Redesigning Hitman's Agent 47

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We talk to Hitman's lead writer Michael Vogt about creating a contemporary Agent 47, and the world of assassination that surrounds him.
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Filmed & Colored by Jeremy Jayne
Hosted & Edited by Danny O'Dwyer
Music Used:
Count Down to Death: us.audionetwork.com/browse/m/...
A World of Assassination - Hitman OST: • Hitman Soundtrack: 01....
Ticking: us.audionetwork.com/browse/m/...
Nocturnal: www.audionetwork.com/browse/m...

[@brapmaster]

It just occurred to me what a privilege it is to have this kind of insight into the development process behind games, and for free no less. Thank you, Noclip team, and thank you patrons for funding it.

[@ouroldhouse3674]

Yeah, it's the sort of thing that back in the day you could only get on dvd packed with with special editions of games.

[@jakejutras5420]

@@ouroldhouse3674 true, but even then there were certain things that wouldn't be said to protect interests. In this method I think we get a clearer picture.

[@TheAlison1456]

Oh yeah. It's really a wonder. Development insights are a Rarity. Some games have dev blogs (which are hard to follow and go back and read everything plus they might be too technical etc etc) but certainly not big/medium budget games.

[@ZRovas117]

"Hitman is not really anyone himself, which makes it easy for him to be everyone else." I love how that single quote can literally define Agent 47.

[@TwinPeaksPL2001]

47 likes... Sorry i'm not gonna destroy this perfection

[@Dominian1]

I really like Dexter and 47. Hearing the idea of having a moral center outside yourself to give motivation etc. made some personal things clear for me.

[@sniffleblox2354]

6:20 if anyone is wondering

[@apictureoffunction]

@ nothing wrong about appreciating the fact that the writer can perfectly distill the main character into a single sentence. Not all writers can so easily encapsulate their protagonist, so yeah, it's worth giving props for.

[@Grege_dome34]

9

[@manicmanicmanicmanic5082]

"Gameplay always comes first." What a refreshing thing to hear in this industry, holy shit.

[@jakejutras5420]

And from the Story Lead no less.

[@tmas47]

@@jakejutras5420 47 likes. I like that.

[@LouSassol69er]

Hitman is the most replayable game if you have the patience and skill to play it. My fav game of the year. 👍

[@jorobotify]

The Chodester agreed I actually wasn’t a fan of the style before but after giving it a chance and learning maps and opportunities I grew to love it a lot and recognized how much effort the devs put into the maps and AI.

[@-pressxtostart-]

You dont even need skill to enjoy this game, only done one SASO in H2 and i just love throwing expired spagetti at people i made loads of videos just messing around 😁

[@afrocoolio25]

I have 100s of hours on the Hitman 2016 and Hitman 2 reincarnation of the game. I think the modern game became so replayable because of how many ways there are to manipulate the map and manipulate the characters within the map. Sometimes I spend a solid 25mins just walking around scouting or exploring thinking of ways to do things or plotting, planning for future runs.

[@Dominian1]

I spend hundreds of hours on Hitman and Hitman 2. It's really amazing in terms of getting the classic Hitman experience with the guide story missions, then learning all the paths to get around in suit only and then to do the challenges. Even shooting is excellent fun and I often try to kill every single guard in the Paris level, but if any of them fire a shot at me I restart and if an alarm is triggered I also restart. It's like an hour of headshot meditation I can watch movies next to. It's really satisfying when you burst into onto the terrace and headshot everyone there without them running away or to go into the auction area and kill everyone before they react and run away. You gotta be really fast to do that, so it's a fun challenge and I love the game for working so great as a sandbox that us players can come up with all of these approaches to a level in addition to tons of cool challenges provided by IOI. Games as a service is an absolute blessing to Hitman. Alway keeping it fresh with new suits and challenges. Best game of the decade. (and if you care to know, the last decade it was Dragon Age :D )

[@spaceddoggo3647]

You don't need patience on the game, you just need the patience for installing the game for it's size.

[@TilSkywalker]

another thing that those documentations showed me, that Hitman 2016 had some great music!

[@tollieman5750]

Yeah, I really wish they kept Hitman 2016's menu music for hitman 2, or at least gave you the option to change the menu music to that of 2016

[@ShellComics]

This is now my favorite series that Noclip has done! Absolutely loved it. The Witcher series is a close second.

[@sietserijks]

agreed

[@swafsal]

what about doom ?

