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Edmund McMillen

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Edmund McMillen
McMillen at the Game Developers Choice Awards in March 2012
Born (1980-03-02) March 2, 1980 (age 44)
Santa Cruz, California, U.S.
Occupation(s)Video game designer, artist
Known forSuper Meat Boy, The Binding of Isaac (Rebirth), The End Is Nigh, The Legend of Bum-bo
SpouseDanielle McMillen (m. 2005)
Children2

Edmund Charles McMillen[1] (born March 2, 1980) is an American video game designer and artist. He is known for his Adobe Flash games with unconventional visual styles.[2] His works include 2010's side-scroller Super Meat Boy, 2011's roguelike game The Binding of Isaac, and its 2014 remake The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth.

Early life

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McMillen was born on March 2, 1980, to a family of "born-again Christians" of Mexican descent.[3][4] A lifelong resident of Watsonville, in Santa Cruz, California,[5][4] he attended Soquel High School.[6] He is fond of drawing, his favorite subject being monsters.[5] McMillen spent most of his childhood with his grandmother, whom he considers to be the greatest source of support in his creative endeavors. Later in his life, McMillen received a box from his grandmother that contained all of his drawings as a child. Many of these drawings can be seen by unlocking The Box in one of his games, The Basement Collection.[5] His childhood is represented in many of his own game creations, more specifically The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth. In an interview with Indie Game: The Movie he explains that his family was consistently riddled with alcohol and drug addiction. He was confronted by this extreme faith, which caused him religious guilt and mental problems causing him to grow a desire to fight back, resulting in his acting out against them.

Career

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McMillen's initial graphic work was in independent comics.[7][8] While he has largely abandoned this field in favor of video games, he has released a series of comics featuring Meat Boy, the title character in the video game Super Meat Boy, as a promotional tie-in for the game.[9] His most well-known games are the Flash-based game Meat Boy, and its sequel Super Meat Boy, which has been released for PC, Xbox 360 and PlayStation 4. McMillen is also known for the games Gish, Aether, The Binding of Isaac and Coil. Gish won Game Tunnel's 2004 Adventure Game of the Year, as well as Indie Game of the Year.[10][11] His game Coil was nominated for the Innovation Award at the 2009 Independent Games Festival.[12] McMillen was the original character artist and animator on Braid,[12] before those assets were replaced by the work of David Hellman.[13] Braid went on to win the Innovation Award at the 2006 Independent Games Festival prior to its release, and several awards in 2008, including GameSpot's Best Platformer,[14] and Best Original Downloadable Console Game,[15] and the 12th Annual Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences Awards Casual Game of the Year.[16] His game Aether was a 2009 IndieCade finalist and received an honorable mention.[17]

Super Meat Boy

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McMillen and programmer Tommy Refenes established Team Meat, an independent game production company, with the intent that they would never utilize a third-party publisher.[18] Their first game, Super Meat Boy, was released on October 20, 2010, on the Xbox 360 via Xbox Live Arcade, and on Valve's digital distribution system Steam on November 30, 2010. A release was planned for the Nintendo Wii, but was canceled. According to Kotaku, problems arose due to the file size limitations of the Wii's WiiWare Channel.[19] A retail version of the game was released on April 5, 2011.[20] Due to Sony's initial lack of interest in the game, Team Meat entered into contractual obligations that prohibit the game from being released for the Sony PlayStation 3.[21] McMillen and Refenes responded to the success of Super Meat Boy and the impossibility of a sequel in a brief statement that read, "We feel like we did it...the 1st time."[22] McMillen and Refenes' development of Super Meat Boy was featured in the film Indie Game: The Movie.

In a 2017 interview with Eurogamer, Refenes revealed that McMillen was no longer a part of Team Meat and would not play a role in developing the game's sequel, Super Meat Boy Forever.[23] McMillen later confirmed this in a blog post.[24][25] Forever was eventually released in late 2020 for various platforms.

The Binding of Isaac

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The Binding of Isaac is an indie roguelike video game designed by Edmund McMillen and Florian Himsl, initially released in 2011 for Microsoft Windows; the game was later ported for OS X, and Linux operating systems. The game's title and plot are inspired by the Biblical story of the Binding of Isaac. In the game, Isaac's mother receives a message from God demanding the life of her son as proof of her faith, and Isaac flees into the monster-filled basement of their home where he must fight to survive. Players control Isaac or one of 33 other unlockable characters through a procedurally generated dungeon in a roguelike manner, fashioned after those of The Legend of Zelda, defeating monsters in real-time combat while collecting items and power-ups to defeat bosses and eventually Isaac's mother.

