Welcome to Games That Weren't!

We are an Unreleased and Cancelled Video games archive with prototypes, developer history and assets for many computers and consoles of all ages. A non-profit large archive dedicated to preserving games that were never released to the public. Sharing history and stories from the developers, assets and more before it is too late. GTW has been preserving video game history since 1999.

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Learn with Dizzy

Posted: , last updated: by fgasking

1992 Codemasters

Platforms: Commodore Amiga, Atari ST and PC

It’s with thanks to the wonderful yolkfolk.com website and their eagle eyes that we learn of yet another Dizzy game that never was. This was no arcade or arcade adventure game this time though, with Codemasters deciding to branch into the realms of educational software.

Dizzy was clearly a very popular title with young aged gamers at the time, and Codemasters must have felt a great opportunity to push into the educational sector with their appealing character.

learn with dizzy

To be released for the Amiga, ST and PC, the game would encourage 3-6yr olds to explore rooms in Dizzy’s house, Daisy’s house and the park. Each location would be full of different objects which, when activated would display their name, make a sound or become animated. Children may be asked to find a particular object too. Continue reading →

Posted in: Amiga, Atari ST, PC, Reviews | Tagged: | Leave a comment

Huxley: The Dystopia

Posted: , last updated: by fgasking

2010 Webzen Games Inc.

Platforms: PC and Microsoft Xbox 360

Our next title in the archive was a MMO title that was actually experienced and played by PC owners in closed and open beta releases between 2009 and 2010, but then was shut down completely and disappeared from sight.

Huxley was an ambitious title built in the Unreal 3 engine and was intended for release on both PC and Xbox 360 at the time. The 360 edition was to follow the PC edition after around 6 months, though this later was changed to being put on hold, pending PC sales. Continue reading →

Posted in: PC, Reviews, Xbox 360 | Tagged: | 2 Comments

Rollerbabes

Posted: , last updated: by fgasking

1991 Cinemaware / Mirrorsoft

Platform: Commodore Amiga and PC

We’d not long been greeted by the wonderful Speedball 2, when Mirrorsoft were keen to release yet another futuristic sports game in the form of Rollerblades in late 1991.

roll5

The game had recently been rescued, when Mirrorsoft brought the Cinemaware name and made a deal with Acme Interactive (the company that rose from the ashes of Cinemaware) to continue developing games under the label. Continue reading →

Posted in: Amiga, PC, Reviews | Tagged: | 2 Comments

Metal Gear

Posted: , last updated: by fgasking

1990 Ultra Games

Platform: Commodore Amiga 500

It was announced in January 2021 about an unofficial conversion of the MSX classic Metal Gear to the Amiga – very nearly complete, and should see some kind of release very soon. However, there was also an official conversion in the works way back in 1990, courtesy of Ultra Games.

mgamiga

Both the PC and C64 editions of the game were in fact released. The advertised Amiga edition in RUN 73 and Amiga World Vol 6 was never to surface at all. It became the subject of much questioning over the years from Amiga fans as to what happened to it.

Continue reading →

Posted in: Amiga, Reviews | Tagged: | 2 Comments

Fort Apocalypse

Posted: , last updated: by fgasking

1983 HES

Platform: Commodore VIC-20

A short entry for yet another Commodore Vic-20 title that was reported on the Vic-20 Cartridge Rarity list and may well be unreleased, or otherwise saw a very limited release.

Fort Apocalypse was a popular C64 game released by Synapse, but a Vic 20 version was mentioned in an advert in November 1983 of Compute’s Gazette in the US. Was it a printing mistake, and did they mean the C64? Or did a Vic-20 conversion really exist?

If you know anything more, please let us know.

With thanks to Fabrizio Bartoloni.

Posted in: Reviews, Vic 20 | Tagged: | Leave a comment

Pussyfootin’

Posted: , last updated: by fgasking

1983 Synapse Software

Platform: Commodore Vic-20

For our next entry, even though the game was fully advertised at the time. It seems to be completely missing, with nothing online about the title apart from being on missing lists.

The game was developed by Raymond C. Hogue back in 1983 and was his very first commercial product and seemingly for the unexpanded machine too. Raymond suggests on his old portfolio page that the game was released. Perhaps it is just obscure and is yet to be preserved?

Well, Raymond got back to us and confirmed that it was definately released, but he no longer has a copy himself. The search is now on to see if it can be found and properly preserved. Can you help us find a copy?

With thanks to Fabrizio Bartoloni for the heads up.

Gallery
Posted in: Reviews, Vic 20 | Tagged: | 2 Comments

Moonsweeper

Posted: , last updated: by fgasking

1983 Imagic

Platform: Commodore Vic-20

A neat space shooter that was released by Imagic on the Atari 2600 and ColecoVision. However, the game was also seemingly due for release on the Commodore Vic-20 too.

In 2019, an AtariAge forum poster called “gorfulator” posted that he had come across a Vic-20 cartridge from a friend who worked at Imagic. His friend mentioned he had worked on a Moonsweeper game for the Commodore. By the looks of things, it was actually completed too. Continue reading →

Posted in: Reviews, Vic 20 | Tagged: | Leave a comment

The Chaos Engine early screens (Amiga)

Posted: , last updated: by fgasking

One of my favourite Amiga games of all time, The Chaos Engine was released by The Bitmap Brothers in 1993 for the Amiga and various other platforms over the years. The game was closely followed across its development, so it was clearly going to result in screenshots showing many different assets and features that would not make the final cut. Grzegorz Antosiewicz delivers once again by providing a series of screens highlighting features that didn’t make it.

Clipboard02 1

Firstly, various screenshots from Amiga Format, Games-X, Joystick and Zero all show up to three simultaneous players was once possible. But as you know in the final release, you can only play up to two players. So, just why the 3rd player was dropped is a mystery at the moment. We guess it was simply down to restoring some speed to the game. Continue reading →

Posted in: Amiga, Prototype, Unused materials | Tagged: | Leave a comment

Chuck’s World

Posted: , last updated: by fgasking

1993 Fission Software

Platform: Commodore Amiga

Chuck’s World by Fission Software was an unreleased Amiga platform game that was based on various animations about a character named Chuck, created by Steve Packer and released in Public Domain. The main character Chuck looked slightly like something out of South Park, and would dress up as various popular icons.

Clipboard06

Continue reading →

Posted in: Amiga, Reviews | Tagged: | Leave a comment

Stargate

Posted: , last updated: by fgasking

1983 Atarisoft

Platform: Commodore Vic 20

A short entry which we will try and flesh out soon. Stargate was listed as being due for release for the Commodore Vic 20 over at https://www.digitpress.com/faq/atarisoft.htm – though was cancelled either due to the dying Vic 20 market or the collapse of Atarisoft.

If you know anything more about it – please do get in touch with us.

Posted in: Reviews, Vic 20 | Tagged: | Leave a comment