Wardevil, a game five years in development that was reportedly cancelled last month, is for some reason now being brought back from the dead and given a new name.
British creators Ignition have decided that, rather than develop the game in-house, it will now be built via a combination of local and outsourced talent, and given the new (presumably working) title "Project Kane".
Now here's the scary/funny part. "Following a comprehensive audit of the title, assets and internal team, we have decided that a core team responsible for the Project Kane prototype will take the game into full production, led by the key vision holders," says Hassan Sadiq, Ignition's group chairman.
You mean, it wasn't already in full production? After five years of almost nothing? Guys, let this game go. If you truly love it, you will let it go.
Ignition London safe as WarDevil lives on as ‘Project Kane' [Develop]
DISCUSSION
Transcending the article about a game that more than likely nobody here really cares about or was looking forward to, I am going to say that this model is somewhat representative of where game development is heading. It seems alot of these publishers or primary studios are setting up a subcontract model for development. Meaning the in-house teams comes up with the core concept, idea, or just provides the franchise rights, and another team does all of "actual" development, programming, etc.
Several games have followed this model this year, recent memory brings to mind Castlevania: LOS. The new Castlevania is a FANTASTIC game.
I imagine soon most studios will follow this model: Hiring staff and talent from all around to work on a per project basis, similar to how movies are made. As a project winds down, the staff are released, pretty much as if they were contract workers. Much more efficient use of resources and manpower.