The game was the result of a week-long game jam between McMillen and Himsl to develop a The Legend of Zelda-inspired roguelike that allowed McMillen to showcase his feelings about both positive and negative aspects of religion that he had come to discover from conflicts between his Catholic and born again Christian family members while growing up.[1][26] McMillen had considered the title a risk but one he could take after the financial success of Super Meat Boy,[26] and released it without much fanfare to Steam in September 2011, not expecting many sales.[1][26] The game soon gained popularity partially as a result of various Let's Play videos showcasing the title. McMillen and Himsl released an expansion "Wrath of the Lamb" in May 2012, but were limited from further expansion due to limitations with the Flash platform.[26] They had started working with Nintendo in 2012 to release a 3DS version, but Nintendo later backed out of the deal, citing controversy over the game's religious themes.[27]

Developer Nicalis worked with McMillen in 2014 to complete a remake of the game, The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth, bringing additional features that McMillen had planned that exceeded Flash's limitation, as well as to improve the game's graphics and enable ports for other systems beyond personal computers, including PlayStation 4 and Vita, Xbox One, Wii U, Nintendo 3DS, and the Nintendo Switch. The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth has received three expansions, each one including more bosses, items, and areas. The first expansion, The Binding of Isaac: Afterbirth, released on October 30, 2015, the second expansion, The Binding of Isaac: Afterbirth+, released on January 3, 2017, and the third and final expansion, The Binding of Isaac: Repentance, was released on March 31, 2021.

In 2016, McMillen announced a prequel to The Binding of Isaac titled The Legend of Bum-bo, independently developed by programmer James Interactive and himself.[28] The game was produced over the course of four years, without a working prototype created during the process. The Legend of Bum-bo was digitally released on Steam on November 12, 2019, to mixed reviews.[29][30] The game was ported to iOS on December 7, 2020,[31] then to Epic Games Store, GOG.com, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X & Series S by Nicalis in 2022.[32][33]

The End is Nigh

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The End Is Nigh is a platform adventure video game developed by Edmund McMillen and Tyler Glaiel. The game was released on July 12, 2017, on Microsoft Windows via Steam. Ports of the game were released on August 15, 2017, on macOS and on December 12, 2017, for Linux and Nintendo Switch, with a port for the PlayStation 4 and PlayStation Vita in development. The game has been described as a spiritual successor to McMillen's Super Meat Boy.

The themes within the game were inspired by personal and professional experiences that had happened around the time of the game's development such as threatened lawsuits, his wife's pregnancy, and agoraphobia, which were described by McMillen as the "darkest" point in his career.[1] McMillen was contemplating whether he wanted to continue making games, and these thoughts inspired the content of the game.

McMillen claimed that, to contrast Super Meat Boy's themes of challenging yourself because "it's worth it", The End is Nigh was designed to make players constantly question whether or not the game's challenges will reward them in the end.[1] McMillen went on to describe The End is Nigh as "constantly waiting for the other shoe to drop, but it never drops", and described the struggles of the protagonist (Ash) as a "life falling apart".

