A rumor has surface that Project H.A.M.M.E.R, the Wii game developed by NST and published by Nintendo has been officially canceled, and that the staff working on the game has been reassigned to development of a casual game.

June 14, 2007 - Insiders close to development studio NST allege to IGN that the software company's Wii action title, tentatively titled Project H.A.M.M.E.R., has been terminated by publisher Nintendo. Sources further claim that the team formerly working on the title is now underway with one or more efforts that fall into the "expanded audience" lineup of games.

We placed calls to Nintendo of America for an official confirmation or denial, but the subsidiary did not get back to us in time for publish.

Project H.A.M.M.E.R. was debuted at the Electronics Entertainment Expo 2006 in interactive form. The game starred players as a powerful half man and half machine fighter who, armed with a giant hammer, could obliterate any robot enemies in his path. Gamers gestured downward with the Wii remote in a simulated hammer smash to wield the weapon.

Project H.A.M.M.E.R. was last seen at E3 2006. The game's release date remains listed on Nintendo's official press site as "TBA," or to be announced.

Our sources were unable to provide a reason for the alleged termination. However, IGN Wii has heard separately that Nintendo is actively re-working some traditional games so that they are more accessible by casual players. If it is truly canned, Project H.A.M.M.E.R. may have become a casualty of Wii's newfound success in the mainstream market.

Readers are reminded that this rumor is currently unsubstantiated by official Nintendo sources. We'll keep you posted with any updates they become available.

bbb7002004 via wii.ign.com »