Once due sometime this year and then postponed to "early 2010" after developer BottleRocket was pulled off the project, Namco Bandai's Splatterhouse--a PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 revamp of the classic horror franchise--has been delayed again.

In issuing several new screenshots of the game, Namco today provided word that Splatterhouse is now slated to arrive in Q3 2010--a period that runs from July 1 through September 30. The reasons behind the delay were not specified.

Splatterhouse is now being developed internally at Namco Bandai. BottleRocket, the game's original developer, later shut down after "fighting to keep the doors open."

After seeing both of its most recent projects fall through, independent developer BottleRocket has closed its doors, though its founder is planning a new studio.

"After fighting to keep the doors open for the past six months we have decided to close and move on," studio founder Jay Beard informed GamesIndustry.biz.

The company suffered two crippling blows across the year, as publishing partner Brash imploded, leaving the company with an incomplete and unfunded game based off resident DC Universe speedster The Flash. Then, a few months later, Namco showed up with a U-Haul truck and took off with all of BottleRocket's ... Read more

Namco Bandai's Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 revival of horror-action classic Splatterhouse has been pushed back to an "early 2010" release, the company told Siliconera.

"This will give us time to polish and incorporate all the content to deliver a top notch game worthy of this classic video game franchise," Namco later explained to Joystiq.

The action game was originally being developed by external studio BottleRocket, with Namco pulling the team off the project earlier this year over an alleged "performance issue." BottleRocket then fired back, claiming it had not missed any "contractually defined milestones" and suggesting "Namco's management of the title was inept."

Splatterhouse is now being developed by Namco's internal Afro Samurai team, with the company having contracted some BottleRocket employees to help finish the game.

Original Splatterhouse developer BottleRocket Entertainment today shot back at former publisher Namco Bandai, alleging that Namco was "inept" in its handling of the project.

BottleRocket was abruptly dismissed from Splatterhouse development last month. Since then, Namco has publicly defended the move, stating that there was a "performance issue" with BottleRocket.

But BottleRocket has now issued its own version of the story, defending its performance record while accusing Namco of mismanagement.

"We too have to be careful of what we say since publishers have to worry about their 'image' and will sue small, independent studios who bark back at them too loudly," begins a BottleRocket statement issued to Gamasutra.

Continues BottleRocket:

Game development contracts are put in place to protect the publisher and their interests. Within these contracts are a series... Read more

Splatterhouse publisher Namco Bandai has defended its decision to remove original developer BottleRocket Entertainment from the project, saying it was done over a "performance issue" with the studio.

Following the removal, BottleRocket issued a statement saying that Namco "showed up with a U-Haul truck, took all [the team's] assets (dev kits, etc.) and informed management that the title was being pulled from Bottlerocket."

But Namco says the U-hauling was necessary due to quality concerns over the game, a revival of the 1988 arcade action hit.

"The only reason why publishers pull the project out from the developer is when the developer isn't really meeting the requirements," said Namco vice president Makoto Iwai to Gamasutra. "So, unfortunately, this was the case."

He continued: "I have to be very careful so we don't make any direct comment on it because whatever we say, people will try to be on the developer side. You know, 'The developer is an independent developer trying hard, and evil publishers are trying to get rid of the business by doing whatever they feel like.' That's not the case. I just want to be 100 percent clear. There was a performance issue."

Update: Namco Bandai has confirmed that BottleRocket Entertainment is no longer involved with Splatterhouse, which is still due on PS3 and Xbox 360 this year.

"We have decided to part ways with BottleRocket Entertainment but we are committed to bringing Splatterhouse to the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 later this year," Namco told Kotaku. "At this time, we are not ready to discuss specific development details about the game and wish BottleRocket the best of luck in their future endeavors."

No reason was given for the sudden shift, though tipsters tell Kotaku that the game has suffered from missed deadlines and content that didn't meet Namco's expectations.

Meanwhile, BottleRocket has issued a statement of its own, telling Gamasutra that, "last Friday, Namco showed up with a U-Haul truck, took all their assets (dev kits, etc.) and informed management that the title was being pulled from Bottlerocket."

Original: Publisher Namco Bandai has released a new trailer for Splatterhouse, with rumors that developer BottleRocket has been pulled from the... Read more

In commemoration of Halloween, publisher Namco Bandai has issued a new trailer and screenshots from BottleRocket's PS3 and Xbox 360 revival of Splatterhouse.

Due out in 2009, the latest entry in the famed ultra-gory action franchise puts players in the role of college student Rick Taylor, who must don the Terror Mask and rip enemies limb from limb in order to save his girlfriend from "a legion of gruesome monsters."

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Namco Bandai today officially announced Splatterhouse, an action title based on the 1988 arcade hit.

In development for Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 by BottleRocket Entertainment, Splatterhouse will have players assuming the role of college student Rick Taylor.

Faced with the common collegiate quandaries such as a missing girlfriend and "horrific other-worldly creatures," Rick does the only logical thing by putting on the "Terror Mask," transforming himself into a "juggernaut of pure violence." You can't make this stuff up.

A melee combat system that includes grapples and combos will provide the means to crush monsters. Weapons such as the classic 2x4 board, as well as the limbs and heads of enemies will serve to bolster Rick's arsenal.

The game will not feature a health bar--instead, as enemies literally rip Rick to shreds, the Terror Mask must be used to regenerate him, "allowing players to watch in gory detail as bones, veins, muscles and skin return to his body in real-time."

Splatterhouse is expected to arrive on Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 sometime in 2009.