The cancellation of Earthworm Jim 4 is a global disappointment to fans of the series. Although the discontinuation of Earthworm Jim 4’s development is not surprising, given the absence of the Intellivision Amico, it is still a disappointment to fans of the franchise.
OutofcontextEarthwormJim on Twitter provided a disappointing update based on a conversation with fans on Discord. The news is that the progress of EWJ4, the new Earthworm Jim game, has been discontinued little notice. The reason for the termination of Earthworm Jim 4 could be related to Intellivision’s lack of proper rights to the Earthworm Jim franchise, owned by Interplay, or issues with the Amico platform leading to the discontinuation of the project.
The user believes that the termination of the Earthworm Jim 4 project by Intellivision may have been due to either facing legal restrictions or issues in obtaining the necessary rights to the game, which is owned by Interplay. Despite the company’s attempts to keep the cancellation quiet, the user acknowledges that after waiting for 25 years, it is impossible to ignore the disappointment of the game not coming to fruition.
Doug TenNapel launched a crowdfunding campaign on Indiegogo to revive the Earthworm Jim series, which took the form of a graphic novel titled “Earthworm Jim: Launch the Cow.” The campaign was successful, raising around a million dollars in funds.
Despite facing continuous delays in the launch of the Amico console, Intellivision continues to persist in bringing it to the market. It has resulted in frustrated fans and backers demanding refunds, but the company remains undeterred. The only remnant of Earthworm Jim 4 is a 20-second teaser trailer featuring Jim running on a beach.
The Earthworm Jim games center around the protagonist, an earthworm that has been transformed into a robotic hero as he travels through outer space. The character’s worm-like attributes, including his ability to use his head as a whip and rotate it to glide, make for a unique gaming experience. The franchise has a devoted following and has played a significant role in shaping the future of 3D platformers in the gaming world. Despite the positive reception of re-releases on different consoles and smartphones, nothing has created the same level of buzz among fans as the announcement of Earthworm Jim 4.
The role of video games in selling gaming systems is widely acknowledged. The Amico had generated a great deal of excitement among fans, particularly for its planned release of Earthworm Jim 4. The game, part of a series that began in the 1990s by Shiny Entertainment, was highly anticipated by fans. The President of Intellivision, Tommy Tallarico, tried to increase the excitement for the console by announcing that the entire core creative team from the original Earthworm Jim game would be involved in developing this new installment.
In a public statement, Tallarico conveyed his exhilaration and anticipation, referring to the reunion of the critical and creative team behind the original Earthworm Jim game as a dream come true. He expressed his eagerness to give fans a sneak peek into their reunion and design process and share it globally.
Doug TenNapel, the creator of Earthworm Jim, was initially expected to be involved in the development of Earthworm Jim 4. Still, due to some controversial statements he made, he was only serving as an unpaid consultant on the project.
The Earthworm Jim video game franchise made its initial debut in 1994, appearing on the SEGA Genesis and SNES consoles. Despite being released on both platforms, the game is often remembered as a SEGA classic. Players got to experience the adventures of the titular earthworm-turned-superhero, Jim, as he used his worm-like head as a whip to defeat enemies.
In the wake of repeated delays for the release of the Amico console, rumors and reports have circulated that it may never actually come to market. Frustrated fans, who had already been waiting for years, have called for refunds. These concerns grew stronger when Intellivision experienced a significant staff layoff in 2022. While the company continues to claim that they are actively working towards bringing the Amico to market, it seems unlikely that it will happen in near future.