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50 Cent: Blood on the Sand is Dead, Dead, Dead [Update]
Posted by Brian Crecente at 12:00 AM on September 20, 2008
Remember 50 Cent II, the sequel to discography-cum-video game 50-Cent: Bulletproof? The game that Sierra named 50-Cent: Blood on the Sand? The one that has a love-interest, slick graphics and tons of blood?
Yeah, it's dead. Caught in the unflinching cogs of big video game business, mergers, and close downs, we hear. Victim of a flooded genre and a potential publisher with one too many shooters on its hands.
But don't cry for Fifty. We hear the G-Unit-sporting rapper got his appearance cash, while Swordfish, the team behind the budding game, is likely to get sold off.
You gotta love this business.
Update, We Got it Wrong, Wrong, Wrong: Turns out that our internal sources were slightly confused and despite our best efforts we got it wrong. While I'm still waiting for some sort of official word from the companies involved, this is what we've heard: While 50-Cent: Blood on the Sand was indeed jettisoned by Activision, the project isn't dead. In fact we're told that it is approaching gold and that a deal, perhaps with THQ as publisher, is in the wings.
Update 2: Activision has responded:
"We have a policy of not commenting on rumors.
I can tell you that we announced back in July that we are retaining only those franchises that are a strong fit with our long-term strategy - - Crash Bandicoot, Ice Age, Spyro, Protoype and an unannounced new IP. We will not publish other titles that previously were part of the Vivendi Games portfolio and are currently reviewing our options regarding these titles."
Comments (AU Comments · US Comments)
There are currently no AU comments for this post.
Omniel
Posted 12:38 AM 20/9/08
@NecronomiconUK:
ghostbusters is cool, 50 cent is not.
Omniel
xAnarChisTx
Posted 12:38 AM 20/9/08
@ServiceMaster: No, I mean that I hope it doesn't share the same fate, since both games came out of the same studio. I have faith that it will do alright though.
xAnarChisTx
NecronomiconUK
Posted 12:36 AM 20/9/08
I'm really worried about ghostbusters now :-(
NecronomiconUK
Bernard McGraw
Posted 12:35 AM 20/9/08
Wow this thread's a comment goldmine, actually.
Bernard McGraw
FenderMaster
Posted 12:34 AM 20/9/08
a good day for gaming
FenderMaster
TheZohar
Posted 12:34 AM 20/9/08
Look at me, I'm playing the world's tiniest violin.
TheZohar
ServiceMaster
Posted 12:33 AM 20/9/08
@xAnarChisTx: The Ghostbusters game better have no similarities to fitty's game whatsoever!
Except for the Bustas part.
ServiceMaster
Bernard McGraw
Posted 12:32 AM 20/9/08
Noooooooooooo. Cough.
Bernard McGraw
Dexyn
Posted 12:32 AM 20/9/08
And nothing of value was lost.
Dexyn
Lemonade
Posted 12:31 AM 20/9/08
for a fifty game...
this actually looked pretty fun.
:( i hope ghostbusters doesnt find the same fate
Lemonade
KSPRAYDAD
Posted 12:30 AM 20/9/08
@ADM86: That you Young Buck?
KSPRAYDAD
ADM86
Posted 12:29 AM 20/9/08
YES! "Shoots AK47 rounds up the air" IN YOUR FACE HALF DOLARRRR!!
ADM86
dojita
Posted 12:28 AM 20/9/08
You know, i think, the worst thing about this game getting canceled is i wont get to see the reviews for it.
the reviews for bulletproof were so funny i think xplay's made me pause the tv and leave the room.
dojita
DraculaDillenger
Posted 12:23 AM 20/9/08
Ice Cube: Blood on the Rocks.
I'd buy it.
DraculaDillenger
KSPRAYDAD
Posted 12:23 AM 20/9/08
I bet 50 cents that Treyarch will retool the engine for Call of Duty 7: War in Da Hood.
KSPRAYDAD
danjlove
Posted 12:22 AM 20/9/08
Damn. I guess this is their chance, now they can make the game about Ice Cube's adventures.
danjlove
WhitePoop
Posted 12:19 AM 20/9/08
Ayo, technology. Ayo.
