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{{Possible article}}
{{Infobox VG
{{Infobox
⚫
| title = Fortress
| image =
| =
|image = [[File:600 px Transparent flag.png|256px|alt=A grassy, rocky landscape. To the left is an armored, caped figure with a spear in hand, surrounded by low-lying fog, who looks back toward a castle ringed by a spiral staircase on land surrounded by water. To the right is a high, barren cliff. The staircase, much of the castle, and some rocks are broken off in mid-air and pitched to the left, as if being swept away. Sunbeams filter down from a partly cloudy sky.]]
| caption = Concept art by Tony Holmsten, one of the artists for the game
|caption = Concept art by Tony Holmsten, one of the artists for the game
| developer = [[GRIN (company)|GRIN]]
| publisher = [[Square Enix]]
| = [[ ]]
|publisher = [[Square Enix]]
| distributor =
| series = ''[[Final Fantasy]]''
|series = ''[[Final Fantasy]]''
⚫
|platforms = [[Microsoft Windows]], [[PlayStation 3]], [[Xbox 360]]
| engine = [[Diesel (game engine)|Diesel]]
| released = Cancelled
|released = Cancelled
| genre = [[Action-adventure game|Action-adventure]]
|genre = [[Action game]]
| modes =
|
| ratings =
| =
|designer = Erik Lindqvist
⚫
| platforms = [[Microsoft Windows]], [[PlayStation 3]], [[Xbox 360]]
| media =
| =
|artist = Ulf Andersson<br />Anders De Geer<br />Björn Albihn
| requirements =
⚫
| =
|composer = Erik Thunberg
}}
}}
'''''Fortress''''' is the codename of a cancelled video game that was in development by [[GRIN (company)|GRIN]] as a spin-off of [[Square Enix]]'s ''[[Final Fantasy]]'' series. An [[action game]] set in the recurring ''Final Fantasy'' world of [[Ivalice]], it was planned for the [[Microsoft Windows]], [[PlayStation 3]], and [[Xbox 360]] platforms. The project has remained unannounced due to its cancellation by Square Enix in 2009.
'''''Fortress''''' is the codename of a video game being developed as a spin-off of [[Square Enix]]'s ''[[Final Fantasy]]'' series. It is envisioned as an [[action game]] set in the fictional world of [[Ivalice]],<ref>{{cite web | first=Ryan | last=King | title=GRIN was working on Final Fantasy game | url=http://www.oxm.co.uk/article.php?id=13099 | publisher=[[Official Xbox Magazine|Official Xbox 360 Magazine]] | date=August 20, 2009 | accessdate=September 22, 2009}}</ref> and is intended for the [[Xbox 360]], [[PlayStation 3]] and [[Microsoft Windows]] platforms.<ref name="Albihn">{{cite web | first=Björn | last=Albihn | title=Björn Albihn - Character Artist | url=http://www.albihn.net/ | publisher= | date=September 7, 2009 | accessdate=September 22, 2009}}</ref> Although not yet officially announced, the project's existence was revealed after the closure of the original developer, [[GRIN (company)|GRIN]], by former members of the development team and sources in the video game industry.<ref name="1UP">{{cite web | first=Quillen | last=Dustin | title=GRIN Was Working on an Unannounced Final Fantasy Project | url=http://www.1up.com/do/newsStory?cId=3175684 | publisher=[[1UP.com]] | date=August 20, 2009 | accessdate=September 22, 2009}}</ref>

== Concept ==
''Fortress'' was set in the fictional world of [[Ivalice]], specifically the version seen in ''[[Final Fantasy XII]]''.<ref name="OXM" /> In addition to original characters and locations, concept art for the game includes the character [[Characters of Final Fantasy XII#Ashe|Ashe]]<ref name="Joakim Hellstedt" /> and a Judge from ''Final Fantasy XII'',<ref name="Tony Holmsten" /> as well as [[chocobo]]s and other [[Character design of Final Fantasy|recurring creatures of the ''Final Fantasy'' series]].<ref name="Joakim Hellstedt" /><ref name="Björn Albihn" /> The eponymous Fortress, located on a mountain cliff, appears to have been the central location in the game, although various other landscapes such as plains, forests, deserts and snowfields were also featured.

