Whore of the Orient: the canceled sequel to LA Noire and its impact on gamers
Intelligence Summary
- Discover Whore of the Orient, the canceled LA Noire sequel, and what it could have meant for detective games.
In brief
- Whore of the Orient was a canceled game set in 1930s Shanghai.
- The project was developed by Kennedy Miller-Mitchell, with staff from former Team Bondi.
- The game had a unique focus on preventing crimes rather than solving them.
GAME-scanner analysis
Whore of the Orient had the potential to offer a fresh take on the detective genre, with a setting rarely explored in video games. Putting players in the role of a British detective in the turbulent Shanghai of the 1930s would have provided a rich backdrop for storytelling and gameplay. This would not only have created an interesting cultural mix, but also a deeper exploration of themes such as corruption and social injustice. The focus on preventing crimes rather than solving them would have introduced an innovative gameplay mechanic, marking a significant shift in how players interact with the game world.
What does this mean for players?
For gamers who enjoyed LA Noire, the cancellation of Whore of the Orient is a missed opportunity for a sequel that could have introduced new gameplay elements and a unique setting. The development of a language mechanic that would grow with experience also had the potential to deepen the player experience. Innovations like these are crucial to the evolution of the genre, and their absence can lead to stagnation in future detective games.
Timeline
2012: Whore of the Orient is announced as an ambitious project.
2015: The game was originally planned for release.
2016: Cancellation of the project is confirmed.