My pitch to Take2:
"It's gonna be a Marvel game!"
"Wow! One of the movies?"
"What? No. An esoteric supernatural storyline from the 90s. Me and 7 other people LOVED it."
"But-"
"And it's turn-based."
"Like your-"
"No, not like XCOM."
"Wait-"
"Cards baby! No one will hate cards!"
Midnight Suns is 100% the game I wanted it to be. Take Two and 2K gave us all the time and resources we needed to make the game of our dreams. There is a free trial now on Xbox and PS Plus Premium, so go play it. No excuses at this point.
I love
@LastChanceU
, but my wife was appalled at the coach's language. So I paid Coach Brown to tell
@jennyleigh
she's a great wife and mother. 10/10 Coach Brown will be handling all my communications from this point forward.
Random XCOM tidbit: War of the Chosen was originally about Giant Mechs that multiple soldiers could ride on, plus customizable interceptors and air combat. Hence the codename "Ozzy" (as in heavy metal har, har.) Then we put a prototype giant mech in game and couldn't see shit.
One year (and a couple days) since Midnight Suns. Despite the downs and ups that followed, I love this game. I still view the chance to be a part of the Marvel universe as an incredible gift. So here's a tiny gift back: a few small easter eggs (out of hundreds)
Feeling challenged is a critical component to playing XCOM. But challenge is not objective. My only regret is that we didn't implement MORE difficulty levels.
Well, there it is. Midnight Suns is the game that my team and I have been working on for a while. This is my dream project. I get to retell my favorite story from the comics as a new Tactics RPG set in the Marvel universe.
#DarknessFalls
#MidnightSuns
When Hell awakens, only they can stop it. Rise up and join a darker order of heroes to defeat Lilith before the Darkhold is complete.
#DarknessFalls
when Marvel's Midnight Suns arrives March 2022.
Ha! Somewhere in the multiverse this exact game is being made. And yes, "Triumph and Torment" is one of the best comics in the marvel universe and one of my absolute favorites. The Hunter and Doom and their relationships with their mothers, a lot to talk about there...
Here’s the very original pitch doc for my first swing at XCOM, likely 2005 or so. Found it cleaning out old work junk. I use the phrase “Esprit de corps” in the doc so no wonder this version got canned.
This would have been a nightmare for us on Midnight Suns. I understand the desire (I think) but movies and games are so, so different. And the pressure this puts on the amazing voice actors in the games space? Different universes. And that’s how they should/will stay.
My heart is with those developers at DICE. Maybe an unpopular sentiment, but crates aside, hundreds of people put their hearts and souls into a work they believed in, shame that's overshadowed.
Are video games art?
Deadpool goes live on January 26th, and he has a pretty fun mechanic that makes him insanely powerful IF you use him just right.
All new story missions, enemies, and more. And yes, a tiny swimsuit.
Our camera angle is not meant for 30 foot mechs, apparently. Let alone the pathing, etc. SO... quick pivot to a Nemesis style enemy, and the voice cast of Star Trek: TNG and the rest is history.
I’m fine with “fuck”, I say it all the time. But who has slurs in their back pocket? Who, in the heat of the moment, tosses out the n-word? Racist or moron. Choose one.
If you like turn-based tactics, it’s hard to imagine a better time to be playing games. XCOM sure maybe, Hearthstone of course, but now Into the Breach, Slay the Spire... good games breed better games and as gamers we all win
Just so you know, I, too, have felt a flush crawl up my neck as I clenched my jaw and finally yelled "Oh F*** you!" at the screen as an important 80+ shot missed. And really, who was I mad at? I was mad at me. So when I get the rage tweets, I sympathize. I really do.
Trying to explain to my five year old why she can’t watch Deadpool.
“He’s funny, but uses really bad words.”
Her eyes get wide. “I bet he even says the D word.”
Me, alarmed: “Which one?”
Her, in a whisper: “d-u-m”
“Ah. Yes. Even that.”
If you ever enjoyed "Long War", the semi-pro mod for both XCOM and XCOM 2, that team is now making their very own game, and kickstarting it at
We're always better off when great people make great games, so please give it a look.
Deadpool shows up tomorrow, January 26th! He's a blast, I promise. He's hilarious, his story missions are fun, the cinematics are awesome, and his abilities are amazing and we're probably designed by a genius.
Congratulations to
@M_Nauta
and the entire team (including many XCOM 2 veterans) that worked on this game. This is the first XCOM I’ve been able to experience purely as a player and it’s been very exciting to see. And look at that release date!
Welcome to City 31. Humans, aliens and hybrids now live together in a fragile post-war peace but conspiracy groups threaten to upend it all. You must stop them in XCOM: Chimera Squad, a new combat experience in the XCOM universe.
Out April 24 on Steam:
Bittersweet, as Storm joins the Midnight Suns (Awesome), but that really is my last work with Firaxis. No other design I'd rather go out on than one of my favorite characters of all time, Ms. Ororo Munroe. (Her Stormshield ability is Omega levels of OP.)