Invaders from the sea were to be the main enemies of the game. They were visually based on the [[Vikings]] and wielded armor and weapons decorated with sea and sea-monster imagery. Planned boss battles included fighting a gargatuan version of the ''Final Fantasy'' monster [[Marlboro]], by climbing atop it using seaweeds on its back in order to drop bombs in the creature's weak spots.<ref name="Björn Albihn" /> According to a design document, the game was divided in at least seven chapters, starting at the gate of the Fortress and leading up to the top of the stronghold.


== Development ==
== Development ==
''Fortress'' started out as an original [[fantasy]] game concept designed by Ulf Andersson, GRIN's co-founder.<ref name="Aftonbladet" /> Preproduction began in the second half of 2008.<ref name="GamesIndustry" /> The game was pitched to various publishers. The president of Square Enix, [[Yoichi Wada]], liked the concept and its visual style, and visited GRIN several times. After getting the chance to see a [[Boss (video gaming)|boss fight]] from ''[[Bionic Commando (2009 video game)|Bionic Commando]]'', which was being developed by GRIN for the Japanese company [[Capcom]], Wada decided that Square Enix would publish ''Fortress'' as a ''Final Fantasy'' spinoff.<ref name="Aftonbladet" />
Preproduction work for ''Fortress'' began in the second half of 2008 when Square Enix outsourced it to the Swedish developer GRIN.<ref name="GamesIndustry"/> The development team, based in [[Stockholm]], began creating concept art, 3D models and a [[game engine]], thinking of ''Fortress'' as a "game with an epic scale both in story and production values".<ref name="Albihn" /> The project made use of the [[Audiokinetic Wwise]] solution for dynamic sound and music transitions.<ref>{{cite web | first=Jonatan | last=Crafoord | title=Jonatan Crafoord - Audio Designer | url=http://www.jonatancrafoord.se/other.html | publisher= | year=2009 | month=September | accessdate=January 18, 2010}}</ref> In addition to original characters and locations, concept art for the game depicts [[Characters of Final Fantasy XII#Ashe|Ashe]] and a Judge character from ''Final Fantasy XII'',<ref name="Hellstedt">{{cite web | first=Joakim | last=Hellstedt | title=Online Portfolio of Joakim Hellstedt | url=http://idun.free.fr/ | publisher= | date=September 9, 2009 | accessdate=September 22, 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | first=Tony | last=Holmsten | coauthors=Bergquist, Martin | title=Concept Art | url=http://hem.bredband.net/visualdevelopment/conceptart3.html#conceptart3 | publisher=Visual Development | date=August 20, 2009 | accessdate=September 22, 2009}}</ref> and [[chocobo]]s and other [[Character design of Final Fantasy|recurring creatures of the series]].<ref name="Albihn" /><ref name="Hellstedt" />


The project was developed on a [[game engine]] compatible with [[Microsoft Windows]], [[PlayStation 3]], and [[Xbox 360]].<ref name="Björn Albihn" /> The development team, led by Ulf Andersson as a [[creative director]], produced concept art and 3D assets under art director Anders De Geer<ref name="Joakim Hellstedt" /> and lead character artist Björn Albihn.<ref name="Björn Albihn" /> The game design was led by technical artist Erik Lindqvist.<ref name="Erik Lindqvist" /> GRIN's music director Erik Thunberg was responsible for the game's score,<ref name="Erik Thunberg CV" /> including a track that features a rearrangement of the "[[Music of the Final Fantasy series#Themes|Prelude]]" theme from the ''Final Fantasy'' series.<ref name="Erik Thunberg" /> The concept artists, according to one of them, Tony Holmsten, were not told until about two months before GRIN's bankruptcy that the game had been associated with ''Final Fantasy'', prompting them to restart their work in order to bring the game's art style closer to that of the Japanese franchise.<ref name="Tony Holmsten Post" />
However, after six months of development, Square Enix reclaimed the project without paying GRIN, due to concerns over the quality of the work.<ref name="1UP" /><ref name="GamesIndustry" /> Square Enix's withdrawal left the Swedish developer in financial difficulty and with no other ongoing game project.<ref name="GamesIndustry" /> This led to GRIN declaring bankruptcy, as laws in Sweden inflict severe fines on businesses which operate under a debt load.<ref name="GamesIndustry" /> The developer closed its offices on August 12, 2009, noting that delayed payments from "too many publishers" caused "an unbearable cashflow situation" and mentioning in a farewell note their "unreleased masterpiece that [they] weren't allowed to finish".<ref name="gamasutra article"/><ref name="GamesIndustry" />

