- Max Payne (character)
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Max Payne Series Max Payne First game Max Payne (2001) Created by Sam Lake[1] Voiced by James McCaffrey (games)[1] Motion capture James McCaffrey (Max Payne 3)[2] Portrayed by [1]
Sam Lake (Max Payne)[1]
Timothy Gibbs (Max Payne 2)[1]
Mark Wahlberg (film)Max Payne is a fictional character from the video game series of the same name, originally created by Remedy Entertainment and 3D Realms. Max is a New York City police officer turned vigilante, notable for his complex use of metaphors and wordplay to describe the world around him within his inner monologues, which often contradict his external responses to characters he speaks with. The first game in the series presents the story as retold by Max from his point of view, while the second one alternates between his and this of Mona Sax.
Contents
Character conception and development
In creation of the Max Payne, 3D Realms "wanted to develop another strong character that would be the foundation for a new gaming franchise, much like we [3D Realms] had done with Duke Nukem."[3] The titular character of Max Payne (originally named Max Heat[4]) was modeled after Sam Lake (Sami Järvi), the writer of the game; Lake also dressed up and played this role for the graphic novel cut-scenes. It is joked that Max had a constipated uncomfortable half-grin, half-sneer expression; this joke is even mentioned in the sequel. For Max Payne 2, however, Lake declined the role, and after extensive casting developers chose actor Timothy Gibbs to be the model for Max Payne.
James McCaffrey was announced to return as Payne's voice actor in the upcoming Max Payne 3 by Rockstar Games, for which he will also provide motion capture for the titular character (at first, the voice actor was announced to be changed as well[5]).[2] However, Payne's look changes significantely in the third game, featuring an older, bald and bearded Max; this move has caused a significant controversy and received an overhelmingly negative reception so far. Recently, however, Rockstar Games presented a slightly new version of the game and changed its scenario to a greater level.[6]
In video games
In the original game, Max Payne (voiced by James McCaffrey) is a fugitive DEA agent and former NYPD detective whose wife Michelle and the newborn daughter were brutally murdered in a home invasion connected with Valkyr drug case. In response, Max goes undercover in the mob and eventually becomes a one-man-army waging a personal war on the crime (in a manner reminiscent of the Marvel Comics character Frank Castle, better known as the Punisher). Max ends up killing more than 300 New York gangsters and conspiracy enforcers, all while on the run from the police who believe he is responsible for the murder of his partner Alex Balder as Max's DEA files were erased, leaving no record of him being an undercover agent.
Max is presented as a man who has been put into a fatalist situation against his will, recalling a classic element of many noir films - the fall guy. Max is very isolated and has a dramatic and stylized sense of reality. He is an extreme introvert and his inner life is largely illustrated through soliloquies describing his feelings about his actions and situation. At the beginning of the game, Max is seen differently, as an extroverted, happily married, smiling man with a bright personality. However, after the murders Max loses his meaning of life, and blindly works toward his only remaining purpose: vengeance.[7] All the while, Payne shows signs of survivor's guilt and makes his situation a paradox - though he considers his life to have ended "in a New York minute", he exhibits a strong desire to live, despite his inner monologue which describes his dark and utterly somber view of the world and his desire to be dead. While desperately wanting to die and see his family again, he also wishes to live and claim his revenge. He is an antihero as he says "I was not one of them, I was no hero". On the other hand, Max is not a morally ambiguous protagonist - he does not kill the cornered Vinnie Gognitti, and tries to get information from the Finito brothers by "playing it Bogart" and not bursting through the door with guns in hand. Max is trying to claim only one thing that is right in his eyes - to avenge his loved ones. However, he has not nullified his feelings - he is taken with Mona Sax first they meet, and befriends Vladimir Lem - a criminal without friends. But this can be judged contrary as well: Max may have latched onto Mona because she let him live and to seek a companion despite his recently deceased wife; and also onto Vlad as he was the enemy of his enemies.
According to Remedy Entertainment's Alan Wake, Max died 13 years after the events of Max Payne 2 (meaning his date of death would be 2016).[1]
Film adaption
Main article: Max Payne (film)In the film, Max Payne, played by Mark Wahlberg, is a NYPD cop that is out for revenge against his family's killer.
When Wahlberg first read the script he thought it was "awesome" but was wary after finding out it was based on a video game.[8][9] While describing his role, Wahlberg has said, "It's probably one of the edgier roles I've played but also the most layered. Here's a very happy guy who worked a dismal job, had a beautiful family. But the beauty in his life was taken away. He just goes on a rampage. It's all driven by emotion."[10] 3D Realms' Scott Miller said Max Payne was poorly portrayed in the film, falling short of the game's standards.[11][12]
Reception
Max Payne was named the best game character of the year by Eurogamer in 2001.[13] In 2011, he was ranked sixth on the list of the gaming's top anti-heroes by machinima.com,[14] and 360 ranked his name fifth on the list of the top manliest character names on Xbox 360.[15] The sex scene between Max and Mona ("actually one of the most fitting ever seen in a video game") was also ranked as the fifth top sexy moment in gaming by Games.net in 2007,[16] while their affair was ranked as sixth on the list of the most disastrous game romances by GamesRadar in 2011.[17] In 2011, readers of Guinness World Records voted Max Payne as the 42nd top video game character of all time.[18]
Max Payne's design changes in Max Payne 3 were met with severe criticism from the fan community as well as the media;[19][20][21][22] UGO.com commented that "his suave, noir look got booted by trailer trash sensibilities" and blamed Obadiah Stane, Bam Bam Bigelow, John McClane and Kerry King for being "most responsible for Max's new style".[23]
References
- ^ a b c d e f "10 Things You Didn't Know About…Max Payne". X360 Magazine. 2010-07-20. http://www.x360magazine.com/10-things-you-didnt-know-about/10-things-you-didnt-know-about-max-payne/. Retrieved 2011-07-07.
