Majesco Cancels Taxi Driver and Demonik **UPDATED**

[Everlost_MI]

Gamecloud (http://www.gamecloud.com/) has word that the official cancellation of Taxi Driver and Demonik (http://www.gamecloud.com/article.php?article_id=3099) was announced in Majesco's quarterly financial conference.

Both games were announced during last May's E3 but have now fallen victim to Majesco's financial problems and its switch to publishing handheld and value priced titles. Taxi Driver was supposed to be based on the classic Martin Scorsese-directed crime film and was to be developed by Papaya Studio. Demonik was to be a horror action game from developer Terminal Reality based on concepts created by horror writer Clive Barker.
**UPDATE** - Next Generation (http://www.next-gen.biz) has more on this developing story (http://www.next-gen.biz/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2082&Itemid=2), including Majesco's decision to concentrate on value priced IPs and handheld games.

Company president Jesse Sutton said, "This has been a difficult year. We entered the premium console market with high expectation for success, but as a result of a variety of factors we were not able to meet our expectations.

"Recently, we evaluated our product portfolio and have sold or cancelled most of our premium console titles that were scheduled for release in 2006 and beyond."

He added, "Publishing value priced software and games for handheld systems has historically been one of our strengths. We believe that this strategy is more prudent for Majesco at this time and offers us the most opportunity for success as it requires a relatively low investment in development and marketing."
fitbabits - But Psychonauts rocks! It saddens me that games like Psychonauts, Advent Rising and Aeon Flux not selling can have such far-reaching consequences.

Everlost_MI - Dammit! I was looking forward to Demonik. Hopefully another publisher will pick it up.

[Chimpbot]

Oh, that's just grand. Demonik and Dead Rising were two of the 360 games I was most looking forward to...and with DR looking to be questionable and Demonik outright canceled, things aren't looking all that bright on the gaming horizon.

I really, really wanted to play a game heavily influenced by the insanity that is Clive Barker.
Somebody had damned well pick it back up.

[Subbacultcha]

The Taxi Driver game also might have been interesting if it had been an Inidgo Prophecy-type interactive movie. For example, interacting with a mirror and following a combo to pull off 'You talkin to me'.


Then again, it could have been a Crazy Taxi clone. We'll never know.

[mkelehan]

I didn't see it, but I hear Demonik got some free press in Grandma's Boy. So, really, there's a plus for any publisher willing to pick it up.

[Hugenex]

The Taxi Driver game also might have been interesting if it had been an Inidgo Prophecy-type interactive movie. For example, interacting with a mirror and following a combo to pull off 'You talkin to me'.


Then again, it could have been a Crazy Taxi clone. We'll never know.

I played Taxi Driver during last years E3 it was mediocre at best: You run around in 3rd person view with huge gun and shoot random enemies inside of the strip joint that is all. Aiming mechanics were broken.

[jacktion]

Oh No. No "Demonik". That is sure too bad. I am so very sad.

Seriously. I can do without any more games with "Demon" in the title. Other words that indicate a played out game idea are... "Dead" "Attack" "Battle" "Zombie" "War".
I'm looking forward to games that don't revolve around cyberdemons being killed by people with giant guns. Can we get a fresh idea in here? Thank you.
Good riddance to "Demonik".

Now excuse me while I go play Doom 3.

[Stooby]

I was really looking forward to Demonik, it looked like it would play similar to how Messiah was meant to play. And, damnit, despite it's problems Messiah was a hell of a fun game.

[mister_slim]

Didn't Majesco buy Terminal Reality? If so, I don't think we'll be seeing Demonik again.

[critch]

Taxi Driver as a game? LOL, what a stupid concept.

Cancel what they like, get me Advent Rising 2.

[TrackZero]

Demonik is a real game? Shit, I thought it was some pre-rendered "video game" they just made for Grandma's Boy. Now in retrospect, that movie feels like a commercial, ala the Wizard.