WhitePoop
SanityMask
Posted 12:18 AM 20/9/08
Karma has been delivered
SanityMask
dionion
Posted 12:17 AM 20/9/08
(single tear)
dionion
ChimDeathmonkey
Posted 12:16 AM 20/9/08
The first game was so horrible, this should of never been greenlighted anyways.
ChimDeathmonkey
chenry
Posted 12:13 AM 20/9/08
@teh_joe: Pft. I'm not wasting any liquor over this.
chenry
teh_joe
Posted 12:12 AM 20/9/08
let's all pour one out for this game
teh_joe
xeleion
Posted 12:12 AM 20/9/08
It'll come back. It'll come back... and talk about how the industry shot it nine times but it survived and now it's coming back to kill the industry and its momma.
xeleion
Ryguy226
Posted 12:11 AM 20/9/08
@MSUSteve:
I agree, no use in just throwing everything away, so many other great(er) concepts can used with this engine and what's been done so far.
To be honest, when I saw photos of this game, I said to myself "Sweet, this looks pretty damn good." But when I read that it was for another 50 Cent game, I immediately went to "WTF? Why the hell is 50 Cent in the Middle East with rocket lawnchers? (obvious Metal Slug reference, just can't say rocket launcher without pronoucning it like that)"
Ryguy226
Slackerchan
Posted 12:11 AM 20/9/08
There may be hope for humanity just yet...
Slackerchan
ca$h
Posted 12:10 AM 20/9/08
Rough. The description for that game was so crazy and over the top I thought they had something. Not that anyone would have bought the thing...
ca$h
Darkandroid
Posted 12:08 AM 20/9/08
There is justice.
Darkandroid
Ctsephy
Posted 12:07 AM 20/9/08
@FightingChance:
your comment made me die alil inside...
Ctsephy
Quicksilver4648
Posted 12:06 AM 20/9/08
I wonder if he was able to keep a copy of the build before it permanently disappears.
Quicksilver4648
KE
Posted 12:06 AM 20/9/08
Looks like, they died tryin'.
I would have bought that for a dollar.
or fifty cent.
KE
MSUSteve
Posted 12:04 AM 20/9/08
That's too bad really because weirdly enough, the game looked to be shaping up well. Maybe the dev team can ditch the absolutely ridiculous G-Unit concept and make a game using the assets/engine with a more traditional (read: sensible) narrative setup.
MSUSteve
xAnarChisTx
Posted 12:04 AM 20/9/08
I really, really, hope that Ghostbusters makes it through safely.
I cannot understand how anyone would want to kill a game like that.
xAnarChisTx
FightingChance
Posted 12:02 AM 20/9/08
I'm gonna find and play the alpha code of this game...
... or die tryin'.
FightingChance
DaPress
Posted 2:14 AM 20/9/08
You kidding? This game's coming out before Christmas. Think this story's a few facts on the side of wrong.
DaPress
acez2087
Posted 2:14 AM 20/9/08
"And for when 50 Cent saw the breadth of his domain he wept for there were no more worlds to conquer." The benefits of a classical education which sees no 50 Cent games in the future is promising indeed.
acez2087
Knoxximus (360/PSN)
Posted 2:13 AM 20/9/08
@phil2dot6: Uh oh! Looks like Brian is on a roll today. O_O;
Knoxximus (360/PSN)
RyuriTatsujin
Posted 2:11 AM 20/9/08
@Retrogameplayer: Yep and know what's worst than gangsta rap? Kids/teens that listen to it and try to be gangsta.
RyuriTatsujin
RyuriTatsujin
Posted 2:09 AM 20/9/08
I was going to bet $1000 that it'll never make it out alive... I guess I was right.
RyuriTatsujin
AJMarra
Posted 2:02 AM 20/9/08
It appears everyone's gone home happy. 50 got his money, the developers get theirs, and the gamers never have to see this "game" at their local video store next to the others.
AJMarra
ST19AG_WGreymon
Posted 1:56 AM 20/9/08
@Retrogameplayer: Agreed.