=== Issues with payments ===
Square Enix was supposed to pay GRIN 16.5 million dollars for the production of ''Fortress'', in successive waves in accordance with the project milestones. No payments were made during the first two months of development, but GRIN's co-founder Bo Andersson was initially not worried as he considered delayed payments common and had faith in the project. However, several more months went by without payments. The publisher became actively uncooperative in May 2009, after the releases of GRIN's ''[[Terminator Salvation (video game)|Terminator Salvation]]'' and ''[[Bionic Commando (2009 video game)|Bionic Commando]]'' to negative reviews and poor sales respectively. The publisher asked GRIN to fax them all of the project's assets, including the music files, in a move that has been described as impossible and "stupid as hell[,] almost a criminal behavior" by Bo Andersson. GRIN eventually decided to send Square Enix a picture of their own ''Final Fantasy XII'' in order to test them. As the reply they received was "that doesn't look like a game in ''Final Fantasy''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s style", GRIN came to the conclusion that there was no way to satisfy the publisher.<ref name="Aftonbladet" />

After six months in financially unstable conditions, GRIN was forced to cease development on all projects and to declare bankruptcy, as laws in Sweden inflict severe fines on businesses which operate under a debt load.<ref name="Aftonbladet" /><ref name="GamesIndustry" /><ref name="1UP" /> According to the bankruptcy papers, Square Enix had the opinion that the development goals for ''Fortress'' "had not been met in a satisfactory way", whereas Bo Andersson has claimed the contrary, arguing that the milestones initially set up with a producer from Square Enix had been met.<ref name="Aftonbladet" /> The developer closed its offices on August 12, 2009, stating that delayed payments from "too many publishers" caused "an unbearable cashflow situation", and mentioning in a farewell note their "unreleased masterpiece that [they] weren't allowed to finish".<ref name="Develop" />

== Aftermath ==
⚫
[[: .|thumb|left|Two placeholder creatures in a duel, from the leaked tech demo]]
After GRIN's closure, the former existence of ''Fortress'' spread as mentions and concept art of the project appeared on former employees' resumes and portfolios.<ref name="OXM" /> Lead character artist Björn Albihn described ''Fortress'' as "a game with an epic scale both in story and production values".<ref name="Björn Albihn" />


