Earthworm Jim 4

Last updated
Earthworm Jim 4
Publisher(s) Interplay Entertainment
Series Earthworm Jim
Platform(s) Intellivision Amico
Genre(s) Platform, shoot 'em up

Earthworm Jim 4 is a proposed video game in the Earthworm Jim series. It was originally announced by Interplay Entertainment in 2008, and referred to by Interplay as "still in development" in May 2011. Later commentary over the next decade from individual developers would contest its development status, until May 2019, when it was announced that the game was being developed for the Intellivision Amico console. Lack of updates in the years following has again lead to the belief that the game is on hold or cancelled.

Contents

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 Nintendo Wii. [8] TenNapel later addressed all the rumors as false; he had not been working on an Earthworm Jim 4 at all, nor had any work been done on it in general. [8] TenNapel said in his statement:

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 Reddit AMA, where he addressed the issues that the fourth title fell into, stating:

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 Intellivision Entertainment President and Earthworm Jim 1 and Earthworm Jim 2 composer Tommy Tallarico. [15] The game will be exclusive for the upcoming Intellivision Amico video game console. [16] Members of the original development team involved with the project include Doug TenNapel (creator and voice actor), Tommy Tallarico (composer and sound designer), David Perry (programmer), [17] Nick Bruty (lead artist), Nicholas Jones (programmer), Tom Tanaka (level designer), Steve Crow (background artist), [17] Edward Schofield (animator), and Mike Dietz (animator). [18] When pressed for details after TenNapel's controversial opinions against the Black Lives Matter movement, he and Tallarico clarified that TenNapel was only involved as an unofficial consultant. [19]

The development team hosted a livestream of members' initial plans for the game on May 4, 2019. [20] Details announced included that the game would be played from 2D perspective, consistent with the series' original two games; but, unlike those games, would contain local multi-player gameplay. [18] The game would not be a reboot of the previous games, potentially containing both prequel and sequel elements. The final title of the game also remained under discussion. [18]

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]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Doug TenNapel</span> American animator, video game designer (born 1966)

Douglas Richard TenNapel is an American animator, writer, cartoonist, video game designer, and comic book artist whose work has encompassed animated television, video games, and comic books. He is best known for creating Earthworm Jim, a character that spawned a video game series, animated series, and a toy line. He is also the creator of the animated television series Catscratch (2005–2007), which aired on Nickelodeon, and was itself a loose adaptation of TenNapel's comic book limited series Gear.

<i>Earthworm Jim</i> (video game) 1994 video game

Earthworm Jim is a 1994 run and gun platform game developed by Shiny Entertainment, featuring an earthworm named Jim, who wears a robotic suit and battles the forces of evil. The game was released for the Sega Genesis and Super Nintendo Entertainment System, before being subsequently ported to a number of other video game consoles.

<i>BurgerTime</i> 1982 video game

BurgerTime, originally released as Hamburger in Japan, is a 1982 arcade video game from Data East released initially for its DECO Cassette System. The player is chef Peter Pepper, who must walk over hamburger ingredients in a maze of platforms and ladders while avoiding anthropomorphic hot dogs, fried eggs, and pickles which are in pursuit.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tommy Tallarico</span> American video game composer

Thomas Andrew Tallarico is an American video game music composer, sound designer, businessman, musician, television personality, live show creative director, and producer. He and his company, Tommy Tallarico Studios, worked on several video games since the 1990s. He co-hosted the television shows Electric Playground and Reviews on the Run from 1997 until 2006. In 2002, he created Video Games Live (VGL), a global video game music orchestra.

<i>Earthworm Jim 2</i> 1995 video game

Earthworm Jim 2 is a 1995 run and gun platform video game and the sequel to Earthworm Jim, and the second and final game in the Earthworm Jim series developed by original creators Doug TenNapel, David Perry and Shiny Entertainment. It was released in late 1995 and early 1996 depending on region and video game console, initially being released for the Sega Genesis and Super Nintendo Entertainment System, before being ported to other platforms.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shiny Entertainment</span> American video game developer

Shiny Entertainment, Inc. was an American video game developer based in Laguna Beach, California. Founded in October 1993 by David Perry, Shiny was the creator of video games such as Earthworm Jim, MDK and Enter the Matrix. Perry sold the company to Interplay Productions in 1995, which sold the studio to Infogrames, Inc. in 2002. After Foundation 9 Entertainment acquired Shiny in 2006, the company was merged with The Collective in October 2007, creating Double Helix Games.

