Traxion (lost build of cancelled PlayStation Portable rhythm game; 2006-2007)
The game's poster.
Status: Lost
Traxion is an unreleased rhythm game that was made by British video game developer, Kuju Entertainment, that was set to be released for the PlayStation Portable by publisher LucasArts.[1][2] It was first shown in 2006's E3[3] and was originally due in November of the same year,[4] but was then pushed to January 2007, and would eventually be announced that the game was canceled to be released and was shelved.[5][6][7]
Gameplay
The gameplay behind Traxion would make use of the user's music files from their PSP's memory stick, though there are already pre-licensed songs in the game already. The game would read these music files, and create 24 minigames around the user's chosen music file,[4][8] some minigames that are in the game includes "Vortex", a minigame on where you switch left and right between lanes as you direct a bobbing ball down a swirly, twisting musical staff while collecting notes in-time with the music[4][8] (as seen in the video down below). Other minigames in Traxion are an untitled cooking minigame in which you slice up foods that are flying in-time to the music,[4] a minigame known as "Beatdrop" which you destroy colored blocks at top of the screen on which it progressively gets harder as the music goes on,[8] and "Karate-oke" on which you fight musically-generated opponents and fight them in-time in Karate.[8]
Though with the minigames, the main gimmick of the game is how it depends on the chosen music file for its difficulty, pace, background, and obstacles.[1] The obstacles and pace for all the minigames will be musically-depended and generated, and it will alter on whatever genre of said music file the user chooses.[4][8] Say if the tempo of the music chosen is fast-paced, then the pace of a minigame will also go fast and its rhythm will be the basis for the obstacles on the minigame. Every genre whether smooth jazz to hard rock will alter how you and the game plays.[1][4][8]
Cancellation
The game received interest and praise, with many people looking forward to and anticipating the game's release.[9] Even IGN added Traxion to their "Best of E3 2006 for the PSP" line-up as a runner-up.[10]
The initial release date for the game intended for a Fall 2006 release came and went. Suddenly in January 2007, both Kuju Entertainment and LucasArts announced their separation as business partners, and since both companies had shared their work for the game, the game was then subsequently announced to be cancelled.[5][6] One representative for LucasArts confirmed on the website gamasutra.com (eventually would rebrand and known now as gamedeveloper.com), that both companies had severed their relationship with respect, and eventually confirming the game's cancellation. Though when asked what the reason would be, the representative refused to elaborate further.[6]
Though the head of the Brighton studio for Kuju Entertainment, Ed Daly, would eventually give more comments on the cancellation of the game, stating that:[6]
"Kuju can confirm that we have agreed to sever the development relationship with Lucas Arts in respect of the Traxion game shown at E3 last year.
For reasons of confidentiality we can make no specific comment about the termination of the relationship; however we can say that Kuju Brighton is committed to continue developing innovative lifestyle and music based games and we hope to be able to make a more specific announcement about the future of games based on our award winning music analysis technology in the near future. Watch this space..."[6]
Availability
After its cancellation, Zoë Mode, a now-defunct subsidiary studio of Kuju Entertainment, had considered pushing through the Traxion game though rather as a PlayStation Portable release, it would also be released as an iPod game back in 2007,[11][12] though it is unconfirmed if this iPod release went anywhere.
No additional word was given from both Kuju Entertainment and LucasArts on its possible release, and no build of the game for the PlayStation Portable has seen the light of day since its cancelation, though recently in 2020, YouTuber Chris Baker posted a photo on a Twitter thread of the Traxion booth that he had taken that was shown in E3 2006.[13]
Gallery
Images
Screenshot of the game (1/3).
Screenshot of the game (2/3) (Low res.).
Screenshot of the game (3/3).
![The Traxion booth in E3 2006; taken by Chris Baker.[13]](/w/images/thumb/d/dd/Traxion4.jpg/409px-Traxion4.jpg)
The Traxion booth in E3 2006; taken by Chris Baker.[13]
![The Traxion booth in E3 2006; taken by Chris Baker.[13]](/File:Traxion4.jpg)
Footage
External Links
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Unseen64's article on Traxion. Retrieved 31 Jan '23
- ↑ ENGadget article on Traxion. Retrieved 31 Jan '23
- ↑ May 9, 2006 Gamespot article on the upcoming Traxion video game shown in 2006's E3. Retrieved 31 Jan '23
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 May 17, 2006 article Gamespot article on Traxion. Retrieved 31 Jan '23
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 January 9, 2007 Gamespot article on Traxion's cancellation. Retrieved 31 Jan '23
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 Archived Gamasutra.com article that announced the game's cancellation. Retrieved 31 Jan '23
- ↑ Destructoid article on Traxion's cancellation. Retrieved 31 Jan '23
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 8.4 8.5 Worthplaying.com on the games' mechanics. Retrieved 31 Jan '23
- ↑ rllmukforum.com forum on Traxion and users' reaction and anticipation. Retrieved 31 Jan '23
- ↑ IGN's Best of E3 2006 for the PSP that added Traxion as a runner-up. Retrieved 31 Jan '23
- ↑ Archived article on Traxion also getting an iPod release. Retrieved 31 Jan '23
- ↑ Another archived article on Traxion also getting an iPod release. Retrieved 31 Jan '23
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 Chris Baker's photo of the Traxion booth in E3 2006. Retrieved 31 Jan '23