Earthworm Jim 4

Earthworm Jim 4 is a 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 upcoming Intellivision Amico console, to release sometime after the console's launch in April 2021.

For the fourth video game in the Earthworm Jim series, see Earthworm Jim: Menace 2 the Galaxy.
Earthworm Jim 4
Publisher(s)Interplay Entertainment
Designer(s)Doug TenNapel
SeriesEarthworm Jim
Platform(s)Intellivision Amico

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 release

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 will be played from 2D perspective, consistent with the series' original two games, but, unlike the those games, will contain local multi-player gameplay.[18] The game will not be a reboot of the previous games, and may contain both prequel and sequel elements. The final title of the game also remains under discussion.[18]

The game is 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.[21] In August 2020, alongside news of the delay, the game's first gameplay trailer was released.[22]

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.CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  4. 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.
  8. "Doug TenNapel shoots down Earthworm Jim 4 but confirms 'interest' from Interplay". GamesRadar. 2012-06-23. Retrieved 2013-09-08.
  9. "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. Retrieved 2013-09-08.
  13. Yin, Wesley (2012-07-17). "David Perry "sure" a new Earthworm Jim will be made • News •". Eurogamer.net. Retrieved 2013-09-08.
  14. Life, Nintendo (8 October 2015). "The Team Behind Earthworm Jim Would Like to Make a Sequel". Nintendo Life.
  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. "Earthworm Jim (Video Game)". IMDb. Retrieved 2019-05-07.
  18. "Intellivision Live Stream - Earthworm Jim". YouTube. 2019-05-04.
  19. https://venturebeat.com/2020/08/05/intellivision-delays-launch-to-april-2021-and-unveils-20-new-titles/
  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. Retrieved 2020-10-13.
  22. https://www.eurogamer.it/articles/2020-08-11-news-videogiochi-earthworm-jim-4-si-mostra-primo-trailer-fan-molto-delusi
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