Good riddance.
ST19AG_WGreymon
Retrogameplayer
Posted 1:55 AM 20/9/08
Thank God. Gangsta rap needs to just go away. It's the most retarded shit I've ever heard.
Retrogameplayer
cin1122
Posted 1:54 AM 20/9/08
I don't think this game is canceled. I have a friend who's a QA tester at THQ and he informed me that they just got this game to test. Don't know if it's in an actual testing cycle or just to get an opinion on it. Though, it would have been nice if 50 cent just stuck to rap.
cin1122
Winterbringer
Posted 1:54 AM 20/9/08
There IS a god
Winterbringer
phil2dot6
Posted 1:44 AM 20/9/08
[www.gamesindustry.biz]
Seriously Kotaku, check your sources.
phil2dot6
Knoxximus (360/PSN)
Posted 1:35 AM 20/9/08
Smartest. Move. EVAR.
Knoxximus (360/PSN)
ZackRI
Posted 1:33 AM 20/9/08
Well, good times for all, the only problem is they're just going use the money they get from selling off the company/assets to make more guitar hero games and merch. Jesus I'm tired of that game.
ZackRI
dead_red_eyes
Posted 1:20 AM 20/9/08
Good riddance I say.
dead_red_eyes
Ashkihyena
Posted 1:12 AM 20/9/08
@Mal-Content: BAWAHAHAHAHAH, so far everybody whose played it said it was good, so yeah, I don't get why Craptivision dropped it.
Ashkihyena
Ashkihyena
Posted 1:11 AM 20/9/08
@xAnarChisTx: You and me both, hopefully Ghostbusters won't suffer this same fate due to Craptivision.
Ashkihyena
KFJ
Posted 1:04 AM 20/9/08
What a great day, got to skip dentist's, got Warhammer online, got pizza for dinner, and now the sequel to one of the worst games ever is canceled!
HAPPY DAYS!
KFJ
ADM86
Posted 1:03 AM 20/9/08
@beem:
Thats just sad.....anyway GO FOR IT! YOU CAN DO IT! YOU CAN DO IT! everyone sing alonnnggg YOU CAN DON IT!
ADM86
Rika Aiuchi is SeXXXy
Posted 1:02 AM 20/9/08
-_- That's business. The dude with the image still got paid and the studio that made it is getting sold. 50 Cent can't be sad by this unless he's that money grubbin'... Dude's rich regardless.
Rika Aiuchi is SeXXXy
beem
Posted 12:59 AM 20/9/08
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!! I'm seriously contemplating suicide upon reading this tragic news.
beem
Saimon86
Posted 12:53 AM 20/9/08
@Dexyn:
Except maybe around 40 peoples jobs and two years of their hard work. So close to its release as well.
This kind of news always saddens me no matter what the game is in question.
Saimon86
Skeezy
Posted 12:46 AM 20/9/08
Now mc chris can sleep happy and not discuss the game at every concert.
Skeezy
TheMurderer
Posted 12:46 AM 20/9/08
But I wanted to play "Muslim Massacre 2: 50 Cent Addition"!
TheMurderer
Jerry Cola
Posted 12:45 AM 20/9/08
This makes him a sad fiddy cent*
+ Watch video
Jerry Cola
mronoc
Posted 12:45 AM 20/9/08
I was actually looking forward to renting this, that trailer was hilarious
mronoc
Jerry Cola
Posted 12:44 AM 20/9/08
This him a sad fiddy cent!
Jerry Cola
Mal-Content
Posted 12:44 AM 20/9/08
@bluesquareapple: dude...how'd you miss that? It was big news a few weeks back that Actardvision decided they didnt want it and now they're hunting for a publisher.
Though word on the street is its got a lot of issues and wasn't a very good game.
Mal-Content
Desfunk
Posted 12:43 AM 20/9/08
damn *can't you just feel the sarcasm in that*
Desfunk
Mal-Content
Posted 12:43 AM 20/9/08
Sad that the guys who were, likely, forced into making this will probably be unemployed while the moron who inspired it makes another few million for having no talent.
