View source for ZTA (lost build of cancelled PlayStation Portable zombie action-adventure open world game; mid-2000s)

{{InfoboxLost
|title=ZTA</center>
|image=Zta1.jpeg
|imagecaption=Screenshot showing the player shooting at zombies.
|status=<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''</span>
}}
'''''ZTA''''' is a zombie action-adventure open world game developed by SDP Games sometime in the mid-2000s. It was planned to be a release for the PlayStation Portable (PSP) as part of a collaboration with Rockstar Games.

==Background==
SDP Games, a French games studio, was founded as Smack Down Productions in 2005 by Laurent Benadiba, who is most known for co-founding Team Bondi and being the technical director for ''L.A. Noire''.<ref>[https://www.pocketgamer.biz/company/7252/sdp-games/profile/ ''Pocket Gamer'' profile for SDP Games.] Retrieved 23rd Dec '21</ref><ref name="pockett">[http://www.pvg24.com/n23807 ''Pockett Games'' interview with Laurent Benadiba discussing ''ZTA''.] Retrieved 23rd Dec '21</ref> During an interview with ''Pockett Games'' on 18th August 2014, Benadiba discussed a game the company had been developing for the PSP. Called ''ZTA'', Benadiba stated that it was their company's first prototype game. They defined it as "GTA with Zombies on PSP", while also containing music from Weird Al.<ref name="pockett"/><ref>[https://whatculture.com/gaming/10-canceled-open-world-games-you-wish-they-hadnt-killed?page=10 ''WhatCulture'' detailing ''ZTA'' and its cancellation.] Retrieved 23rd Dec '21</ref>

According to Bendiba, SDP Games had been in contact with Rockstar Games, who in the mid-to-late-2000s had released a few games from the ''Grand Theft Auto'' series on the PSP, including ''Liberty City Stories, ''Vice City Stories, and ''Chinatown Wars''.<ref>[https://www.sportskeeda.com/esports/gta-games-psp-ranking-worst-best ''Sportskeeda'' detailing the ''Grand Theft Auto'' games released on the PSP.] Retrieved 23rd Dec '21</ref><ref name="pockett"/> Ultimately, negotiations broke down because SDP and Rockstar were unable to agree on a suitable budget.<ref name="unseen">[https://www.unseen64.net/tag/smack-down-productions/ ''Unseen 64'' article on ''ZTA'', also providing the screenshots.] Retrieved 23rd Dec '21</ref> This forced SDP Games to cancel development of ''ZTA'', focusing instead on releasing games for the Nintendo DS.<ref name="pockett"/>

==Availability==
Seven screenshots of ''ZTA'' were published onto the ''Pockett Games'' story.<ref name="pockett"/><ref name="unseen"/> This therefore indicates that a PSP prototype had been in development, containing typical elements from ''Grand Theft Auto'' titles like driving, being chased by the police, and incorporating third-person shooter mechanics. One screenshot also details the player attacking zombies with a flame thrower. Alas, the unsuccessful pitch to Rockstar Games makes any possible release of ''ZTA'' unlikely.

==Gallery==
<gallery mode=packed heights=200px>
Zta2.jpeg|The player driving a Mini.
Zta3.jpeg|The player getting into a car.
Zta4.jpeg|A police car.
Zta5.jpeg|Two police cars chasing an ambulance.
Zta6.jpeg|The player driving a forklift.
Zta7.jpeg|A female zombie.
</gallery>

==See Also==
*[[Grand Theft Auto (lost build of cancelled Sega Saturn port of action-adventure game; 1997)]]
*[[Grand Theft Auto 64 (lost build of cancelled Nintendo 64 port of action-adventure game; 1999)]]
*[[Grand Theft Auto III and Grand Theft Auto: Vice City (lost builds of cancelled GameCube ports of open-world games; existence unconfirmed; early 2000's)]]
*[[Grand Theft Auto V (lost build of cancelled Wii U port of open-world game; existence unconfirmed; 2013)]]

==External Link==
*[https://sdpgames.com/ SDP Games website.]

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Lost video games]]
[[Category:Completely lost media]]