Worms Battle Rally (lost builds of unfinished 3D kart game; 2003): Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 13:25, 24 December 2021

Screenshot of Worms Battle Rally.

Status: Lost

Worms Battle Rally was a 3D kart-based frag rally video game developed by Team 17, a spin-off of the artillery strategy series, Worms. The game was supposed to been released on the GameCube, PlayStation 2 and the PC sometime in 2004. However, it was cancelled in 2003, being replaced by Worms Forts: Under Siege.^[1]

Background

Described by Unseen64 as being similar to Mario Kart's Battle Mode, Worms Battle Rally was developed as part of a deal with an unknown publisher according to Team 17's co-founder Martyn Brown during an interview with Retro Gamer.^[2] Additionally, developer Julian Holtom summarised the game in an interview with Unseen 64 as an example of the Worms franchise being incorporated into other genres to attract its fanbase, with Mario Kart being the inspiration for the spin-off.^[3] Containing elements from the main Worms series, the available screenshots indicate that the game was near completion. Additionally, a demo disc was rumoured to have been produced for the game,^[4] while composer Bjørn Lynne recorded eleven music tracks that he uploaded to YouTube on 5th April, 2020.^[5]

Cancellation

Development of Worms Battle Rally was hampered by multiple issues, one of which involving Team 17's lack of experience developing driving games. Despite Team 17's efforts in finishing development, the unnamed publisher was ultimately unsatisfied with the game. According to Brown during an interview with Retro Gamesmaster, excessive interference from the publisher further lowered morale towards releasing the Worms spin-off.^[6] Holtom claimed morale was further reduced when the team realised the game's quality was below expectations, especially when compared to previously released games.

Ultimately, based on market research data gathered by the publisher at the time, Worms Forts: Under Siege was believed to be the more suitable concept, being created and released instead. Worms Battle Rally was cancelled shortly afterwards in 2003, with no plans to restart development in the future.

Availability

No copies of Worms Battle Rally, from the full build to the demo disc, have resurfaced online. Aside from various sources describing the game's content, only four screenshots of Worms Battle Rally, possibly of different builds, are currently available for public viewing.^[7]

Gallery

Second screenshot of Worms Battle Rally
Another screenshot of Worms Battle Rally, possibly showcasing another build.
Screenshot showcasing Worms Battle Rally's combat.

References

↑ Unseen64 article on Worms Battle Rally. Retrieved 2 Jul '15
↑ Issue 73 of Retro Gamer where Martyn Brown discussed Worms Battle Rally's development and cancellation. Retrieved 2 Jul '15
↑ Unseen64 interview involving Julian Holtom discussing the game and providing two screenshots. Retrieved 2 Mar '21
↑ Archived Team 17 forum discussing Worms Battle Rally and its rumoured demo disc. Retrieved Jun '16
↑ YouTube playlist containing Bjørn Lynne's music tracks for Worms Battle Rally Retrieved 14 Aug '20
↑ Retro Gamesmaster interview with Martyn Brown, where he discusses the producer's interference during the development of Worms Battle Rally. Retrieved 14 Aug '20
↑ Dream 17 article on Worms Battle Rally. Retrieved 6 Jul '15

[1] Unseen64 article on Worms Battle Rally. Retrieved 2 Jul '15

[2] Issue 73 of Retro Gamer where Martyn Brown discussed Worms Battle Rally's development and cancellation. Retrieved 2 Jul '15

[3] Unseen64 interview involving Julian Holtom discussing the game and providing two screenshots. Retrieved 2 Mar '21

[4] Archived Team 17 forum discussing Worms Battle Rally and its rumoured demo disc. Retrieved Jun '16

[5] YouTube playlist containing Bjørn Lynne's music tracks for Worms Battle Rally Retrieved 14 Aug '20

[6] Retro Gamesmaster interview with Martyn Brown, where he discusses the producer's interference during the development of Worms Battle Rally. Retrieved 14 Aug '20