It's hard out there for a programmer.
Mal-Content
bluesquareapple
Posted 12:42 AM 20/9/08
I'm already enjoying the Blizzivision merger.
I'm worried about Ghostbusters, though. When I went to pick up a pre-order the other day, they told me they had to cancel my Ghostbusters pre-order because development was supposedly put on hold.
bluesquareapple
PR_Flak
Posted 12:40 AM 20/9/08
Actually, I played this game a bit earlier this year and it surprised me in that it was truly fun.
They were doing a really nice action game with some unique features... it just had 50 Cent in it.
PR_Flak
shouryuuken
Posted 2:38 AM 20/9/08
@phil2dot6: i clicked the link, and thats the saddest news ive read all week.
i really wish 50 didnt get his money, and the people who came up with the concept (not the guys who were forced to work on it) were fired and never allowed to work in this business again.
shouryuuken
Deft_One
Posted 2:28 AM 20/9/08
@phil2dot6: HAHA Haters can suck it.
This game is gonna be so awesome...to rent.
Deft_One
GlibGamer
Posted 2:23 AM 20/9/08
Good. Score one for core gamers. Though I don't mind the clueless chumps (non-gamers, likely the ones that bought the first 50-cent game) throwing their money into the games market to infuse devs/pubs with cash.
Next time devs, don't waste the capital on another moneygrab. ;)
GlibGamer
Falcon PAUNCH!!!
Posted 2:15 AM 20/9/08
@Jerry Cola: I HATE YOU! I HATE YOU!! I HATE YOU!!! (in a friendly Kotakuite kind of way that is). I thought I was going to be the one to make the "Sad 50 Cent" reference.... :(
Falcon PAUNCH!!!
ADM86
Posted 3:10 AM 20/9/08
@Brian Crecente:
Please do...and if its still alive..KILL IT! SHOOT IT ! BURN IT! whatever you have so it doesn't see the light of day.
ADM86
Mal-Content
Posted 3:04 AM 20/9/08
@Ashkihyena: guess we've just heard from different people, but that's cool because I REALLY want to believe it'l be good. However, the fact no one else has scopped it up has me a tad skeptical.
Anyway...that's for another thread, I suppose.
Mal-Content
dawimp523
Posted 3:00 AM 20/9/08
So the game is NOT cancelled? Either way, I'm still not playing this game!
dawimp523
chaos_isnt_here
Posted 2:58 AM 20/9/08
oh thank god.
chaos_isnt_here
Brian Crecente
Posted 2:53 AM 20/9/08
@phil2dot6: What makes you think their sources are better than ours? We're looking into it now.
Brian Crecente
FLYBOY611
Posted 3:57 AM 20/9/08
YES!!! There is justice in this world!!!
FLYBOY611
s00pcan
Posted 3:53 AM 20/9/08
awww I was looking forward to dual wielding mac 11s in a game again.
s00pcan
Dick-Ballistic
Posted 3:42 AM 20/9/08
NO! I actually wanted to play this for the comic value!
Dick-Ballistic
Ashkihyena
Posted 3:29 AM 20/9/08
@Mal-Content: I think it'll be good, and well, Sony said they have a new publisher, but unfortunately they're caught in red tape so they can't come out and say who it is. I just hope its not EA or awful DRM will be forced on the PC version.
Ashkihyena
StupidityTries
Posted 4:34 AM 20/9/08
@Brian Crecente:
Chin up Cheer up.
Still the best gaming blog around!
StupidityTries
Brian Crecente
Posted 4:30 AM 20/9/08
@StupidityTries: :(
Brian Crecente
Brian Crecente
Posted 4:29 AM 20/9/08
OK, updated. Very sorry about getting this wrong. We do our best to be accurate with our rumors, but that is why they're rumor.
Brian Crecente
StupidityTries
Posted 4:29 AM 20/9/08
Tough day at Kotaku Tower...
but I still love (and trust) you guys (and occasional girls)!