[@RustlessPotato]

@@swafsal yeah, the doom series was great as well. That hugo dude really impressed me in how he "gets it"

[@sietserijks]

​@@swafsal That one was good aswell but for me hitman and the witcher are more interesting than doom, witcher 3 is also my favorite game

[@avalacos]

completely agree. also the hitman reboot and hitman2 were sitting in my steam library, now getting into them

[@Radorian]

As an old hitman fan I think they nailed it with the new direction.

[@TotallyToonsTV]

5:01 Really made me laugh. That is perfect 47 deadpan humour at it's finest.

[@andrewduong2740]

Then the camera zooms away and you're automatically given the option to knock the guard out

[@BreakfastAtNoon]

All I want is one question answering.. why did they take that subtle tilt out his head when he walks, he used to slightly tilt it to the left like some serial killer OCD.

[@kaidon39]

Oh, damn, you just reminded me of what really triggered in the past games! I've long forgotten about that...

[@MMaRsu]

Because now he's a hero! A inspiring example LOL. But seriously I actually miss the kind of darker tone of 47's character

[@jlupilli]

How many times can I "thumbs up" this comment. That was the first thing I noticed when I played season 1. That is such an iconic animation, I even do it when I walk down the stairs lol.

[@ouroldhouse3674]

I had a mate that used to walk like that years ago. He said he'd only do it when he felt like people were looking at him lol.

[@MomoKanjaki]

Like in Hitman 2: silent assassin?

[@AllThingsHitman]

You saved the best for last. Thank you for the phenomenal effort with this series. You granted the Hitman community a very rare glimpse into the hub of Hitman and for that we will be forever thankful. Hopefully you can return and make another series later down the line.

[@THERUSSIANONE]

The main menu theme never fails to remind me of The Bourne Conspiracy movies

[@packatrix]

The Embassy scene in the first (and best IMO) Bourne film is always in the back of my mind when playing. It could be a Hitman level... the grabbing of the security guard's earpiece, the ripping of the map of the wall... The scaling of the exterior... Damn I want an Embassy level... and a massive Cruise Ship level.

[@jakejutras5420]

@@packatrix there is a level with an Embassy in Hitman 2016.

[@dls182]

To me it sounds heavily inspired by the House of Cards main theme. Both are great

[@packatrix]

@@jakejutras5420 Marrakesh - of course! very different style to Bourne sadly!

[@GoodCatholicBoy]

This series has been like Hitman itself. Like in each game, I'm left wanting more after the end but it's fine because it's so damn replayable

[@recht_voor_zijn_raap5506]

Please don't stop making these. Easily some of the best game documentaries on KZbin.

[@ind4730]

Wow I never clicked so fast!! This is my favourite series

[@TheEternalOuroboros]

Holy shit i never knew that Bangkok interaction between the targets that's amazing!

[@packatrix]

There's a moment where you can toss Cross of the glass roof and he will land RIGHT next to the lawyer... and he will quite often not even notice. It seems odd that they didn't allow for the same double kill you can get in Paris. :)

[@Blue127]

HUGE Hitman 2/Blood money Fan here. I just started my first playthrough of Hitman(2016) just as this YT series started.. Now I'm on Hitman2 (few episodes in).. Gotta say I'm absolutely HOOKED on these titles again. The Vigilante vibes, to the dark humor, then the challenges, are all keeping me playing. Suit only challenges are the freaking BEST. Feeling stylish xD Really badass you guy offer the original look all these years later. Thank you so much for all your work iOI and NoClip. I can't wait to finish Hitman2 & get hyped for the 3rd entry!

[@Blue127]

@@Obie422 Played them all man great series. Silent Assassin was my 1st. Went back recently and the game is pretty damn difficult in the later missions

[@fivedollardare]

7:00 The subtitles for Vogt say "luminaries of dissonance" but I think he's actually referring to "ludonarrative dissonance". EDIT: It's been fixed.

[@luuketaylor]

Those must be some unique luminaries...

[@mattmundt5615]

It's kind of funny when people who work on the Hitman 2 project talk about the various ways you can take out targets - and then they go '...saying that out loud it does sound a little terrible, huh?' They all seem like really fantastic people - It's been incredible seeing some of the processes behind the games. Thank you for another spectacular documentary!

[@nicopicorico]

All the series is missing is Jesper Kyd’s music. Please bring them back!

[@apictureoffunction]

Jesper Kyd is great, but this trilogy already has phenomenal music in its own right

[@paradoxpizza]

9:00 “but gameplay always comes first” Idk but I love that statement

[@IlyanaFan]

It's funny, playing the game it did feel like I was playing in a Bond film.

[@-pressxtostart-]

The way i play it feels like im in jonny english film 😂😂😂

[@pineapplepizza4016]

That was quite prophetic since they are working on a Bond game now.

