The History of the Stealth Game

For many, video games are like magic. They hide in the dark and then appear from nowhere, fully formed. Based on over a dozen firsthand interviews that cover genre-defining games and the titles that inspired them - _Metal Gear Solid, Thief, Deus Ex, Dishonored, Assassin's Creed, Hitman, Splinter Cell, Prey, The Last of Us Part II,_ and more - this book shines a flashlight into the shadowy corners of game development history, uncovering the untold stories behind these formative titles. These insider interviews cover development struggles, internal conflicts, changes in direction, and insight into the reasoning and challenges behind specific mechanics and development decisions. There's the story of how _Thief_ was developed, in part, by an indie band. It covers _Metal Gear Solid_'s localisation issues and the Americanisation of Hideo Kojima's seminal stealth series, along with a page from the original _Metal Gear Solid_ design document. Elsewhere, one of IO Interactive's founders explains why Hitman's _Agent 47_ is inspired by Coca-Cola, the creator of _Assassin's Creed_ tells us his vision for the future of the series, and there are plenty of surprises besides. Rather than looking back at the genre as a whole, it traces a line through and connects the dots via personal stories and anecdotes from the people who were there. Foreword written by Arkane's Harvey Smith.