<i>Spelunker</i> (video game) 1983 video game

Spelunker is a 1983 platform video game developed by Timothy G. Martin of MicroGraphic Image. It is set in a colossal cave, with the player starting at the cave's entrance at the top, and the objective is to get to the treasure at the bottom.

<i>Earthworm Jim 3D</i> 1999 video game

Earthworm Jim 3D is a platform video game developed by VIS Interactive and published by Interplay Entertainment for the Nintendo 64. It is the third in the Earthworm Jim series and a sequel to Earthworm Jim 2. It was the first game in the series to not be developed by Shiny Entertainment, which had recently instituted a strict "no sequels" policy. Interplay Entertainment, having recently purchased the Earthworm Jim rights, handed the franchise off to VIS Interactive. The game suffered a difficult, prolonged development cycle and was repeatedly delayed until it was released in 1999 for the Nintendo 64, with Rockstar Games publishing the N64 version in North America. It was ported to Microsoft Windows. The game was not received well, with critics claiming that the charm of the originals was lost, and that despite the long development period, the game still felt sloppy and lacked previously promoted features.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Capcom Five</span> Five Capcom video games for GameCube

The Capcom Five are five video games that were unveiled by Capcom in late 2002 and published from March 2003. At a time when Nintendo's GameCube console had failed to capture market share, Capcom announced five new GameCube titles with the apparent goal of boosting hardware sales and demonstrating third-party developer support. Capcom USA followed up with confirmation that they would be exclusive to the GameCube. The five games were P.N.03, a futuristic third-person shooter; Viewtiful Joe, a side-scrolling action-platformer; Dead Phoenix, a shoot 'em up; Resident Evil 4, a survival horror third-person shooter; and Killer7, an action-adventure game with first-person shooter elements. Though not directly related to each other, they were all overseen by Resident Evil director Shinji Mikami and, except Killer7, developed by Capcom's Production Studio 4. Capcom USA later clarified that only Resident Evil 4 was intended to be exclusive; the initial announcement was due to a miscommunication with their parent company.

<i>Boogerman: A Pick and Flick Adventure</i> 1994 video game

Boogerman: A Pick and Flick Adventure is a 2D platform video game created by Interplay Productions and released for the Sega Genesis in 1994 and later on the Super NES in 1995. The Genesis version was also released on the Wii Virtual Console in North America on November 24, 2008 and in Europe on December 12, 2008. The game's lead character also appears as a playable character and the rival of Earthworm Jim in Interplay's ClayFighter 63⅓.

<i>Earthworm Jim</i> (TV series) American animated television series

Earthworm Jim is an American animated television series based on the video game series of the same name and created by series creator, Doug TenNapel. The series aired on the Kids' WB for two seasons from September 9, 1995, to December 13, 1996. It follows the adventures of the titular character who battles the forces of evil using a robotic suit.

<i>Lock n Chase</i> 1981 video game

Lock 'n' Chase (ロック・ン・チェイス) is a maze chase video game developed by Data East and released in arcades in Japan in 1981. It was licensed to Taito for distribution in North America. It has similarities to Pac-Man, including a goal of collecting dots, with the addition of doors that periodically block pathways. Home versions for the Intellivision and Atari 2600 were published by Mattel in 1982 and an Apple II version appeared in January 1983.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Classic Controller</span> Game controller for the Wii by Nintendo

The Classic Controller is a game controller produced by Nintendo for the Wii home video game console. While it later featured some compatibility with the Wii U console, the controller was ultimately succeeded by the Wii U Pro Controller. In April 2014, Nintendo discontinued production of both the Classic Controller and Classic Controller Pro.

Earthworm Jim is a series of platform games featuring an earthworm named Jim who wears a robotic suit and battles the forces of evil. The series is noted for its platforming and shooting gameplay, surreal humor, and edgy art style. Four games were released in the series: Earthworm Jim, Earthworm Jim 2, Earthworm Jim 3D, and Earthworm Jim: Menace 2 the Galaxy, with the first game released in 1994. The series had lain dormant for almost a decade before Gameloft remade the original game in HD for PlayStation Network and Xbox Live Arcade in 2010. Interplay announced Earthworm Jim 4 in 2008; little to no information surfaced until May 2019 and August 2020, and development went dormant once again by January 2023.

<i>Earthworm Jim HD</i> 2010 video game

Earthworm Jim HD is a high definition remake of the original Earthworm Jim video game. While the original was released in 1994 for the Sega Genesis and then ported to many other platforms, the remake was released digitally through Xbox Live Arcade on Xbox 360 on June 9, 2010, through the PlayStation Network on the PlayStation 3 on August 3, 2010, and for Windows Phone 7 alongside its launch in October and November of 2010. While critics had mixed feelings with regard to how well the game had aged, they generally praised the new content, mainly the cooperative multiplayer mode.