[@staranger5598]

This is so valuable to me, really love this initiative! looking forward to more

[@KingAtlon]

This was fascinating! The narrative director is clearly an incredibly brilliant person. Awesome job Noclip!

[@Dribbleondo]

5:10 You had *great* restrain from whacking that guy.

[@levihenze9297]

I love that the Ark Society theme is that intentional. Just great stuff.

[@secretscarlet8249]

Love love these documentaries. Didn't realize that indeed, you went from exploring new money to low crime to old money. Rather fascinating how much thought they put in these games. Thanks for these documentaries!

[@SamuelTBrooks]

11:05 Massive respect for setting out to create an explicitly Marvel-inspired interconnected Universe, and only saying that was the plan after they've already demonstrated they could actually do just that, rather than trying to make that the main selling point of the game.

[@kayeplaguedoc9054]

Thanks for these documentaries. The recent Hitman 2 is the game that made me fall in love with the series. I had kind of experienced it before, I played the first one years ago and didn't like it... then I gave Blood Money a chance since a friend raved about it and I started to see the appeal, but just couldn't get along with it. But Hitman 2 was the first one I was really patient with and after giving it that patience I bought the first season and Blood Money again and finally saw what made the series stand out for so many. You really do just have to give it some time. It's a game that makes trial and error fun, largely because of just how experimental you can get.

[@NikolajCarlson]

Good job Noclip. I have been waiting for this one since you began, and my god was it worth it. Was waiting for every episode because it was just so interesting

[@AdamBartholomew]

This one of the best development video series I've ever seen, amazing work. Can't wait for the next topic!

[@KadayiPolokov]

Good stuff I've always assumed that there's much more interconnectedness underpinning things, so good to have that confirmed. I really dig on listening to the small talk that permeates the game and wondering if these mentioned characters are going to re-appear down the road.

[@MrBraddles3128]

I swear to Christ, I thought the title said “Retiring” and I almost lost my shit.

[@theamazingjake679]

If It actually said that I would lose everything to my marbles to my shit

[@iFlu]

That was really an interesting series, same as always I want more episodes ^^'. Will we get the extended interviews?

[@roberthedblad3044]

Thank you for making this! I love Hitman, especially the newer ones. Listening to the creators talking about the game has brought yet another dimension to it all. Interesting and entertaining!

[@jacquesca]

Just when I think the best episode in the series has been released, the next one is uploaded. Incredible work.

[@figgehn_]

Someone IOI lost is Torben Ellert, since he left the ellsuive target has gone dark, love that concept, and accutally like that the targets is coming back, but since he left, it feels like no new elusives is coming :(

[@Rammstone86]

Thank you for making this, I really enjoyed watching them

[@shaunbates1297]

Excellent video and series Danny and co. Love Hitman and IOI, you guys are awesome ;D

[@DanteBogdan]

Well done with this series Danny (and camera guy)!

[@dochasbeo5468]

11:02 breaks my heart. I don't think I could finish this mission if I saw this... too well done..!

[@benjaminm3180]

Hitman 2016 and the subsequently released Hitman 2 in 2018 have their spots as my favorite games of all time for good reason. However, this mini documentary series deepened my understanding even further as to what it is that makes a Hitman level so inviting to explore and experiment in. To say I’m coming away with a sense of renewed awe and gratitude for the work IOI has done would be an understatement. This was a joy to watch. As many are saying, thank you to Noclip and all of the kind people who funded and conducted this documentary project. I couldn’t be more excited for Hitman 3 and whatever IOI has in store for us beyond.

[@TohirT]

I love the level of details to which they think it through. It takes time but man it is rewarding when players get to experience the game!

[@BronzeApparathus]

I gotta say, that trailer for the 2016 game was superbly made.

[@Outplayedqt]

Thought this was supposed to be a 4-part series? Either way, glad this doesn't seem to be the final one :) Always loved your videos but this Hitman series is what got me to finally sub.

[@Outplayedqt]

Azra Rillian it’s just really odd to end this series abruptly. No conclusion statement(s), just ending on a story/narrative-specific sentence. Can’t be mad I guess, cuz this series was super enlightening.

[@malic_zarith]

I really want to dual wield the silverballers again. It's not because I want easier combat, but 47 has always used both Silverballers at once. I have 2 silverballers, and yet I can only hold one at a time, why?

[@tobi-mr4zb]

just finished the fist game and did the first mission in second part. didn´t play a hitman game since the first one and i´m having an absolute blast. love the game. love the noclip series aswell. great stuff

[@paradoxacres1063]

*Awesome* work, Noclip. Well done *:)*

[@FuzzySamurai]

Hitman is slowly but surely reviving the stealth genre. and with singleplayer trend on the rise I'm absolutely excited to see the genre thrive again.

