Ender's Game Game Cancelled by Epic

[Greg Tito]

Ender's Game Game Cancelled by Epic

The game based on Orson Scott Card's novel has been shelved by Chair Entertainment upon the urging of parent company Epic Games.

Ender's Game is a great coming of age adventure story that follows a young kid's growth as a military commander and a person. I wasn't sure how Chair Entertainment (Shadow Complex and the recent Infinity Blade iPod game) would adapt the book to a videogame until I learned that the downloadable title would focus on the Battle Room scenes of the story. The Battle Room was very much like a sci-fi paintball, but with variables that Ender's teachers could tweak to test the potential commander's abilities. The concept of teams of students competing to impress their superiors would have made for a compelling game. Unfortunately, Chair Entertainment cofounder Donald Mustard announced yesterday that it would no longer work on making the game. The directive to cease development came from Epic Games, who acquired Chair in 2008.

"We have and had an amazing design for the Ender's Game game," Mustard said. "One of Epic's primary objectives is to create original and unique franchises. I don't know that Ender's Game fits into that strategic objective anymore."

The breakout success of Infinity Blade [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/106085-Update-Epics-Infinity-Blade-Is-the-Fastest-Grossing-App-Ever] may have prompted the cancellation of Ender's Game so that Chair could focus its attention on more iOS games. Still, it's unfortunate that Chair spent at least three years working on the game since it was announced in January 2008 only to scrap it now.

Mustard didn't rule out that he'd be willing to let another design studio tackle Ender's Game. "If anyone decides they want to make it, I have some ideas I'd love to talk to them about," he said.

Any fledgling game studios out there want to work with a top-notch license and make a cool game? Now's your chance.

Source: Joystiq [http://www.joystiq.com/2010/12/14/enders-game-tabled-by-chair/]



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[Onyx Oblivion]

Shame. I loved most of Chair's work thus far. What I've played at least.

Undertow and Shadow Complex, basically.

 

[maddog015]

Why not turn the game into an app? It can't be that hard, right?

 

[pendragon177]

How come I was never informed that they where making a game about this book? And now I find out that it's canceled as well! I am disappoint.
Although, I never technically read Ender's Game I actually read Ender's Shadow which is basically a parallel story to it.

 

[Rusty Bucket]

Epic can go fuck themselves, I hate them now. This game had the potential to be fantastic, not to mention a hell of a lot more unique and original than anything Epic have put out in the last few years.

How can Epic say they focus on creating unique and original frnachises and then go and work on Bulletstorm, which isn't close to either of those things?

 

[Slycne]

I wouldn't be the least surprised if this also has to do with the controversy surrounding Orson Scott Card and his outspoken anti-gay marriage ideals.[footnote]http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/94068-Shadow-Complex-Prompts-Difficult-Questions[/footnote] Shadow Complex got some backlash and it was only loosely associated with him, let alone a title based squarely on his work.

 

[JaredXE]

Good, now the Mustard Brothers can start working on a sequel to Advent Rising, after they steal the rights away from Majesco of course. But seriously, MAKE THE FUCKING GAME!


Or at least finish the damned story please.

 

[sunburst]

This is rather disappointing. I'm a huge fan of the Ender Series and some squad-based shooting in the Battle Room would probably rock. Luckily, we already have Shattered Horizon if we want to jump around and shoot in a gravity-free environment. Almost as good.

 

[KEM10]

I wouldn't be the least surprised if this also has to do with the controversy surrounding Orson Scott Card and his outspoken anti-gay marriage ideals.[footnote]http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/94068-Shadow-Complex-Prompts-Difficult-Questions[/footnote] Shadow Complex got some backlash and it was only loosely associated with him, let alone a title based squarely on his work.

Honestly, Frank Lloyd Wright up and left his wife of 20 years, leaving his six children behind, and traveled to Europe with another woman, never to return. Is his work any less spectacular or grand because of that?

Furthermore, I could not see how this game could match all of the themes in the story to make it worth while instead of a flop that most movie tie ins become. The only way I might have bought it is if, as Tito mentioned, it was based on the Battle Room and maybe the space simulator later on in the book.

 

[Monshroud]

In a way I am kinda glad to hear about this. A game that was just the Battle Room scenario's might be out of place for people who are not familiar with the Ender's Game series.

Ender's Game while an incredible book, I don't think would translate into a video game well since the story requires the person to not realize the impact of what is really going on.

 

[Brian Hendershot]

No...just no...

I really wanted this. I know this game probably would not have been the best since the book probably wouldn't translate into a video game, but my blatant fan boyism would have taken care of it.

 

[Slycne]

I wouldn't be the least surprised if this also has to do with the controversy surrounding Orson Scott Card and his outspoken anti-gay marriage ideals.[footnote]http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/94068-Shadow-Complex-Prompts-Difficult-Questions[/footnote] Shadow Complex got some backlash and it was only loosely associated with him, let alone a title based squarely on his work.

