HITMAN - Briefing #2, interview with Torbjørn V. Christensen and appearance from Fuzk, January 30th 2025
Live hosted by @Combatglue and @Sparx
This is the second stream, briefing #2.
Briefings will be longer than shorts. It is to connect with the community.
Planned today:
- highlights from the community. Scouring on the forum, discord, tiktok…
- checking in with the devs: interview with a dev, a bit of behind the scenes of Sapienza, some ofwhat was dropped…
- a look back at the Splitter
- live interview with a legend of the community, and gameplay from them (Fuzk!)
- at the end of the stream: talking about the future
Misc Informations:
- Season of the Luck is more of left over from Year 4 winter roadmap
- Cannot guarantee anything, but they are aware that the community wants more update to Freelancer, and they are sending it forward
Interview with Dev: Torbjørn V. Christensen
- Been here for 18 years, from Absolution to Freelancer. Currently on 007
- First designing, then lead
- Favourite map is like asking who is your favourite child. Sapienza.
- Involvement:
- He was Sapienza Track Owner. The track owner is usually a level designer.
- He also worked in Hokkaido
- In absolution he was more on checkpoints. In Hitman 2 he was lead, so involved in all maps. Hitman 3 was more of an overview, but he worked again later a bit on each maps.
Deep dive into Sapienza:
- The objective was to have each map have an event.
- Sapienza event was “a normal day at the office for the target”
- Favourite side was to have many way to eliminate the target. And not focus on just “expensive”, complicated elimination, but making the multitude, even the simple ones be present and enjoyable in the design.
- He appreciate the relationship created between Silvio and his mother
- If he was to revisit the map today, he do not think he would do anything different. Some was trimmed and he is happy of its final shape.
- Cut idea was to go back after the mission multiple time:
- Silvio twin brothers returned in the mansion after his death, took control of the city, involved in drugs
- And after them return again to eliminate his third, older brother
- Tombstones at the back of the mansion would be added each time as a running gag
- Cut design:
- a square in the back streets
- a large hotel with an helipad, where the art museum is. Larger than the town hall.
- the shops/bakery/Sanguine were more of a restaurant
A Look back at the splitter
- a look at some behind the scene of the stunts mocap
- a recap of the Webhallen charity event. IO was invited and @Combatglue went there to participate and positively involve the Splitter. With the auction of the ballcap.
@Fuzk moment!
- a long time player
- heavily involved in the community, moderator of Frote Speedrun Community discord, moderator of the subreddit, speedrunner, all around legend around this parts
- highlights the Roulette, and what it brings to the game. Enhancing the improvisation, mastery, and having to react to chaotic situations
- fondly remembers the time they were able to put together Roulette worldwide tournament for the first time.
- Roulette Rivals 16 sign in close today (January 30th)
- the photoshoot contest is also highlighted and showcased. A fourth one might be coming
- shoutout @MrMike and Hitmaps
- he takes the occasion to present a game he is working on.
Shadowveil: Legend of the Five Rings
Go check it out
Talking a bit about the future
- Year 4 saw Hitman go mainstream, this year Hitman will go everywhere.
- part of it is to create a low cost entry point, hence Sapienza Episode, and before it Part 1
- a lot of roadmaps coming
- previous CelebrET will return during the year
- new CelebrET to arrive this year
- another milestone is the 25th anniversary of the franchise. In the latter part of the year, More will be coming. This is still January, They want to keep it a surprise.