Prerelease:The Hobbit (Windows, Xbox, GameCube, PlayStation 2)
This page details prerelease information and/or media for The Hobbit (Windows, Xbox, GameCube, PlayStation 2).
The Hobbit began development in February 2002. It was released in Europe and America in November 2003.
E3 2002 Trailer
This is footage of the E3 2002 Trailer, which was only shown behind closed doors. It's dated around a year and a half before release. It has a few differences that can somewhat be seen.
- Bilbo's health icon was very different.
- Bilbo uses throwing knives and UI for it is present.
- Sting has a different design.
Pre E3 2003 Trailer
This is a trailer for the game from around April 2003, seven months before release. It has many glaring differences.
- The Health HUD is different and updated.
- Bilbo had to equip weapons and items by using the directional buttons.
- Enemy health bars are different.
E3 2003 Footage
This is footage of the game from E3 2003 that was found on a Japanese gaming website. This is dated around six months before release. Three levels were playable in this build: the Shire, Mirkwood and Smaug's Lair.
- The Courage EXP bar above Bilbo's health isn't present. It's counted and presented by an icon instead.
- Bilbo's health is bright red as opposed to dark red in the final game.
- Press Start to Skip text prompt during cutscenes isn't present.
Early Gameplay Footage
This is footage from mid-late 2003. It looks very close to the final game but has some noticeable differences.
- Bilbo's health HUD is different.
- The sound of opening a chest is different with glowing particles, and walking stick does not appear.
- Bilbo is cannot hold his stick and butter churn at the same time in the final build.
- The Shire hounds are present in this build.
- The background music for Hobbiton appears to be absent?
- The Courage Points meter is different.
- The save pedestal rotates, in the final game is stays still.
- Wolves are different.
- Smaug appears to have no treasure attached to his scales all across his body.