[bardockkun]

Demonik is a real game? Shit, I thought it was some pre-rendered "video game" they just made for Grandma's Boy. Now in retrospect, that movie feels like a commercial, ala the Wizard.
I was thinking the exact same thing. Man, i really don't pay enough attention to "real" games as i thought i do.

[Bumbuliuz]

I was like so many others it seems looking forward to Demonik. Here's hoping someone will revie it. I really want to see another Clive Barker game. I loved Undying :)

[PixelSamurai]

I think the decision to cancel Taxi Driver should have been motivated by decency, not finacial problems.

[H.Bogard]

Cancel what they like, get me Advent Rising 2.

Amen to that brother!

[Lodin]

Pffh, Psychonauts 2 is where it should be at and we all know it.

Still, no shoddy cash grab at Taxi Driver makes me happy and content. :o

[OUX]

I was looking forward to Demonik as well, *sigh* though Advent Rising 2 would be better

[Chimpbot]

Oh No. No "Demonik". That is sure too bad. I am so very sad.

Seriously. I can do without any more games with "Demon" in the title. Other words that indicate a played out game idea are... "Dead" "Attack" "Battle" "Zombie" "War".
I'm looking forward to games that don't revolve around cyberdemons being killed by people with giant guns. Can we get a fresh idea in here? Thank you.
Good riddance to "Demonik".

Now excuse me while I go play Doom 3.


While his stories did involve demons and whatnot, Clive Barker's take on them have always been fresh and original. Try reading some of his writings; they're quite good. While Demonik may have appeared to be "just another demon game", it is a Clive Barker game, which only makes it that much worse that it may not see the light of day.

To further rain on your parade...
Stubbs the Zombie and Battalion Wars both contain words that seem to trigger the "played out" reaction in you...yet both games are quite unique, original and fun.
I just thought I'd mention that.

I do hope I'm not over feeding a troll...

[MaiXu]

Poor Majesco. You release ambitious games like Advent Rising and Psychonauts, get a collective sack-stomp by the game-buying public, and now you have to scale back more mainstream projects to stay afloat.

'Tis a shame.

[H.Bogard]

Poor Majesco. You release ambitious games like Advent Rising and Psychonauts, get a collective sack-stomp by the game-buying public, and now you have to scale back more mainstream projects to stay afloat.

Yeah.....they gave us gems like that and we shat on their faces while playing grand theft auto (which is the same shit rehashed if you ask me ... bigger and bigger and bigger it gets....BORING!)

[bjornbarspingvinen]

I wonder how many gamers played psychonauts, and how many gamers paid for psychonauts.

[fitbabits]

I wonder how many gamers played psychonauts, and how many gamers paid for psychonauts.
*puts hand up*

I paid for it and played it. Awesome game, simply awesome.

[eatme]

Who wants to play a game about being a kid at camp? Sheesh.

[fitbabits]

Who wants to play a game about being a kid at camp? Sheesh.
Me! 37 years old. Married. Full time job. Homeowner.

[JRR006]

I paid for Psychonauts! ... Twice. Also, I didn't buy San Andreas. I can sleep at night. And yes... it was awesome. :)

Edit: Psychonauts, not San Andreas. Didn't mean to imply I had played SA... you know... without paying for it.

[EGO]

Psychonauts was cool, but it's a "gamers game" and gamers (like us on the forums) need to understand we don't represent the majority. It was also poorly marketed.

Good riddance Taxi Driver. Dumb concept, being executed HORRIBLY.

Demonik. Sure, Clive Barker, sounds like a good idea, but I seem to remember another Clive Barker game that didn't turn out so well... actually, has any Clive Barker game done well?

[The Iron Weasel]

Who wants to play a game about being a kid at camp? Sheesh.
I do.....bitch.

[Crabby]

Aren't you sheep overlooking how horribly bug-ridden and poorly produced Advent Rising actually was for the Xbox? You're all insane for backing that. I wanted to like the thing too, but blind devotion can only go so stinking far.

And someone called it a gem ? Please get a grip.

[H.Bogard]

And someone called it a gem ? Please get a grip.

I was talking to the PC version ....asshat! and yeah....its a gem!

what!