⚫
[[Image:Fortress tech demo.jpg|thumb|left|Two placeholder creatures in a duel, from the leaked tech demo]]
In January 2010, footage from an alleged [[tech demo]] of ''Fortress'' was leaked on the Internet. The video description stated the game's events are "set some time after ''[[Final Fantasy XII: Revenant Wings]]''", and mentioned Square Enix's subsidiary [[Eidos Interactive|Eidos Montreal]] as a possible new home for the project.<ref>{{cite web | first=Andy | last=Robinson | title=Final Fantasy XII spin-off leaked | url=http://www.computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=231811 | publisher=[[Computer and Video Games]] | date=January 18, 2010 | accessdate=January 19, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | first=Ryan | last=King | title=Tech demo of cancelled Final Fantasy | url=http://www.oxm.co.uk/article.php?id=16620 | publisher=[[Official Xbox Magazine|Official Xbox 360 Magazine]] | date=January 18, 2010 | accessdate=January 19, 2010}}</ref> Replying to a fan question in May 2010, David Hoffman, director of business development at the American branch of Square Enix, mentioned ''Fortress'' without confirming its existence, stating "I have and had no involvement in the rumored project ''Fortress''".<ref>{{cite web | author=Sal Romano | title=Square Enix’s “Project X” is not Fortress | url=http://scrawlfx.com/2010/05/square-enixs-project-x-is-not-fortress | publisher=Scrawl | date=May 27, 2010 | accessdate=May 28, 2010}}</ref>
In January 2010, footage from an alleged [[tech demo]] of ''Fortress'' was leaked on the Internet. The video description stated the game's events are "set some time after ''[[Final Fantasy XII: Revenant Wings]]''", and mentioned Square Enix's subsidiary [[Eidos Interactive|Eidos Montreal]] as a possible new home for the project.<ref>{{cite web | first=Andy | last=Robinson | title=Final Fantasy XII spin-off leaked | url=http://www.computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=231811 | publisher=[[Computer and Video Games]] | date=January 18, 2010 | accessdate=January 19, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | first=Ryan | last=King | title=Tech demo of cancelled Final Fantasy | url=http://www.oxm.co.uk/article.php?id=16620 | publisher=[[Official Xbox Magazine|Official Xbox 360 Magazine]] | date=January 18, 2010 | accessdate=January 19, 2010}}</ref> Replying to a fan question in May 2010, David Hoffman, director of business development at the American branch of Square Enix, mentioned ''Fortress'' without confirming its existence, stating "I have and had no involvement in the rumored project ''Fortress''".<ref>{{cite web | author=Sal Romano | title=Square Enix’s “Project X” is not Fortress | url=http://scrawlfx.com/2010/05/square-enixs-project-x-is-not-fortress | publisher=Scrawl | date=May 27, 2010 | accessdate=May 28, 2010}}</ref>


In May 2011, in an interview<ref name="joystiq grin"/><ref name="kotaku grin"/><ref name="games on net grin"/> with GRIN co-founders, Ulf and Bo Andersson, it was revealed that that the project had eventually been cancelled by its own publisher, Square Enix, after six months of development. As stated in the interview, "[[Square Enix]] had already made up its mind that ''Fortress'' wasn't a project it wanted anymore".<ref name="joystiq grin"/>
In May 2011, in an interview<ref name="joystiq grin"/><ref name="kotaku grin"/><ref name="games on net grin"/> with GRIN co-founders, Ulf and Bo Andersson, it was revealed that that the project had eventually been cancelled by its own publisher, Square Enix, after six months of development. As stated in the interview, "[[Square Enix]] had already made up its mind that ''Fortress'' wasn't a project it wanted anymore".<ref name="joystiq grin"/>


The Fortress project, still supported by Square Enix, was being developed by a different, undisclosed studio, but this seems to have ended as well. At an interview at E3 2011, [[Motomu Toriyama]] announced that ''Fortress'' was suspended, citing that the game would "never be released". <ref>http://www.videogamer.com/news/final_fantasy_xii_spin-off_fortress_suspended.html</ref>
The Fortress project, still supported by Square Enix, was being developed by a different, undisclosed studio, but this seems to have ended as well. At an interview at E3 2011, [[Motomu Toriyama]] announced that ''Fortress'' was suspended, citing that the game would "never be released". <ref>http://www.videogamer.com/news/final_fantasy_xii_spin-off_fortress_suspended.html</ref>