Works

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Name Platform(s) Co-developer(s) Publisher(s) Release year Notes
The Backup Files Adobe Flash 2001
The Lonely Hermit Adobe Flash 2001 Included in The Basement Collection
Dead Baby Dressup! Adobe Flash 2001
12 uses of dead babies Adobe Flash 2001
Dead Baby Dressup 2! Adobe Flash 2001
6 more dead baby uses Adobe Flash 2001
Dead Baby Dressup 3 Adobe Flash 2001
Stile man Dressup Adobe Flash 2001
WWF baby dressup Adobe Flash 2001
8 More Dead Baby Uses! Adobe Flash 2001
Dead Baby Dress up 4 Adobe Flash 2001
The Boy who QuestionedGod Adobe Flash 2001
Dead Baby Dressup X Adobe Flash 2001
Dead Baby Super Hero Dres Adobe Flash 2002
Dead Baby Dressup best of Adobe Flash 2002
Carious Weltling Adobe Flash Caulder Bradford 2003
SnackOlantern Adobe Flash 2003 Described by McMillen as his worst game
Triptych Windows Chronic Logic 2003
Word Peace Windows Chronic Logic 2003
Clubby The Seal Adobe Flash 2004
Gish Windows, OS X, Linux Cryptic Sea Chronic Logic 2004 First major game project
Carious Weltling 2 Adobe Flash 2005
Weltling Dressup Adobe Flash 2005
Viviparous Dumpling Adobe Flash 2005
Cerebral Discharge iii Adobe Flash 2005
Blast Miner Windows Cryptic Sea Chronic Logic 2006
Triachnid Adobe Flash Florian Himsl 2006 Included in The Basement Collection
Holiday Snow Wars Adobe Flash 2006
Cereus Peashy Adobe Flash 2007
Weltling 2: Regurgitated Adobe Flash 2007
Host Adobe Flash 2007 Online multiplayer game
Guppy Adobe Flash 2007 (no release) A prototype, unreleased
Blood Car 2000! Adobe Flash Cryptic Sea 2008
Coil Adobe Flash Florian Himsl 2008 Included in The Basement Collection
Blood car! 2000! Delux! Adobe Flash 2008
DeadBaby VG Dressup Adobe Flash 2008
Twin Hobo Rocket Adobe Flash Florian Himsl 2008
Cunt Adobe Flash Florian Himsl 2008
Aether Adobe Flash Tyler Glaiel 2008 Included in The Basement Collection
Meat Boy Adobe Flash 2008 Included in The Basement Collection
Clubby: Killing Season Adobe Flash 2008
Grey-Matter Adobe Flash Team Meat 2008 Included in The Basement Collection
Meat boy (map pack) Adobe Flash 2008
AVGM Adobe Flash Tyler Glaiel 2009 Included in The Basement Collection
Spewer Adobe Flash 2009 Included in The Basement Collection
Time Fcuk Adobe Flash 2009 Included in The Basement Collection
Super Meat Boy Windows, OS X, Linux, Xbox 360, PS4, Nintendo Switch,[34] PS Vita,[34] Wii U Team Meat Team Meat 2010 First console game
The Binding of Isaac Windows, OS X, Linux, Adobe Flash Florian Himsl 2011
The Binding of Isaac: Wrath of the Lamb Windows, OS X, Linux Florian Himsl 2012 Expansion for The Binding of Isaac
The Basement Collection Windows, OS X, Linux Tyler Glaiel 2012 Collection of Flash games
Facist Adobe Flash 2014 Game jam game
The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth Windows, OS X, Linux, PS4, PS Vita, New 3DS, Wii U, Xbox One, iOS Nicalis Nicalis 2014 Remake of The Binding of Isaac
Fingered Windows James Id 2015
The Binding of Isaac: Afterbirth Windows, PS4, Xbox One, OS X, Linux Nicalis Nicalis 2015 First expansion pack for The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth
The Binding of Isaac: Afterbirth+ Windows, OS X, Linux, Nintendo Switch, PS4, Xbox One Nicalis Nicalis 2017 Second expansion pack for The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth
The End Is Nigh Windows, OS X, Linux, PS4, Nintendo Switch Tyler Glaiel Tyler Glaiel, Nicalis 2017
The Binding of Isaac: Four Souls Card game Danielle McMillen, Tyler Glaiel Studio71 2018
  • Based on The Binding of Isaac
  • Funded in less than two hours
The Legend of Bum-bo Windows, OS X, Android, iOS, Nintendo Switch, PS5 James Id The Label Limited, Nicalis 2019
  • Prequel to The Binding of Isaac
Tapeworm Card game Studio71 2020
The Binding of Isaac: Repentance Windows, Nintendo Switch, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S Nicalis Nicalis 2021 Third expansion pack for The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth

Upcoming games

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Name Platform Co-developer(s) Release Notes
Mewgenics Windows Tyler Glaiel 2025 Resumed development in 2018[24][35]

Unreleased games

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Name Platforms State
Gish 2 None 2007-2008 Announced, later cancelled
No Quarter None 2008-2009 Announced, later cancelled
Øuroboros Windows 2016 Became The End is Nigh
Grub Adobe Flash 2007 Will resume development after Mewgenics
Tri-Achnid: Episode 2 Adobe Flash 2007-2008 Announced, later cancelled
Bacterium Adobe Flash 2008 Announced then cancelled
The Book of Knots None 2006-2007 Became Gish 2
Badlings Adobe Flash 2006 Cancelled after a month
Office Yeti None 2007 Cancelled
The Badlands None 2004 Cancelled