Honestly, Frank Lloyd Wright up and left his wife of 20 years, leaving his six children behind, and traveled to Europe with another woman, never to return. Is his work any less spectacular or grand because of that?

Furthermore, I could not see how this game could match all of the themes in the story to make it worth while instead of a flop that most movie tie ins become. The only way I might have bought it is if, as Tito mentioned, it was based on the Battle Room and maybe the space simulator later on in the book.

While true, I imagine the people who take offense to this would make the case that purchasing a title based on the works of Orson Scott Card would benefit his agenda here and now. Admiring the architecture of Frank Lloyd Wright today is not in any way benefiting the family abandonment he did while alive.

 

[J-Alfred]

Shame. I would have liked a game which jarringly switches from deep, rewarding, space-flight fun to childlike but horrifying fairy tale character analysis.

I am being totally serious. I've always thought that the sheer Brother's-Grimm-ness of that horrigying fantasy game from Ender's Game belongs in a game somewhere.

 

[josemlopes]

Epic can go fuck themselves, I hate them now. This game had the potential to be fantastic, not to mention a hell of a lot more unique and original than anything Epic have put out in the last few years.

How can Epic say they focus on creating unique and original frnachises and then go and work on Bulletstorm, which isn't close to either of those things?

You say that like Bulletstorm was the most generic game ever. Its an FPS based on humor and creativity, if it was generic it would be a realistic FPS that has the main character do stuff that isnt realistic at all, and also call it a strategy game because you have to think if you go to the right or left.

Bulletstorm may not be the most original thing in the face of the earth, but you have to trust Epic in their decision, their are not like Sega or Capcom, they know what they are doing.

 

[Cowabungaa]

How can Epic say they focus on creating unique and original frnachises and then go and work on Bulletstorm, which isn't close to either of those things?

What? How is it not?! It goes against almost everything that makes today's popular shooters, well, today's popular shooters. It's more like a return to the 90's, with over-the-top, insane and relentless action. A refreshing type of shooter that, I think, is welcome in this age of modern warfare FPS.

To me, judging by the description in the OP (as I haven't read that book), this game would translate in a rather typical multiplayer shooter, though perhaps with an a-typical art style, with some sort of leaderboard. Doesn't sound that compelling or original to me.

 

[megs1120]

As long as that creep Orson Scott Card doesn't get residuals, I'm happy.

 

[Rusty Bucket]

How can Epic say they focus on creating unique and original frnachises and then go and work on Bulletstorm, which isn't close to either of those things?

What? How is it not?! It goes against almost everything that makes today's popular shooters, well, today's popular shooters. It's more like a return to the 90's, with over-the-top, insane and relentless action. A refreshing type of shooter that, I think, is welcome in this age of modern warfare FPS.

I may have been overreacting here, which I apologise for. I still don't think Bulletstorm is at all original though. The scoring stuff's cool, but other than that it's just two burly space marine types running around with big guns and killing other burly space marines. Granted, I haven't seen tons of footage, but it definitely doesn't look original.

To me, judging by the description in the OP (as I haven't read that book), this game would translate in a rather typical multiplayer shooter, though perhaps with an a-typical art style, with some sort of leaderboard. Doesn't sound that compelling or original to me.

There's no gravity. That changes things a little.

 

[Cowabungaa]

How can Epic say they focus on creating unique and original frnachises and then go and work on Bulletstorm, which isn't close to either of those things?

What? How is it not?! It goes against almost everything that makes today's popular shooters, well, today's popular shooters. It's more like a return to the 90's, with over-the-top, insane and relentless action. A refreshing type of shooter that, I think, is welcome in this age of modern warfare FPS.

I may have been overreacting here, which I apologise for. I still don't think Bulletstorm is at all original though. The scoring stuff's cool, but other than that it's just two burly space marine types running around with big guns and killing other burly space marines. Granted, I haven't seen tons of footage, but it definitely doesn't look original. I'd say it sticks out a lot compared to all the modern warfare stuff we see nowadays.

To me, judging by the description in the OP (as I haven't read that book), this game would translate in a rather typical multiplayer shooter, though perhaps with an a-typical art style, with some sort of leaderboard. Doesn't sound that compelling or original to me.

There's no gravity. That changes things a little.

Burly, yes, space marines, not really, perhaps, more like ex-mercs-now-fugitive-drunken-space-pirates. Even still, space marines are not that popular nowadays so I'm not seeing the big fuss about them. But space pirates are a whole lot cooler. And you're mainly murdering insane tribals or something.

The zero-G thing does sound interesting, reminds me of that one game that required Vista or XP or something and never really caught on, Shattered Horizons I believe. Zero-G shooter combat does sound promising.

 

[Aenir]

Huh, the first time I hear about a video game about one of my favorite books, and its about it being canceled?

Frankly I'd be wary of how it would be handled anyway.

Shame 3 years of work went down the drain though.