== References ==
== References ==
{{Reflist|refs=
{{Reflist|refs=

⚫
<ref name="joystiq grin">{{cite web |url=http://www.joystiq.com/2011/05/29/grin-founders-say-square-enix-turned-their-smiles-upside-down/ |title=GRIN founders say Square Enix turned their smiles upside down |author=Christopher Grant |publisher=Joystiq |date=May 29, 2011 |accessdate=May 30, 2011}}</ref>
<ref name="kotaku grin">{{cite web |url=http://kotaku.com/5806511/bankrupted-studio-says-square+enix-demanded-code-by-fax-didnt-recognize-ffxii-screenshots |title=Bankrupted Studio Says Square Enix Demanded Code by Fax, Didn’t Recognize FFXII Screenshots |author=Owen Good |publisher=Kotaku |date=May 28, 2011 |accessdate=May 31, 2011}}</ref>
<ref name="">{{cite web |= |= |= |publisher= |date= , |accessdate= , }}</ref>

⚫
<ref name="games on net grin">{{cite web |url=http://games.on.net/article/12669/GRIN_Founders_Blast_Square_Enix |title=GRIN Founders Blast Square Enix |author=Tim Colwill |publisher=Games On Net |date=May 30, 2011 |accessdate=May 31, 2011}}</ref>
<ref name="GamesIndustry">{{cite web | first= | last= | title=GRIN's Final Fantasy spin-off still in development | url=http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/grins-final-fantasy-spin-off-still-in-development | publisher=GamesIndustry.biz | date=September 21, 2009 | accessdate=September 22, 2009}}</ref>
<ref name="">{{cite web | first=| last= | title= | url=http://www..// | publisher= | date= , | accessdate= , }}</ref>

⚫
<ref name="gamasutra article">{{cite web | first=Leigh | last=Alexander | title=Swedish Developer GRIN To Close Its Doors | url=http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=24818 | publisher=[[Gamasutra]] | date=August 12, 2009 | accessdate=September 22, 2009}}</ref>
<ref name="Björn Albihn">{{cite web | first=Björn | last=Albihn | title="Fortress" - Portfolio of Björn Albihn | url=http://cargocollective.com/albihn/107280/-Fortress | publisher= | date= | accessdate=February 14, 2012}}</ref>

<ref name="Develop">{{cite web | first=Crossley | last=Rob | title=GRIN ‘forced’ to close down | url=http://www.develop-online.net/news/32601/GRIN-forced-to-close-after-delayed-payments | publisher=[[Develop (magazine)|Develop]] | date=August 12, 2009 | accessdate=February 18, 2012}}</ref>

<ref name="Erik Lindqvist">{{cite web | first=Erik | last=Lindqvist | title=Erik Lindqvist - Sweden | url=http://se.linkedin.com/in/eriklindqvist | publisher=[[LinkedIn]] | date=February 13, 2012 | accessdate=February 18, 2012}}</ref>

<ref name="Erik Thunberg CV">{{cite web | first=Erik | last=Thunberg | title=Erik Thunberg - Sweden | url=http://se.linkedin.com/pub/erik-thunberg/9/535/17 | publisher=[[LinkedIn]] | date=January 23, 2012 | accessdate=February 18, 2012}}</ref>

<ref name="Erik Thunberg">{{cite web | first=Erik | last=Thunberg | title=starsounds.net | url=http://www.starsounds.net/ | publisher= | date=January 18, 2010 | accessdate=February 18, 2012}}</ref>

⚫
<ref name="games on net grin">{{cite web |url=http://games.on.net/article/12669/GRIN_Founders_Blast_Square_Enix |title=GRIN Founders Blast Square Enix |=Tim Colwill |publisher=Games On Net |date=May 30, 2011 |accessdate=May 31, 2011}}</ref>

<ref name="GamesIndustry">{{cite web | first= | last= | title=GRIN's Final Fantasy spin-off still in development | url=http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/grins-final-fantasy-spin-off-still-in-development | publisher=[[Eurogamer#GamesIndustry.biz|GamesIndustry.biz]] | date=September 21, 2009 | accessdate=September 22, 2009}}</ref>

<ref name="Joakim Hellstedt">{{cite web | first=Joakim | last=Hellstedt | title=Online Portfolio of Joakim Hellstedt | url=http://idun.free.fr/ | publisher= | date=September 9, 2009 | accessdate=September 22, 2009}}</ref>