- ^ a b "Max Payne 3 Info Dump and Screenshots Inbound « DualShockers". Dualshockers.com. 2011-04-25. http://www.dualshockers.com/2011/04/25/max-payne-3-info-dump-and-screenshots-inbound/. Retrieved 2011-07-07.
- ^ "The Apogee FAQ: Max Payne and Max Payne 2". Rinkworks.com. 2002-11-08. http://www.rinkworks.com/apogee/s/2.8.17.shtml. Retrieved 2011-07-07.
- ^ Remedy Entertainment - Company History
- ^ Gilbert, Ben (2009-06-15). "Max Payne 3 gets different, older voice actor". Joystiq. http://www.joystiq.com/2009/06/15/max-payne-3-gets-different-older-voice-actor/. Retrieved 2011-07-07.
- ^ Podcast, Gspot (2011-04-04). "Max Payne 3 as seen in Edge Magazine – The Game Fanatics". Thegamefanatics.com. http://thegamefanatics.com/max-payne-3-magazine-scans-leaked/. Retrieved 2011-07-07.
- ^ "The Making of Max Payne - Edge Magazine". Next-gen.biz. 2008-11-02. http://www.next-gen.biz/features/making-max-payne. Retrieved 2011-07-07.
- ^ Cortez, Carl (July 25, 2008). "Day 1 - Comic-Con - July 24, 2008: Mark Wahlberg has no aversion to 'Payne'". iFMagazine. Archived from the original on 2008-08-22. http://web.archive.org/web/20080822105538/http://www.ifmagazine.com/new.asp?article=6587. Retrieved 2009-01-30.
- ^ By craveonline (2008-08-01). "Max Payne Comic Con Interview". CraveOnline. http://www.craveonline.com/film/interviews/151100-max-payne-comic-con-interview. Retrieved 2011-07-07.
- ^ Adler, Shawn (2008-06-17). "Mark Wahlberg Calls Max Payne The Most Complex Character He's Ever Played". MTV Movies Blog (MTV). http://moviesblog.mtv.com/2008/06/17/mark-wahlberg-calls-max-payne-the-most-complex-character-hes-ever-played/.
- ^ "Producer of Max Payne Game Not a Fan of Max Payne Movie". 1UP.com. 2008-10-21. http://www.1up.com/news/producer-max-payne-game-fan. Retrieved 2011-07-07.
- ^ Kris Graft (2008-10-20). "3D Realms "Bewildered" by Max Payne Flick | Edge Magazine". Next-gen.biz. http://www.next-gen.biz/news/3d-realms-bewildered-max-payne-flick. Retrieved 2011-07-07.
- ^ "Max Payne Game Awards". 3D Realms. http://www.3drealms.com/max/awards.html. Retrieved 2011-07-07.
- ^ now to post a comment! (2011-01-22). "Ten FTW: Top 10 Gaming Anti-Heroes! (machinima)". Youtube.com. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zLrxOVpFvSY. Retrieved 2011-07-07.
- ^ The Top 10 Manliest Character Names. "The Top 10 Manliest Character Names | 360 Magazine". 360magazine.co.uk. http://www.360magazine.co.uk/360-editors-blog/the-top-10-manliest-names-on-xbox-360/. Retrieved 2011-07-07.
- ^ GamePro Media:. "Pants Optional: Top Sexy Gaming Moments| Net Tens". Games.net. http://www.games.net/article/netten/2/103146/pants-optional-top-sexy-gaming-moments/. Retrieved 2011-07-07.
- ^ The Top 7… disastrous game romances, GamesRadar UK, 2011-02-18
- ^ Guinness Names The Top 50 Video Game Characters Of All Time | Brutal Gamer
- ^ Grant, Christopher (2009-06-09). "Whoa! Max Payne is a total slob". Joystiq. http://www.joystiq.com/2009/06/09/whoa-max-payne-is-a-total-slob/. Retrieved 2011-07-07.
- ^ "Whatever happened to Max Payne?". Den of Geek. http://www.denofgeek.com/games/832022/whatever_happened_to_max_payne.html. Retrieved 2011-07-07.
- ^ Published on 9th April 2011 by Jon Wilcox (2011-04-09). "Critical Hit: Payne Killers | bit-gamer.net". Bit-tech.net. http://www.bit-tech.net/gaming/2011/04/09/critical-hit-payne-killers/1. Retrieved 2011-07-07.
- ^ Words: Tyler Wilde, GamesRadar US. "New Max Payne 3 screenshots feature Payne before and after hair". GamesRadar. http://www.gamesradar.com/xbox360/max-payne-3/news/new-max-payne-3-screenshots-feature-payne-before-and-after-hair/a-201104221621441067/g-20090323144117244095. Retrieved 2011-07-07.
- ^ June 29, 2009 (2009-06-29). "Max Payne 3: Origins of a Bald Man". UGO.com. http://www.ugo.com/games/max-payne-3-origins-of-a-bald-man. Retrieved 2011-07-07.
External links
- Max Payne (character) - The Max Payne Wiki
- Max Payne at the Internet Movie Database
- Max Payne at Giant Bomb
- Max Payne Character Study at UGO.com
Max Payne series Games Other media Characters Max Payne · Mona SaxCategories:- Fictional characters from New York City
- Fictional characters introduced in 2001
- Fictional murderers
- Fictional New York City Police Department detectives
- Fictional vigilantes
- Film characters
- Male video game characters
- Max Payne
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