[@mja6305]

I just loved the mission "another life" it was well thought and fun and plus that it brought me back to the mission " a new life " from blood money. I'd love to see more inspired levels from older Hitman games in the next entry

[@NariKims]

They mentioned The Expanse!!!! ❤ Love this series!

[@waraidako]

Earth must come first! Get the skinnies out of here! :D

[@NariKims]

@@waraidako I want to watch BSG again now. 😅

[@waraidako]

@@NariKims One of the best sci-fi shows ever created.

[@matt5842]

these made me appreciate Hitman series so much more

[@munkholt]

This series has been so great.

[@electrical_blast]

For some reason over the last few days I’ve become obsessed with hitman, and even though I probably won’t play the older games(because I can’t play past gen due to having only a ps5 and a really old laptop) I’ve brought the whole world of assassination triology and plan to play them all when I’m back home in a week or two😃😃😃

[@wozza3452]

I love these series of documentaries

[@bronzebeetle8147]

This series was so much fun! I'm thinking I'll have to remove these games from my steam wishlist once and for all and put them in my steam library instead.

[@thundergod97]

Nice seeing some about the later missions of Hitman 2. I haven't played Whittleton Creek or Ark Society yet. Looking forward to them. I definitely favor the stealth gameplay more. Even when I know I don't have to stay unseen or not kill non-targets...I still try to do it. I'll even go to extreme lengths to not be seen...like clearing out entire areas just so I can accomplish my objective unseen. I'm definitely enjoying the story and the world built by the games. And I loved this series of docus on it. :D

[@tljoshh]

I feel I could listen to Michael Vogt talk for hours, everything he was saying was exceptionally compelling

[@pallepirat]

Oh my what a fantastic series Fantastic to have such Deep dive into io Interactive (a Brilliant developer) the only thing annoying is that the series is done Thank you very much

[@Wladislav]

47 Looking very distinct and still somehow being able to assume anyone's identity will never stop being funny.

[@packatrix]

Especially in Bangkok and Hokkaido... It's nice that each facility's cleaning, restaurant and security staff are so willing to employ non natives... there's seems to be a bit of a height discrepancy... 47 must be a dab hand at lowering hemlines and cuff lengths.

[@Reliken]

I've loved this entire series, but my number one favorite part of The whole thing is learning that one of my favorite characters from one of my favorite IPs, Amos from the Expanse, was a bit of an influence on the modern 47. Incredible.

[@avedinamling8320]

excellent documentary.. i love the hitman franchise, its what got me into gaming in the first place with the Hitman 2: Silent Assassin, It was the game i've re-played over 10 times at the time that i was too broke to afford the latest games. Nonetheless, more power to you guys IO Interactive, wish you'll triumph as CDPR.

[@gnarkillguch]

I don't like how people think video game stories were bad or somehow lacking before Last of Us came out. There were tons of great game stories for years before LoU was even a concept.

[@andreseh87]

And Last of Us story is alright at best.

[@JessieGender1]

I don't even really play the Hitman games but these Noclip docs on it are fascinating. Great work to Noclip and to the Hitman team.

[@DailypursuitNetNews]

Brilliant doc. Damn. So good.

[@TrylleBanjo]

Loving this series.

[@elFulberto]

Paris: Oh, interesting. Sapienza: Huh? America: Fuck this. Bangkok: Aaah! My reactions exactly.

[@JoJo-xp6wr]

Kudos to David Bateson for voicing our favourite assassin for two decades!

[@AleksandrStrizhevskiy]

I really enjoyed the Expanse reference. Amos is such an interesting character.

[@MarkArandjus]

As much as I enjoyed the dark twisted tone of Absolution that was somewhere between Fincher and Tarantino, I couldn't be more in love with the sophisticated and mature spy thriller tone of the new Hitman games. That reveal trailer is one of my all time favorite trailers. And making Diana, who was previously just a way to deliver missions, almost the main character was a great idea that feels natural evolution from Blood Money and Absolution, she and 47 are literally and figuratively a killer duo!

[@Dude902]

Please make more, I don't want the Hitman 2 docuseries to end.

[@vodac1206]

You guys should do introversion software next. How they went from Indie hard knocks, to the super successful prison architect, and then selling their baby to paradox. I imagine there's an awesome story there.