[7] Dream 17 article on Worms Battle Rally. Retrieved 6 Jul '15

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@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-'''''Worms Battle Rally''''' was a kart-based rally video game developed by Team 17. It was a spinoff of the artillery strategy series, Worms. It was cancelled in 2003.
+{{InfoboxLost
+|title=<center>Worms Battle Rally</center>
+|image=Wormsbattlerally3.jpg
+|imagecaption=Screenshot of ''Worms Battle Rally''.
+|status=<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''</span>
+}}
+'''''Worms Battle Rally''''' was a 3D kart-based frag rally video game developed by Team 17, a spin-off of the artillery strategy series, ''Worms''. The game was supposed to been released on the GameCube, PlayStation 2 and the PC sometime in 2004. However, it was cancelled in 2003, being replaced by ''Worms Forts: Under Siege''.<ref>[http://www.unseen64.net/2010/12/17/worms-battle-rally-ps2-xbox-gamecube-cancelled/ ''Unseen64'' article on ''Worms Battle Rally''.] Retrieved 2 Jul '15</ref>
-Not much is known about the game. During an interview with Martyn Brown in issue 73 of Retro Gamer, he stated that Worms Battle Rally was part of a deal with an unknown publisher. However, the publisher didn't like the game, and via market research, Worms Forts: Under Siege was created instead. This game was also canned by the publisher, but was eventually published by Sega in 2004.
+==Background==
+Described by Unseen64 as being similar to ''Mario Kart'''s Battle Mode, ''Worms Battle Rally'' was developed as part of a deal with an unknown publisher according to Team 17's co-founder Martyn Brown during an interview with ''Retro Gamer''.<ref>Issue 73 of ''Retro Gamer'' where Martyn Brown discussed ''Worms Battle Rally'''s development and cancellation. Retrieved 2 Jul '15</ref> Additionally, developer Julian Holtom summarised the game in an interview with ''Unseen 64'' as an example of the ''Worms'' franchise being incorporated into other genres to attract its fanbase, with ''Mario Kart'' being the inspiration for the spin-off.<ref>[https://www.unseen64.net/2017/01/31/unseen-interview-julian-holtom-imagitec-ocean-team17/ ''Unseen64'' interview involving Julian Holtom discussing the game and providing two screenshots.] Retrieved 2 Mar '21</ref> Containing elements from the main ''Worms'' series, the available screenshots indicate that the game was near completion. Additionally, a demo disc was rumoured to have been produced for the game,<ref>[http://tim32.org/~muzer/t17-archive/forum.team17.com/archive/index.php/t-34134.html Archived Team 17 forum discussing ''Worms Battle Rally'' and its rumoured demo disc.] Retrieved  Jun '16</ref> while composer Bjørn Lynne recorded eleven music tracks that he uploaded to YouTube on 5th April, 2020.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=97gg5OWeI2M&list=PL2bVaYSMwe-yrLTLAWj1tso7M4paVEviR&index=2&t=0s YouTube playlist containing Bjørn Lynne's music tracks for ''Worms Battle Rally''] Retrieved 14 Aug '20</ref>
-No copy of the game has resurfaced and only two screenshots of the game can be found online.
+==Cancellation==
+Development of ''Worms Battle Rally'' was hampered by multiple issues, one of which involving Team 17's lack of experience developing driving games. Despite Team 17's efforts in finishing development, the unnamed publisher was ultimately unsatisfied with the game. According to Brown during an interview with ''Retro Gamesmaster'', excessive interference from the publisher further lowered morale towards releasing the ''Worms'' spin-off.<ref>[http://www.retrogamesmaster.co.uk/martyn-brown-co-founder-team-17/ ''Retro Gamesmaster'' interview with Martyn Brown, where he discusses the producer's interference during the development of ''Worms Battle Rally''.] Retrieved 14 Aug '20</ref> Holtom claimed morale was further reduced when the team realised the game's quality was below expectations, especially when compared to previously released games.
+Ultimately, based on market research data gathered by the publisher at the time, ''Worms Forts: Under Siege'' was believed to be the more suitable concept, being created and released instead. ''Worms Battle Rally'' was cancelled shortly afterwards in 2003, with no plans to restart development in the future.
+==Availability==
+No copies of ''Worms Battle Rally'', from the full build to the demo disc, have resurfaced online. Aside from various sources describing the game's content, only four screenshots of ''Worms Battle Rally'', possibly of different builds, are currently available for public viewing.<ref>[http://www.dream17.info/softography.php?id=83&s=screens Dream 17 article on ''Worms Battle Rally''.] Retrieved 6 Jul '15</ref>
+==Gallery==
 <gallery mode=packed heights=225px>
-File:Wormsbattlerally1.jpg
+File:Wormsbattlerally4.jpg|Second screenshot of ''Worms Battle Rally''
-File:Wormsbattlerally2.jpg
+File:Wormsbattlerally_01.png|Another screenshot of ''Worms Battle Rally'', possibly showcasing another build.
+File:Wormsbattlerally_02.png|Screenshot showcasing ''Worms Battle Rally'''s combat.
 </gallery>
+==See Also==
+*[[Total Wormage (lost Amiga prototype build of artillery strategy game; 1994)]]
+*[[Virtual Boy (partially found unreleased video games for Nintendo virtual reality system; 1990s)#Worms|Worms (non-existent Virtual Boy port of artillery turn-based strategy game; 1990s)]]
+*[[Worms World Party (lost build of cancelled Gizmondo port of artillery turn-based strategy game; 2005)]]
 ==References==
-Issue 73 of Retro Gamer.
+{{reflist}}
-http://www.unseen64.net/2010/12/17/worms-battle-rally-ps2-xbox-gamecube-cancelled/ Unseen 64 article.
-http://www.dream17.info/softography.php?id=83&s=screens Screenshots of Worms Battle Rally.
 [[Category:Lost video games]]
+[[Category:Completely lost media]]