Unity cancelled

[James]

UNITY IS CANCELLED

Lionhead Studios and Jeff Minter have come to a mutual decision to cancel their collaborative project Unity with immediate effect. Unity was always an ambitious and experimental project and as is the case with such endeavours they do not always come to fruition.


Both Lionhead and Jeff are disappointed that it has been necessary to take this step despite significant publisher interest. However, a shared commitment to excellence and originality meant both sides agree that the cancellation of the project was in everyone’s best interests.

Relations between Jeff and Lionhead remain strong and both sides have enjoyed working together over the past two years.


Commenting on the decision to halt work on Unity, Peter Molyneux said, “Everyone at Lionhead has the utmost respect and admiration for Jeff’s unique talents. However, we’ve both been in the industry a long time and it was becoming increasingly apparent to us that we would not be able to finish Unity in an acceptable time frame. On a personal level, I have very much enjoyed working with Jeff.”

Jeff Minter responded, “Everyone at Lionhead has been incredibly supportive and the decision to stop working on Unity has been a difficult one for us. But being realistic, I felt it was better for everyone concerned that we cease work on Unity. I’d like to thank Lionhead for all their help and support over the past two years.”

FUCK!

James

[Cowutopia]

At least we don't have to deal with another crap game from Molyneux. Respect for him +1. Go make something that's fun to play.

[sethsez]

Was it ever anything more than a lightshow? I mean, I never really understood how the thing was actually supposed to play.

[kedawa]

I wonder what was so ambitious that they had to can it. I really can't make heads or tails of any of the gameplay pics that I've seen.

[AstroBlue]

Must of spent too much of the budget on goat lubricant.

[OBLIGATORY 'MINTER' BEASTIALITY JOKE OUT OF THE WAY]

[sethsez]

I wonder what was so ambitious that they had to can it. I really can't make heads or tails of any of the gameplay pics that I've seen.

From what I gather it was a very ambitious light show that ran Tempest.

[James]

It was a combination of two things (hence "Unity")- A fully user-controlled light synth and a fast-action arcade shooter. You could either choose the light synth to just relax with (beats were to be entered by tapping it out with the big green A button, and then effects cued in) or play an arcade shooter with fully dynamically-generated critters and textures.

It was coded by Minter with access to Lionhead's resources, and to be published by Lionhead (since when was Lionhead a publisher?) when complete. I've got no idea why it took so long to get out the door, other than it being a one-man show on the coding end and a labor of love to boot.

James

[AstroBlue]

From what I gather it was a very ambitious light show that ran Tempest.

Considering that it's like an old "bedroom programmer" project, I wonder if Minter will release (read:leak) the unfinished Beta... err... Epsilon. I'm hoping so.

*fingers crossed*

[Master]

Must of spent too much of the budget on goat lubricant.

[OBLIGATORY 'MINTER' BEASTIALITY JOKE OUT OF THE WAY]

'splain

[PKBMax]

Well this certainly sucks.

I have to admit, I've been a bit worried about this project since there has never been any concrete proof of gameplay. I was worried it would be too much lightsynth and not enough shooting. Sadly, we may never know.

I wonder what Minter will work on next....perhaps Unity will see a PC release.