Games that were completed, but ultimately shelved for years

[vnisanian2001]

Anyone know any examples? Here's what I know of:

The HAL Famicom ports of Atari arcade games (supposed to come out in 1983; came out in 1987)

Night Trap (supposed to come out on Hasbro's NEMO VHS system in 1989, two years after the footage was filmed and completed; came out in 1992 on the Sega CD)

Advance Wars (supposed to come out in Japan in 2001; unreleased there until a 1+2 game collection came out in 2004 due to 9/11)

[dsparil]

Earthbound Beginnings was supposed to have a US release in 1991 but was shelved until 2015.

Rodea the Sky Soldier was supposed to have a Wii release in 2011 but only came out in 2015 with the first printing of the remade Wii U version.

[X-pert74]

I've heard that the final version of Duke Nukem Forever was mostly completed over 2007-2009, and that by the time Gearbox got a hold of it, they mostly did some minor touch-ups and took care of some loose ends; the final product is largely what 3D Realms had been working on.

[Bumpyroad]

The Sega Genesis version of It Came From the Desert had to come out in 1990,but was released in ROM form sometime after 2K. The 'Extended Cut' is still in production suspiciously.. | desert.cinemaware.com/game.htm

[Gendo Ikari]

May 22, 2017 22:46:29 GMT -5 X-pert74 said:

I've heard that the final version of Duke Nukem Forever was mostly completed over 2007-2009, and that by the time Gearbox got a hold of it, they mostly did some minor touch-ups and took care of some loose ends; the final product is largely what 3D Realms had been working on.

It was said that the game was finally and really in an advanced stage when 3D Realms had to close doors in 2009, and it was later proven true; in fact, after Gearbox secured the rights and re-hired most of the development team, it took just another year for the game to come out, and the graphics look mid-2000s, in line with the alleged last reset of the production. That has never stopped the urban myth that Gearbox made the game from the ground up in such a short time.

Chip's Challenge 2 was completed in the early 1990s but the author had lost the rights; it took almost a quarter century for him to recover them and then release the game.

The Amiga port of Liquid Kids was cancelled in 1990 and has resurfaced only many years later.

[GamerL]

May 22, 2017 22:46:29 GMT -5 X-pert74 said:

I've heard that the final version of Duke Nukem Forever was mostly completed over 2007-2009, and that by the time Gearbox got a hold of it, they mostly did some minor touch-ups and took care of some loose ends; the final product is largely what 3D Realms had been working on.

Judging from the joke referencing Christian Bale's Terminator Salvation set freakout, I'd say DNF was finished in 2009.

[ZenithianHero]

Dorke and Ymp.
Originally a SNES game but shelved and unreleased because it couldn't find a publisher.
Fast forward to 2015, the game was rebuilt from a 50% build and completed for PC by original staff.
store.steampowered.com/app/474810/Dorke_and_Ymp/

The Red Star. It was cancelled on XBOX already completed. PS2 version still coming until Acclaim's bankruptcy around 2004. XS games picked up the rights and eventually published it in 2007. Not sure if it is the same game as the cancelled XBOX version?

[Snake]

I wouldn't say it was "completed" per se, but Dragon Warrior V/Dragon Quest V on SNES.

I would get the Enix newsletter in the mail every quarter, where they would make announcements about upcoming games.  Dragon Warrior 5 was particularly hyped up, for us to look forward to.  And then.... Dragon Warrior just disappeared.  Enix managed to publish Robotrek, Illusion of Gaia, 7th Saga, EVO - Search for Eden, but Dragon Warrior 5 just went up in smoke.  

[vnisanian2001]

May 23, 2017 16:31:34 GMT -5 Snake said:

I wouldn't say it was "completed" per se, but Dragon Warrior V/Dragon Quest V on SNES.

I would get the Enix newsletter in the mail every quarter, where they would make announcements about upcoming games.  Dragon Warrior 5 was particularly hyped up, for us to look forward to.  And then.... Dragon Warrior just disappeared.  Enix managed to publish Robotrek, Illusion of Gaia, 7th Saga, EVO - Search for Eden, but Dragon Warrior 5 just went up in smoke.  

Wasn't that newsletter written by Rob, their customer service department? The only other place I've heard of this newsletter mentioned is here.

www.dqshrine.com/dw/

[ZenithianHero]

May 23, 2017 16:31:34 GMT -5 Snake said:

I wouldn't say it was "completed" per se, but Dragon Warrior V/Dragon Quest V on SNES.

I would get the Enix newsletter in the mail every quarter, where they would make announcements about upcoming games.  Dragon Warrior 5 was particularly hyped up, for us to look forward to.  And then.... Dragon Warrior just disappeared.  Enix managed to publish Robotrek, Illusion of Gaia, 7th Saga, EVO - Search for Eden, but Dragon Warrior 5 just went up in smoke.  

Enix did this with IV Playstation too. Did enough work to advertise it on the back of VII's manual.

[personman]

I believe I heard there was a fourth Rogue Squadron for Wii that was complete... but it's sitting in some vault somewhere right now so if that's true, still shelved.

[GamerL]

May 23, 2017 21:42:40 GMT -5 personman said:

I believe I heard there was a fourth Rogue Squadron for Wii that was complete... but it's sitting in some vault somewhere right now so if that's true, still shelved.

Pretty sad to think Lair killed Factor 5 dead.

[vnisanian2001]

I just remembered another game: Dragon's Lair 2 (was supposed to come out in 1984; came out in 1991).

[Snake]

May 23, 2017 16:49:43 GMT -5 vnisanian2001 said:

May 23, 2017 16:31:34 GMT -5 Snake said:

I wouldn't say it was "completed" per se, but Dragon Warrior V/Dragon Quest V on SNES.

I would get the Enix newsletter in the mail every quarter, where they would make announcements about upcoming games.  Dragon Warrior 5 was particularly hyped up, for us to look forward to.  And then.... Dragon Warrior just disappeared.  Enix managed to publish Robotrek, Illusion of Gaia, 7th Saga, EVO - Search for Eden, but Dragon Warrior 5 just went up in smoke.  

Wasn't that newsletter written by Rob, their customer service department? The only other place I've heard of this newsletter mentioned is here.

www.dqshrine.com/dw/

Wow, cool to know that Enix's customer service dept. consisted of one guy.  I really wish I had kept those newsletters as a keepsake.  It's a wonder I still have the boxes to Dragon Warrior 2 and 3.  Albeit, thrashed.  

Pity we never got the PS1 Dragon Warrior 4, but at least we finally got the DS version.  

[JoeQ]

May 23, 2017 21:42:40 GMT -5 personman said:

I believe I heard there was a fourth Rogue Squadron for Wii that was complete... but it's sitting in some vault somewhere right now so if that's true, still shelved.

It was apparently a remake/compilation of the previous games, but yeah, completed and cancelled in 2008.