LIGHT JAKE: Jesus, they’ll shove Battle Royale into anything.
DARK JAKE: Fortnite makes what?! Ok, so there’s an ever shrinking ring of chryssalids and...
If you enjoyed XCOM or Midnight Suns, they wouldn't have happened without
@gsdeangelis
. I love you like a brother, Garth. Can't wait to see what you do next.
After 14 years, I’ll be leaving Firaxis. I couldn’t have asked for more dedicated teammates in bringing the XCOM franchise and Marvel’s Midnight Suns to life. Working on these franchises have truly been a dream come true! Much ❤️ to the players - all of this was for you.
I don't care about the music industry. I do care about the toxic casual racism, misogyny and homophobia that permeates multiplayer chat. It is, without a doubt, the worst thing about gaming. Ban em. Ban all of em. Thanos snap those assholes.
@SolomonJake
ya, ill believe you truly feel that way when you put that attitude toward blacks in the music industry who say that in nearly every song they make making a living from it. for some reason you only act offended when whites say that.
In honor of the great reviews coming in for Midnight Suns, here's me as the Hulk for Halloween in 1983.
Thanks to my teammates on this journey, those still at Firaxis and those who've moved on. Couldn't be prouder, couldn't be happier.
ME: Taxes are the obligation of every good citizen to support this great country.
"You owe the Federal government a balance of XXXX on your latest filing-"
ALSO ME: BURN IT DOWN! BURN THIS WHOLE MOTHERFUCKER DOWN!
If I *did* have a favorite hero...
Magik 's abilities are some of the wildest in game. Incredibly powerful, but requires some serious tactics to use them to their full potential.
I've been reading New Mutants since I was a kid. It's been a dream to help bring Illyana to life.
These aliens were a polarizing add to X2. I was more proud of these designs than any enemy I’d done before. Then they were released and a lot of people raaaaaaged. Ever a learning experience, this job. (Still proud, but I accept I was off target for most)
So October 9th is the 6 year anniversary of XCOM: Enemy Unkown,
@gsdeangelis
and
@GregFoertsch
you guys up for doing something special? Maybe something to thank the amazing fans who’ve stuck with us these last 6 years?
I missed playing Midnight Suns, so I went to fire it up on Steam and realized, to my shock, that I didn't actually own it. The good news is that the legendary version is on sale for 40 bucks if you're looking for a deal.
I can't say what we're working on. But I can say that your jaw might just drop (in a good way) if you knew. Talented Devs, please come join our talented, passionate, and most importantly, friendly and respectful team:
@Christopher_Odd
With my rapidly dwindling authority, I'll use my powers to anoint you an honorary Midnight Suns team member. Your videos were incredible, and frankly your feedback and analysis helped me as a designer.
When your daughter's favorite animal is a flying cheetah with rainbow wings, you commission a crazy talented (freelance) artist like
@TFischConcept
, so the impossible imaginings of a 9 year old can be brought to life on her birthday:
Look, fair warning to these dudes: in XCOM we develop most of our tech by shooting things, torturing things, and then cutting up the bodies. I don’t know if that leads to better routers or whatever but you’re XCOM now. Grab a rifle and a bone saw.
In XCOM 2, the idea of the Avatar as a playable enemy came along pretty late. So we repurposed a model from our ADVENT lineup that was going to be called the Psi-Witch. And that's why the Avatar looks like that.
#MinorXCOMFacts
Next Tuesday, October 9, 2018, we’re launching the XCOM 2: War of the Chosen – Tactical Legacy Pack DLC on Steam. This DLC will be free to download for all owners of XCOM 2: War of the Chosen on PC on Steam until 12:59pm ET on December 3, 2018.
Happy to see everyone reacting so positively to Chimera Squad. Again, a big congrats to
@M_Nauta
, the Lead Designer, and the entire Chimera Squad team. I taught Mark everything he knows. Luckily, he ignored half of it.
The grotto in the Abbey was always an homage to the X-Men pool party from Jim Lee. (Also, we used to have bikinis and speedos for all characters but we pulled them at the last minute as they were a bit... much.)
War of the Chosen is my favorite game that I've ever worked on. It's the first time a game ever felt "done." An amazing team firing on all cylinders. Plus, a secret cameo from Sean Bean. (Yes he dies.)
Look, you drop a racial slur while streaming you get booted. I’m no shrinking violet but is avoiding slurs THAT fucking hard? What the hell are these people like off the air?
Hey, if you’ve never played XCOM 2 before, it’s free. Some people really like it. Plus, it’s different from a lot of games.
I mean, what do you have to lose? (Actually you could lose at XCOM 2, I guess.)
PUBG owner Krafton wants to sell you NFTs for a metaverse that doesn't exist
The company hopes to create NFT avatars that can be used "in the metaverse in the future”
Tonight's episode of "Forged in Fire" is a
@midnightsuns
themed episode, so tune in because it's pretty damn fun. Also includes a low wattage cameo that might finally win my father's respect.