[@JD_and_Gaming]

Any plans on doing a documentary on Devil May cry? It’s like my favorite franchise, and I quite enjoy your stuff felt like it might be lit if you tried it

[@-pressxtostart-]

Hey you may have seen but please if you like game docs, check nick930 he did a brilliant history of devil may cry 😁👍

[@StrawBerry-ur9ej]

IOI: Please make the rating system more interesting

[@matthewlumibao7057]

7:04 I just pieced it together. There's this Amox Dexter npc in Hokkaido

[@shredd5705]

Very interesting to listen to this guy (The lead writer). I'm glad they went this route with the franchise, it's perfect... gameplay first indeed

[@HarpKenneth]

Eyes Wide Shot without the Sex, Best description so far :)

[@mantrox]

Just so happens I watched the film for the first time couple of days ago... and it immediately clicked

[@sigmapopsical272]

I love how he spoke about 47 being superhuman, but not quite, it's his ability to take in information that makes him deadly. That and his reflexs and speed of course. So intreasting

[@Markom3D]

This game is an amazing game. I wish I could do level design like this

[@sora7750]

Love the games love the stories best games I've ever played I love the thought put into them love the wide variety of options and choices love the hand to hand costumes exc love the game

[@MrXCQT]

7:07 Less known? Best show ever made!

[@arguekayes]

Hitmans story is one of my favorite things about the recent trilogy. I rushed through H3 after release just to watch the Cutscenes and see what happened since H2 DLC

[@Cygnus0lor]

They are so aware of the feeling of their game and the mechanics and how to change them. I fucking love IOI

[@USAS12]

I give this video a Silent Assassin rating 👍

[@MrFjordbak]

Wrong, this video has way too many witnesses to be ranked Silent Assassin!

[@phoenixwright2322]

I give it “Armed madman”

[@wolfcola6329]

Did they remove ratings?

[@MissouriMatt54]

Thank you for the video.

[@cameronmunro1724]

Michael Vogt kinda looks like 47 with hair. It’s something about his blue eyes and forehead

[@lightchipster]

47s appearance is loosely based on his voice actor David Bateson too

[@acid1787]

In case you didn't know 47 was bald because in the first game the developers couldnt be arsed to get hair his hair physics right. So they were lazy and gave up and made him bald.

[@NicBrandon]

I never knew about that Bangkok opportunity, I definitely need to try that

[@sietserijks]

Great serie

[@LeoVader]

they nailed the superspy james bond vibe. definitely felt that throughout both games

[@evgeniygerkus9242]

I absolutely love this game series. I have been a die hard fan of Hitman from very beginning, and as much as I appreciate what the game has become from gameplay perspective (definitely the best it ever was), I gotta say, that by changing narrative direction and atmosphere they killed a part of what made hitman so great. I don't remember 47 ever having an internal struggle over not being able to fit in with the others because of his psychopath nature. In silent assassin he accepted what he was and I wish they left it at that. I have never, over the course of 7 games, felt a need to sympathize with the character, because I knew that he was essentially a human version of terminator, which was presisely the thing that made him so cool. When I buy a Hitman game I don't want to play as Jason Bourne, Dexter or James Bond, I want to play as agent 47, a cold, calculating super assassin, who has no doubts or second thoughts about what he does or why he does it.

[@karan_hiremath]

Love the reference to Amos!

[@IRWPD]

Need to show this to my brother. He is a huge Hitman fan.

[@jaydamalley3398]

This Vogt guy reminds me of Racter, from Shadowrun: Hong Kong. Kind of a coincidence you got to talk to him about psychopaths and empathy. Speaking of which...maybe a trip to Harebrained Studios would be a good idea? _"The re-imagening of Shadowrun!"_

[@Cookiemaster98_98]

because of this series, im downloading hitman 2016 on my ps4

[@wolfcola6329]

I pick locks as a hobby cos this game. Was scared of the new ones. Tried them. Especially two. Very reminiscent of blood money with a jesper kyd sound, with complete makeover. I get it now, times are changing. Music is changing. Even video games are changing. I appreciate this group of people bringing us agent 47 still.

[@niels25chr1]

Love these videoes. However I am missing a video on the music for these games. And maybe an explanation as why They abandoned Jesper Kyd.

[@TheGeekyAmreeki]

Watched this while having my 3am milk and cookies. Good stuff.

[@haaarvey5755]

I have no idea why anyone would leave this video a dislike. Great job noclip!

[@TheAlison1456]

11:00 that's really fun 12:20 this stage is a throwback to a Blood Money stage. the one with the party. man, that stage was Hard. I just killed everyone... Very fun to do that though hah

[@taylenvallerant2918]

1:41 Mike Vogt is the literature critic in "The author"!

[@cameronmunro1724]

Another banging video