Vigil: Darksiders Was A Risk

Austin-based Vigil Games' first project was the third-person action game Darksiders. In a new interview, Vigil Games' Jay Fitzloff admitted that starting out the studio with a AAA game based on a new IP was big risk and they're surprised the game was made.

"Darksiders was a huge risk because it was an old game in a new shell for us and for THQ because it’s a new studio, nobody there had made a console game before and it was a new IP," Fitzloff told MCV. "On paper, to be honest I don’t know why THQ went for it. I mean, the tech demo really nailed it, but I think any other publisher would just say ‘No way, but more power to you’, but they did. Then the game itself was a risk – we’re talking about a game that has an almost old-generation mentality where we’re willing to challenge you and not spoonfeed you the whole time."

Fitzloff says that the game engine itself played a big role in Darksiders being greenlit.

"We had a strong tech demo and it looked really good, plus we had an engine. We created that engine, so I’m sure that if Darksiders had failed, there’d still be that engine there that’s worth pursuing."

Darksiders hit stores in 2010 and was met with solid reviews. Vigil is currently finishing up a sequel, Darksiders 2, that will arrive in June. They're also now working on an MMO called Warhammer 40,000: Dark Millenium Online.