<i>Snafu</i> (video game) 1981 video game

Snafu is a video game released by Mattel for its Intellivision video game system in 1981. One of a number of snake games released in the late 1970s and early 1980s, Snafu features players controlling ever-lengthening serpents as they attempt to corner their opponents and trap them.

Earthworm Jim, also known as Earthworm Jim PSP, was a planned entry in the Earthworm Jim series of video games, intended for release on the PlayStation Portable. Initially thought to be a remake of the original Earthworm Jim, it was later revealed that it would contain mostly original content. The game was reported to reunite some of the developers who had worked on the acclaimed Earthworm Jim and Earthworm Jim 2 but been absent during production of the more poorly received Earthworm Jim 3D and Earthworm Jim: Menace 2 the Galaxy. Although said to be 80% complete in August 2006 and slated for an early 2007 release date, the game was ultimately cancelled in mid-2007.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Intellivision Amico</span> Video game console

The Intellivision Amico is a home video game console that is being developed and marketed by Intellivision Entertainment. It was originally slated to be released in October 2020, but repeated delays followed, leaving the console without a release date.

References

  1. ↑ "Atari's Earthworm Jim project is in stasis". Siliconera. 2007-06-19. Retrieved 2013-09-08.
  2. ↑ 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.
  3. ↑ "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)
  4. 1 2 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.
  5. ↑ "Earthworm Jim Returns - IGN". Wii.ign.com. 2008-04-22. Archived from the original on 2008-04-27. Retrieved 2013-09-08.
  6. ↑ "Earthworm Jim 4 announced by an overenthusiastic Interplay, no platform yet". Joystiq. 2008-04-23. Retrieved 2013-09-08.
  7. ↑ Plunkett, Luke. "New Earthworm Jim Games? And Cartoons? Thanks!". Kotaku. Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2015-11-14.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 "Doug TenNapel shoots down Earthworm Jim 4 but confirms 'interest' from Interplay". GamesRadar. 2012-06-23. Retrieved 2013-09-08.
  9. 1 2 "Fallout in doubt as Interplay fears collapse". Develop-Online.net. 2011-05-31. Retrieved 2013-09-08.
  10. ↑ "Fallout Online, Earthworm Jim 4, in Jeopardy as Interplay Stumbles". GamePolitics. 2011-05-30. Retrieved 2013-09-08.
  11. ↑ Gilbert, Ben (2011-05-31). "Fallout Online's future in doubt as Interplay crumbles". Joystiq. Retrieved 2013-09-08.
  12. ↑ "Interplay hurting, Earthworm Jim 4's future uncertain | GoNintendo - What are YOU waiting for?". GoNintendo. 30 May 2011. Retrieved 2013-09-08.
  13. 1 2 3 4 Yin, Wesley (2012-07-17). "David Perry "sure" a new Earthworm Jim will be made • News •". Eurogamer.net. Retrieved 2013-09-08.
  14. ↑ "The Team Behind Earthworm Jim Would Like to Make a Sequel". Nintendo Life. 8 October 2015.
  15. ↑ Cork, Jeff (2019-05-01). "Earthworm Jim Developers Reunite To Make New Game". Game Informer. Retrieved 2019-05-07.
  16. ↑ Hall, Charlie (2019-05-01). "Earthworm Jim game in development for the new Intellivision console". Polygon. Retrieved 2019-05-02.
  17. 1 2 "Earthworm Jim (Video Game)". IMDb. Retrieved 2019-05-07.
  18. 1 2 3 4 "Intellivision Live Stream - Earthworm Jim". YouTube. 2019-05-04.
  19. ↑ "Intellivision delays launch to April 2021 and unveils 20 new games". 5 August 2020.
  20. ↑ Purslow, Matt (2019-05-02). "New Earthworm Jim Game Is in Development by the Original Team". IGN. Retrieved 2019-05-03.
  21. ↑ 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.
  22. ↑ "Intellivision Amico Release Date Delayed to Late 2021". TechRaptor. 17 February 2021. Retrieved 2021-06-12.
  23. ↑ "Earthworm Jim 4 si mostra in un primo trailer e i fan non hanno pietà". Eurogamer.it (in Italian). 11 August 2020.
  24. ↑ "So, What's Happening with Earthworm Jim 4?". 16 January 2023.
  25. ↑ "Intellivision Amico 'Exclusives' Shark! Shark! And Astrosmash Are Coming to Switch". 24 May 2023.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.