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e "Edmund McMillen Breaks Down His Game Design History (Meat Boy, Isaac & More) | Noclip". YouTube.
  2. ^ Toots (2008-08-08). "The Delightfully Demented World of Edmund McMillen". Gay Gamer. Archived from the original on 2011-07-20. Retrieved 2010-12-18. Edmund McMillen splashed onto the scene with his signature art style in Gish, a side-scrolling platformer with a dementedly unique style.
  3. ^ McMillen, Edmund [@edmundmcmillen] (February 19, 2018). "Im Mexican you doink" (Tweet). California, United States. Archived from the original on November 25, 2018. Retrieved October 18, 2022 – via Twitter.
  4. ^ a b Shea, Brian (December 27, 2021). "The Outcast Comes Home – The Life And Career Of Edmund McMillen". Game Informer. Archived from the original on December 27, 2021.
  5. ^ a b c "IndieGame: The Movie "Growing Up Edmund"". IndieGameTheMovie via YouTube. 2010-05-18. Retrieved 2010-12-18.[dead YouTube link]
  6. ^ "MetroActive Features | Santa Cruz Artists to Watch". www.metroactive.com. Retrieved 2015-10-06.
  7. ^ Sikora, Drew (2008-11-10). "10 Years of Independent Art on CD from Edmund McMillen". gamedev.net. Retrieved 2010-12-18.[permanent dead link‍]
  8. ^ timw (2008-08-28). "Interview: Edmund McMillen, Part 2". indiegames.com. Archived from the original on 2008-09-15. Retrieved 2010-12-18.
  9. ^ McElroy, Justin (2009-09-28). "Exclusive: The new Super Meat Boy comic". Joystiq. Archived from the original on 2010-05-05. Retrieved 2010-12-18.
  10. ^ "Adventure Game of the Year". Game Tunnel. 2004-12-11. Archived from the original on 2010-12-31. Retrieved 2010-06-17.
  11. ^ "2004 Independent Game of the Year". Game Tunnel. 2004-12-31. Archived from the original on 2011-07-11. Retrieved 2010-06-17.
  12. ^ a b Caoili, Eric (2009-02-03). "Road To The IGF: McMillen and Himsl's Coil". Gamasutra. Retrieved 2010-12-18.
  13. ^ Hellman, David (2008-08-05). "The Art Of Braid: Creating A Visual Identity For An Unusual Game".
  14. ^ "GameSpot's Best Games of 2008: Best Original Downloadable Console Game". GameSpot. Archived from the original on 2008-12-23. Retrieved 2008-12-25.
  15. ^ "GameSpot's Best Games of 2008: Best Licensed Music". GameSpot. Archived from the original on 2008-12-23. Retrieved 2008-12-25.
  16. ^ Jenkins, David (2009-02-20). "LittleBigPlanet Dominates At AIAS Awards". Gamasutra. Retrieved 2009-02-20.
  17. ^ "IndieCade 2009 finalists". Retrieved 2010-12-18.
  18. ^ Ransom-Wiley, James (2010-10-26). "If you think Super Meat Boy is hard, try developing it". Joystiq. Archived from the original on 2010-11-01. Retrieved 2010-12-18.
  19. ^ McWhertor, Michael (2010-11-01). "Size Limit Spoils Super Meat Boy's November Release On WiiWare". Kotaku. Retrieved 2010-12-18.
  20. ^ "Amazon.com: Super Meat Boy Ultra Edition: Video Games". Amazon. Retrieved 2011-04-25.
  21. ^ Sterling, Jim (2010-11-12). "No Super Meat Boy on PS3, and you can blame Sony". Destructoid. Retrieved 2010-12-17.
  22. ^ McMillen, Edmund (2010-10-30). "No SMB 2!". Team Meat. Archived from the original on 2010-11-30. Retrieved 2010-12-18.
  23. ^ Phillips, Tom (26 September 2017). "Super Meat Boy Forever and the return of Team Meat". Eurogamer. Retrieved 11 January 2018.
  24. ^ a b "A New Years QA!".
  25. ^ Devore, Jordan (2017-08-30). "Super Meat Boy Forever is a 'true sequel' due out in 2018". Destructoid. Retrieved 11 January 2018.
  26. ^ a b c d McMillen, Edmund (2012-11-28). "Postmortem: McMillen and Himsl's The Binding of Isaac". Game Developer. Retrieved 2021-12-04.
  27. ^ "Nintendo Rejects The Binding of Isaac". Nintendo Life. 2012-02-29. Retrieved 2021-12-04.
  28. ^ Matulef, Jeffrey (March 24, 2016). "The Binding of Isaac dev announces The Legend of Bum-bo". Eurogamer. Retrieved December 21, 2022.
  29. ^ Hughes, William (22 November 2019). "Interview: Edmund McMillen on the launch of Legend Of Bum-bo". The A.V. Club. Retrieved 17 April 2020.
  30. ^ "The Legend of Bum-bo for PC Reviews". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Retrieved 17 April 2020.
  31. ^ Smith, Olly (December 3, 2020). "The Legend of Bum-bo, the indie roguelike, is out now on Android". Pocket Gamer. Retrieved June 23, 2022.
  32. ^ @nicalis (February 4, 2022). "The Legend of Bum-bo out now on GOG and Epic Games Store. Help Bum-bo find coin!" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  33. ^ Friscia, John (June 15, 2022). "The Legend of Bum-bo Arrives on Switch, PS5, & Xbox Series This Month". Escapist Magazine. Retrieved June 23, 2022.
  34. ^ a b "Super Meat Boy Coming to PS4, PS Vita (Yes, Really!)". PlayStation.Blog. 8 June 2015. Retrieved 2015-10-20.
  35. ^ "Mew-Genics is back in development". destructoid. Retrieved 2018-05-08.
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