2010 was a different time in many ways. The US was partway through the Obama presidency, Lost was just wrapping up its final season, and it was reasonable to not know that much about Marvel's superhero teams, as they hadn't yet become a pop culture phenomenon.

　　In an extensive piece on GameSpot sister site CNET about an Avengers game that was in the works from 2009 until its cancellation in 2011, there are some choice quotes about Captain America that really showcase how differently these characters were viewed before their cinematic outings really blew up--and how the team nearly compensated by arming him.

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　　Charles Henden, one of the developers who worked on the game, recalls how the game would let players control Iron Man, Thor, Hulk, and Captain America--but there was some question of whether players would be satisfied playing as the Captain.

　　"I remember thinking, Captain America? What a reject," Hendren recalls. "I couldn’t imagine a world where Captain America would have his own movies and be a lead character."

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　　Danny Bilson, THQ's executive vice president at the time, felt similarly. "Iron Man can fly, he's got the rays. The Hulk can smash. Thor has the hammer. But Captain America just had this... shield. And it was like a frisbee? It's not gonna cut it."

　　Bilson advocated for giving Steve Rogers a gun so he could compete with the other heroes. He argued that, as a World War II veteran, the character knew how to shoot, and it would make sense. "That was a tension that I remember being really passionate about," Bilson says.

　　Ultimately, Marvel objected--while the game was ultimately cancelled, if it had happened, Captain America would not have carried a gun.

　　Captain America: The First Avenger debuted in 2011 to solid reviews and a strong $370 million worldwide box office--but it arguably wasn't until 2012's The Avengers when Steve Rogers really emerged as a strong leader and an important pop culture figurehead, thanks to Chris Evans' portrayal of the character.

　　Marvel's Avengers, a completely different, third-person game that is not directly based on the films, is out September 4. Check out GameSpot's early Marvel's Avengers review impressions.