⚫
<ref name="joystiq grin">{{cite web |url=http://www.joystiq.com/2011/05/29/grin-founders-say-square-enix-turned-their-smiles-upside-down/ |title=GRIN founders say Square Enix turned their smiles upside down |=Christopher Grant |publisher=Joystiq |date=May 29, 2011 |accessdate=May 30, 2011}}</ref>

<ref name="kotaku grin">{{cite web | url=http://kotaku.com/5806511/bankrupted-studio-says-square+enix-demanded-code-by-fax-didnt-recognize-ffxii-screenshots | title=Bankrupted Studio Says Square Enix Demanded Code by Fax, Didn’t Recognize FFXII Screenshots | first=Owen | last=Good | publisher=[[Kotaku]] |date=May 28, 2011 | accessdate=May 31, 2011}}</ref>

⚫
<ref name="">{{cite web | first= | last= | title= | url=http://www../.php?= | publisher=[[]] | date=August , 2009 | accessdate=September 22, 2009}}</ref>

<ref name="Tony Holmsten Post">{{cite web | first=Tony | last=Holmsten | title=GRIN Concept Artists Artdump | url=http://www.conceptart.org/forums/showpost.php?p=2425908&postcount=58 | publisher=[[Marko Djurdjević#Conceptart.org, Massive Black, and Degenesis|Conceptart.org]] | date=September 9, 2009 | accessdate=February 14, 2012}}</ref>

<ref name="Tony Holmsten">{{cite web | first=Tony | last=Holmsten | title=Tony Holmsten's Portfolio | url=http://www.tonyholmsten.com/fortress.html | publisher= | date=August 29, 2010 | accessdate=February 18, 2012}}</ref>

}}
}}


== External links ==
== External links ==
{{Wikipedia-Books|Final Fantasy XII}}
*[http://finalfantasy.wikia.com/wiki/Fortress ''Fortress''] article at the ''Final Fantasy'' [[Wikia]]
*[http://finalfantasy.wikia.com/wiki/Fortress ''Fortress''] article at the ''Final Fantasy'' [[Wikia]]


Line 46: Line 86:
{{Final Fantasy series}}
{{Final Fantasy series}}


[[Category:Action video games]]
[[Category:Action video games]]
[[Category:Final Fantasy spin-offs]]
[[Category:Final Fantasy spin-offs]]
[[Category:GRIN games]]
[[Category:GRIN games]]
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[[Category:Cancelled PlayStation 3 games]]
[[Category:Cancelled PlayStation 3 games]]
[[Category:Cancelled Xbox 360 games]]
[[Category:Cancelled Xbox 360 games]]
[[Category:Cancelled Windows games]]
[[Category:Cancelled Windows games]]

Revision as of 14:45, 24 February 2012

Fortress
A grassy, rocky landscape. To the left is an armored, caped figure with a spear in hand, surrounded by low-lying fog, who looks back toward a castle ringed by a spiral staircase on land surrounded by water. To the right is a high, barren cliff. The staircase, much of the castle, and some rocks are broken off in mid-air and pitched to the left, as if being swept away. Sunbeams filter down from a partly cloudy sky.
Concept art by Tony Holmsten, one of the artists for the game
Developer(s)GRIN
Publisher(s)Square Enix
Director(s)Ulf Andersson
Designer(s)Erik Lindqvist
Artist(s)Ulf Andersson
Anders De Geer
Björn Albihn
Composer(s)Erik Thunberg
SeriesFinal Fantasy
Platform(s)Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360
ReleaseCancelled
Genre(s)Action game

Fortress is the codename of a cancelled video game that was in development by GRIN as a spin-off of Square Enix's Final Fantasy series. An action game set in the recurring Final Fantasy world of Ivalice, it was planned for the Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, and Xbox 360 platforms. The project has remained unannounced due to its cancellation by Square Enix in 2009.

