1992 Konami / Hero Software
Platform: PC (DOS), Amiga and Apple Mac
Champions was a RPG table-top title created by Hero Games originally back in 1981. Setting you within a superhero/comic book themed world, it won a legion of fans, who continue to enjoy the game to this day.
Back in the early 90’s, its popularity resulted in the planned creation of a computerized PC edition of the game, and was set to be published by Konami. According to one magazine article, there were plans for Amiga and Mac versions too.
Kicking things off, you would set up your character with an initial allocation of “points” given to you to spend. Along with some basic characteristics, you would pick a mask, colour of outfit, power effects and even dialogue for interactions before jumping into the comic book world.
Within the world, you would have your fair share of super villains and crises to endure – but also more the mundane and less “superhuman” tasks, such as shopping for food or clocking into work. Taking on your obligations will allow you to earn points that you can use to buy further special powers and improve your characteristics to help in future battles.
With great power comes … disadvantages – or something like that.
However, with the new talents and abilities would apparently come “disadvantages” too. Disadvantages including medical and personality disorders that could hinder and make things difficult.
Throughout the game you would encounter a variety of characters, where you’d utilize a menu-driven interface for conversations/interactions. You would be able to choose between emotional states and emotive goals to advance the story in a particular direction overall.
Within the inevitable action sequences, there was to be a large series of impressive cartoon-based animations. The fight sequences would be controlled based on tactical decisions via the interface, rather than arcade action like you’d see in Street Fighter 2 for example.
The graphics were created by comic artists such as Frank Cirocco and Chuck Austen to make the game really feel like an live action comic-book. And there were also plans for future expansion packs/modules containing new scenarios and storylines in conjunction with Marvel and DC.
All sounded fantastic, though the game would slip a few times in the release schedule, not clearing a beta test at one stage according to one press news item.
It was never to surface at all (or at least we haven’t yet been able to find any evidence it did). The question therefore is why, and was there perhaps issues during the beta process which prevented a release? If you know anything more about the game, please do get in touch.
Contributor John Stone (see comments thread below) confirmed that Konami North America had no information or materials about the game. Take-Two Interactive, who acquired assets from GameTek in 1997 gave no response (though its likely if they did have anything, they may have skipped it).
John had managed to contact Frank Cirocco, but he was only able to confirm that he worked on the prototype and did some artwork for the game. It also seems that Chuck Austen (another artist who worked on the game) talks about the prototype on this old archived webpage. Hopefully more people will come forward soon!
Karl Kuras found an article in German magazine Aktueller Software Markt from 1993 which described the game as a “World Champion of Vapourware”, after being announced 2 years previous. ASM reported that the game had been dealt a blow. It was revealed that Gametek were commissioned to develop all of Konami’s PC products, but Gametek refused to take on Champions.
The developers (sadly not named in the piece) were hopeful that the game could find a new home. It seems that sadly this was never to be, and is why the game was ultimately cancelled.
With thanks to Karl Kuras for highlighting to GTW to cover +ASM updates, John Stone for additional research and information, Archive.org for additional scans and Grzegorz Antosiewicz for the additional scans and confirmation of other platforms.
Gallery
Bought a bunch of Champions stuff and a CGW magazine was in there with it on the cover and I was bummed to go online just now and see it never came out. Would have loved it.
Ah, was there a feature about the game in the magazine?
I believe there was a version where the Knockback property was faulty. Negative Knockback caused a “Knock Forward ” effect instead of the standard no effect.
I just wanted to post some additional information I uncovered about this game prototype. As of 9-5-23 Konami North America aka Konami Digital Entertainment Inc. has no information or materials about the Champions prototype and Take-Two Interactive, the video game company that acquired the assets of GameTek in 1997 and who should have the latest version of the prototype, was non-responsive via email. I was able to contact Frank Cirocco, one of the artists that worked on the prototype via his Ebay shop here ( https://www.ebay.com/str/popbotics ) but he was only able to confirm that he worked on the prototype and did some art for it. This url ( http://www.chuckaustenonline.com/?p=19 ) appears to talk about the prototype (it’s still viewable at archive.org’s wayback machine) but we’d need talk to Chuck Austen, the other known artist to work on the game, to confirm it but as of right now he’s uncontactable via the internet. But that’s about all the info I could uncover. Hopefully other workers on the prototype will come forward someday to add more info to this story. It was one of those games I was waiting on pins and needles for!
Thank you John for the great work! I’ll integrate this into the main post tomorrow when doing the site updates (with credit to yourself).
Cool! Also Jason Walters, the publisher of Hero Games, will be mentioning this article in their social media soon since they’re now brought up to speed on the subject. Looking forward to learning more about the programs on your website!
Ah that’s awesome, thanks John. I’ve updated the page, so hopefully this will help lead to more leads!
I hear it was planed to be released on Amiga too.I will send You my scans.
Thanks Grzegorz, all added and interesting to learn of an Amiga/Mac version too! I wonder if they were started.