists that come

future for more top 10 lists that come out each day rather than every decade be

out each day rather than every decade be

out each day rather than every decade be sure to subscribe to watchmojo.com what

sure to subscribe to watchmojo.com what

sure to subscribe to watchmojo.com what about the game Duke was it any good

about the game Duke was it any good

about the game Duke was it any good yeah but after 12 years it should be

”

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