Concept

Fortress was set in the fictional world of Ivalice, specifically the version seen in Final Fantasy XII.[1] In addition to original characters and locations, concept art for the game includes the character Ashe[2] and a Judge from Final Fantasy XII,[3] as well as chocobos and other recurring creatures of the Final Fantasy series.[2][4] The eponymous Fortress, located on a mountain cliff, appears to have been the central location in the game, although various other landscapes such as plains, forests, deserts and snowfields were also featured.

Invaders from the sea were to be the main enemies of the game. They were visually based on the Vikings and wielded armor and weapons decorated with sea and sea-monster imagery. Planned boss battles included fighting a gargatuan version of the Final Fantasy monster Marlboro, by climbing atop it using seaweeds on its back in order to drop bombs in the creature's weak spots.[4] According to a design document, the game was divided in at least seven chapters, starting at the gate of the Fortress and leading up to the top of the stronghold.

Development

Fortress started out as an original fantasy game concept designed by Ulf Andersson, GRIN's co-founder.[5] Preproduction began in the second half of 2008.[6] The game was pitched to various publishers. The president of Square Enix, Yoichi Wada, liked the concept and its visual style, and visited GRIN several times. After getting the chance to see a boss fight from Bionic Commando, which was being developed by GRIN for the Japanese company Capcom, Wada decided that Square Enix would publish Fortress as a Final Fantasy spinoff.[5]

The project was developed on a game engine compatible with Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, and Xbox 360.[4] The development team, led by Ulf Andersson as a creative director, produced concept art and 3D assets under art director Anders De Geer[2] and lead character artist Björn Albihn.[4] The game design was led by technical artist Erik Lindqvist.[7] GRIN's music director Erik Thunberg was responsible for the game's score,[8] including a track that features a rearrangement of the "Prelude" theme from the Final Fantasy series.[9] The concept artists, according to one of them, Tony Holmsten, were not told until about two months before GRIN's bankruptcy that the game had been associated with Final Fantasy, prompting them to restart their work in order to bring the game's art style closer to that of the Japanese franchise.[10]

Issues with payments

Square Enix was supposed to pay GRIN 16.5 million dollars for the production of Fortress, in successive waves in accordance with the project milestones. No payments were made during the first two months of development, but GRIN's co-founder Bo Andersson was initially not worried as he considered delayed payments common and had faith in the project. However, several more months went by without payments. The publisher became actively uncooperative in May 2009, after the releases of GRIN's Terminator Salvation and Bionic Commando to negative reviews and poor sales respectively. The publisher asked GRIN to fax them all of the project's assets, including the music files, in a move that has been described as impossible and "stupid as hell[,] almost a criminal behavior" by Bo Andersson. GRIN eventually decided to send Square Enix a picture of their own Final Fantasy XII in order to test them. As the reply they received was "that doesn't look like a game in Final Fantasy's style", GRIN came to the conclusion that there was no way to satisfy the publisher.[5]

After six months in financially unstable conditions, GRIN was forced to cease development on all projects and to declare bankruptcy, as laws in Sweden inflict severe fines on businesses which operate under a debt load.[5][6][11] According to the bankruptcy papers, Square Enix had the opinion that the development goals for Fortress "had not been met in a satisfactory way", whereas Bo Andersson has claimed the contrary, arguing that the milestones initially set up with a producer from Square Enix had been met.[5] The developer closed its offices on August 12, 2009, stating that delayed payments from "too many publishers" caused "an unbearable cashflow situation", and mentioning in a farewell note their "unreleased masterpiece that [they] weren't allowed to finish".[12]

Aftermath

Two placeholder creatures in a duel, from the leaked tech demo

After GRIN's closure, the former existence of Fortress spread as mentions and concept art of the project appeared on former employees' resumes and portfolios.[1] Lead character artist Björn Albihn described Fortress as "a game with an epic scale both in story and production values".[4]

In January 2010, footage from an alleged tech demo of Fortress was leaked on the Internet. The video description stated the game's events are "set some time after Final Fantasy XII: Revenant Wings", and mentioned Square Enix's subsidiary Eidos Montreal as a possible new home for the project.[13][14] Replying to a fan question in May 2010, David Hoffman, director of business development at the American branch of Square Enix, mentioned Fortress without confirming its existence, stating "I have and had no involvement in the rumored project Fortress".[15]

