Savannah (lost build of cancelled Xbox 360 Kinect prototype; 2006-2007)

A lion cub from the prototype, probably the first playable animal in this game.

Status: Lost

Savannah was a Xbox 360 prototype made in 2006 by Rare Ltd. This was one of the many Rare prototypes made for Microsoft to test out their new motion camera for Xbox, which later became what was known as the Kinect. It was also one of the several Rare prototypes that were made, but were either canned or never greenlit in the process. Savannah was the brainchild of artist Phil Dunne, who worked on such previous works as Donkey Kong Country 3 and Killer Instinct 2.

Gameplay

In Savannah, you controlled a lion cub from birth to adulthood, with many challenges and survival and social tactics along the way for you to survive in the more realistic wilds of the African Savanna. It is said to be a natural simulator of sorts (a few elements were set in stone at the time), some even go as far as to say it is like a "realistic Viva Pinata." The game was going for a more realistic style to the animals and was said to have "great graphics," like giving the lions and hyenas a custom shell system. The team didn't know how good the camera was, but tried to work with the motion camera anyhow.

Cancellation

Finally, after a little more than a year in production, Savannah was turned down by Microsoft. Microsoft wanted their new motion camera (later called the Kinect) to be more fitted and accustomed to children rather than a more mature audience. There were also plans to make a "hybrid motion controller" (which was mainly just a one-button controller with a tilt thing on it) for this Kinect game, but that was canned as well.

Availability

Aside from some pictures and a couple videos uploaded to Dailymotion, there is almost nothing about the game on the internet. Some of their work might have been reworked into the Kinect game Kinectimals, but that is just a speculation.

There was also a prototype theme song that was uploaded to YouTube (by JO ThumbsUpMaster) and Soundcloud (by Steve Burke, another ex-staff member from Rare). The final version would have had a proper orchestra and choir. Sometime though between 2012-2017, it was blocked off on YouTube. On August 15th, 2017, though, it was unlisted and back on YouTube. The Soundcloud upload is also currently up.

Gallery

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Videos

Almost all models/animations from Savannah (uploaded by Refurs}.

4 seconds of elephant walking footage (also uploaded by Refurs}.

The prototype theme for Savannah (uploaded by JO ThumbsUpMaster).

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External Links

• A Rare Gamer article on Savannah. Last retrieved 15 Aug '17
• A Eurogamer interview with Donnchadh Murphy, an ex-Rare staff member, who details Savannah and what it was going to be like. Last retrieved 15 Aug '17
• A Dromble interview with Donnchadh Murphy. Last retrieved 15 Aug '17
• A Dutch Rare website that talks about the prototype theme of Savannah. Last retrieved 15 Aug '17
• A YouTube video on Savannah and Killer Instinct 3, which has the link to the theme song of Savannah. Last retrieved 15 Aug '17
• An IGN news segment on an ex-staff member interview, which talks about multiple games including Savannah. Last retrieved 15 Aug '17
• A Did You Know Gaming Extra episode on cancelled Rare games, including Savannah. Last retrieved 15 Aug '17