3DActionPlanet | Articles | Where The Hell Is...Max Payne?
by: Tricia "Kazi Wren" Harris | April 13, 2000

Bright Beginnings

In 1997, an action game from Finish-developer Remedy Entertainment and co-developer Apogee Software/3D Realms Entertainment had its debut at the Electronic Entertainment Expo. Max Payne captured the attention of press and game fans alike with its third-person action and intense story.

Set in a gritty, modern New York City, Max Payne is a hard-boiled cop who is framed for his boss' murder. Marked for death by the mob, the police, and a secret organization - the man obviously has enough to deal with. But when his family is slaughtered, he opens up a can of whoop-ass.

That was the hook that had many in the game industry drooling. But it's the year 2000 and the game is not finished. The idea that this amazing title could fade into oblivion is too much. It screams hours of bullet-blazing action, intricate plotlines, and welcomed sleep deprivation.

So, where the hell is Max Payne?

The two screenshots above are new shots of what the game looks like now, so we've definitely been able to see changes over the course of the game's long development.

Feeling Our Pain

Scott Miller, owner and partner at Apogee Software/3Drealms Entertainment had this to say about the delay:

"Max Payne is taking a long time for the same reason that Half-Life was delayed a year: It takes a long time to do a groundbreaking game right, especially if you're also creating significant new engine technology,"

Various news outlets have reported Max Payne was "overdue," citing a "Fall 1998" release date. But Mike Wilson, chief executive at Max Payne's publisher, Gathering of Developers, said the game never had an exact release date. Instead the game was slated for release "when it's finished."

Does it matter if people think Max Payne missed a release deadline? Not at all, according to Wilson.

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