StupidityTries
Mr_Fujisawa
Posted 4:24 AM 20/9/08
@cin1122: Indeed, THQ are publishing it. I even know who Swordfish have been bought by, they used to make Dizzy..
Purple Dave, they're like named after a fish ;)
Mr_Fujisawa
jello44
Posted 4:18 AM 20/9/08
Na-na-na-na
Na-na-na-na
Hey Hey
GOODBYE
jello44
Purple Dave
Posted 4:13 AM 20/9/08
Swordfish is getting sold? Serves 'em right for naming themselves after such a lame movie...
Purple Dave
Major_Higgins
Posted 4:09 AM 20/9/08
Sad! This was going to be the pinnacle of American Entertainment.
Major_Higgins
hagridore
Posted 4:04 AM 20/9/08
Noooooooooooo! This looked hilariously fun! How will I go on?
hagridore
gentlejones
Posted 4:03 AM 20/9/08
w00t
gentlejones
KaneRobot
Posted 5:06 AM 20/9/08
Time to slow your roll, Kotaku.
KaneRobot
FlapDangerous
Posted 4:59 AM 20/9/08
aw hell no!!!
FlapDangerous
OmegaVader
Posted 4:57 AM 20/9/08
Ohhh, let it die! 50 Cent titles surely signal the video game apocalypse when he's ending up in some iraq-clone country, using his "hood" skillz to blast terrorists.....c'mon, it sounds like a damn parody!
OmegaVader
LittleBigPlaneteer
Posted 4:41 AM 20/9/08
<3 you Crecente (in a non gay way).
This stuff happens. At least you weren't going out of your way to intentionally mislead the public like some other sites have done. You always have to play the percentages when it comes to rumors. Often times, even if the source is credible the information might not be perfectly understood. It happens to me in my industry to (I write about digital audio players).
LittleBigPlaneteer
Hellion86
Posted 5:18 AM 20/9/08
False reporting Again! Kotaku has a bad day 9/19/08
Hellion86
splin
Posted 6:04 AM 20/9/08
Hell yeah!
splin
prowlinger
Posted 6:01 AM 20/9/08
Ahh maybe it isn't dead...
Good... I will play the game for the game itself.. not for 50 cent or his name attached to it...
prowlinger
prowlinger
Posted 5:59 AM 20/9/08
NOOOOO!!! I do not like 50 cent or 25 pence or whatever his name was... just not my type of music.
But as a game.. this was looking amazing... well coded and smooth...
Sad to see it end...
Another one bites the dust...
prowlinger
MSUHitman
Posted 5:57 AM 20/9/08
@Brian Crecente: No fireworks against your source on this one, then?
MSUHitman
Brian Crecente
Posted 7:06 AM 20/9/08
@MSUHitman: ?
Brian Crecente
FreakyFavabean
Posted 8:50 AM 20/9/08
I don't really get the second update. It's going to be Crash Bandicoot: Blood on the Sand now?
FreakyFavabean
TheIrishNinja
Posted 8:43 AM 20/9/08
@FightingChance: win.
TheIrishNinja
Ashkihyena
Posted 12:30 PM 20/9/08
""We have a policy of not commenting on rumors.
I can tell you that we announced back in July that we are retaining only those franchises that are a strong fit with our long-term strategy - - Crash Bandicoot, Ice Age, Spyro, Protoype and an unannounced new IP. We will not publish other titles that previously were part of the Vivendi Games portfolio and are currently reviewing our options regarding these titles.""
Yeah you bastards, that's why you decided to drop Ghostbusters and Brutal Legend, fuck you Activision.
Ashkihyena
collider
Posted 1:01 PM 20/9/08
The gf and I were excited about this game, so I actually really hope it happens! We're big fans of so-bad-its-funny.
collider
YotaruVegeta
Posted 10:44 PM 20/9/08
As awful as this game could be, I would still pick it up. I think I just like that someone let 50 cent loose and he got to get his character to do crazy shit. Or at least that's what we're led to believe. I bet the gameplay is just as terrible as the first.
YotaruVegeta
Crippen
Posted 2:01 AM 22/9/08
I would rather want to play Ghostbusters then this....UGh
Crippen