In May 2011, in an interview[16][17][18] with GRIN co-founders, Ulf and Bo Andersson, it was revealed that that the project had eventually been cancelled by its own publisher, Square Enix, after six months of development. As stated in the interview, "Square Enix had already made up its mind that Fortress wasn't a project it wanted anymore".[16]

The Fortress project, still supported by Square Enix, was being developed by a different, undisclosed studio, but this seems to have ended as well. At an interview at E3 2011, Motomu Toriyama announced that Fortress was suspended, citing that the game would "never be released". [19]

References

  1. ^ a b King, Ryan (August 20, 2009). "GRIN was working on Final Fantasy game". Official Xbox 360 Magazine. Retrieved September 22, 2009.
  2. ^ a b c Hellstedt, Joakim (September 9, 2009). "Online Portfolio of Joakim Hellstedt". Retrieved September 22, 2009.
  3. ^ Holmsten, Tony (August 29, 2010). "Tony Holmsten's Portfolio". Retrieved February 18, 2012.
  4. ^ a b c d e Albihn, Björn. ""Fortress" - Portfolio of Björn Albihn". Retrieved February 14, 2012.
  5. ^ a b c d e Ottsjö, Peter (May 28, 2011). "Strypta av speljätten" (in Swedish). Aftonbladet. Retrieved February 17, 2012.
  6. ^ a b "GRIN's Final Fantasy spin-off still in development". GamesIndustry.biz. September 21, 2009. Retrieved September 22, 2009.
  7. ^ Lindqvist, Erik (February 13, 2012). "Erik Lindqvist - Sweden". LinkedIn. Retrieved February 18, 2012.
  8. ^ Thunberg, Erik (January 23, 2012). "Erik Thunberg - Sweden". LinkedIn. Retrieved February 18, 2012.
  9. ^ Thunberg, Erik (January 18, 2010). "starsounds.net". Retrieved February 18, 2012.
  10. ^ Holmsten, Tony (September 9, 2009). "GRIN Concept Artists Artdump". Conceptart.org. Retrieved February 14, 2012.
  11. ^ Dustin, Quillen (August 20, 2009). "GRIN Was Working on an Unannounced Final Fantasy Project". 1UP.com. Retrieved September 22, 2009.
  12. ^ Rob, Crossley (August 12, 2009). "GRIN 'forced' to close down". Develop. Retrieved February 18, 2012.
  13. ^ Robinson, Andy (January 18, 2010). "Final Fantasy XII spin-off leaked". Computer and Video Games. Retrieved January 19, 2010.
  14. ^ King, Ryan (January 18, 2010). "Tech demo of cancelled Final Fantasy". Official Xbox 360 Magazine. Retrieved January 19, 2010.
  15. ^ Sal Romano (May 27, 2010). "Square Enix's "Project X" is not Fortress". Scrawl. Retrieved May 28, 2010.
  16. ^ a b Grant, Christopher (May 29, 2011). "GRIN founders say Square Enix turned their smiles upside down". Joystiq. Retrieved May 30, 2011.
  17. ^ Good, Owen (May 28, 2011). "Bankrupted Studio Says Square Enix Demanded Code by Fax, Didn't Recognize FFXII Screenshots". Kotaku. Retrieved May 31, 2011.
  18. ^ Colwill, Tim (May 30, 2011). "GRIN Founders Blast Square Enix". Games On Net. Retrieved May 31, 2011.
  19. ^ http://www.videogamer.com/news/final_fantasy_xii_spin-off_fortress_suspended.html

[[Category:Action video games]] [[Category:Final Fantasy spin-offs]] [[Category:GRIN games]] [[Category:Video games developed in Sweden]] [[Category:Cancelled PlayStation 3 games]] [[Category:Cancelled Xbox 360 games]] [[Category:Cancelled Windows games]]

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