Titan Productions got some attention at last month's E3 when they announced that they had gotten the rights to make a game based on the classic crime film Heat, which was written and directed by Michael Mann and starred Robert De Niro and Al Pacino. However that's not the only video game project they are helming. FiringSquad got a chance to chat with co-founder Brad Foxhoven to find out more about Titan Productions and their plans for the future.

FiringSquad: First how did Titan Productions come to be formed?

Brad Foxhoven: The company formed out of Tiger Hill – the company I co-founded with director John Woo (Stranglehold). David Wohl (former creative director of Tiger Hill) and I wanted to work with even more directors and Hollywood talent, which would’ve been impossible at Tiger Hill. So, we formed Titan for that very purpose.

FiringSquad: What exactly does Titan Productions do that regular game developer and publishers cannot do?

Brad Foxhoven: Honestly, not much when it comes to the actual game development – but we feel we do some things better because we are so focused on a specific role. That role is that of an independent producer who works very well with Hollywood talent, and acts on their behalf. We have found that Hollywood talent wants someone on their side, watching their back when it comes to these projects, which the developer or publisher cannot possibly do. We carry on their vision in the game when they are not available – from assisting with the writing of plot, scripting, assisting with the art direction (Wohl and I are former Top Cow execs), and managing the franchise out of games and into film, TV, and other ancillary markets. At our core, we are franchise managers with intellectual properties that launch in games. Recently, as with HEAT, we are now acting in this same capacity with rights holders, and with game developers looking to bring on Hollywood talent and would like assistance in the management of that.

FiringSquad: The company generated a lot of interest last month with the announcement of a game based on the movie Heat. How did this idea come about?

Brad Foxhoven: We’ve been friendly with the people over at New Regency (owners of the HEAT rights) for a while, and we are also personally HEAT fans. The question came up around a year ago, at E3 – in light of Godfather and Scarface -- why isn’t a game being made based on HEAT? Up to this point, we were more focused on new IP, but felt that this was a unique chance we couldn’t pass up. So, we became Regency’s producers on the game project.

FiringSquad: How hard was it to convince the owners of the movie to allow for the making of a game?

Brad Foxhoven: It wasn’t hard at all – they are smart people, and they see the opportunity something like this can create for the HEAT franchise if the game is well made. The only challenge was finding the right development partner, and we feel we accomplished that part.

FiringSquad: Why was Gearbox Software selected as the developer of the game?

Brad Foxhoven: First and foremost they are an amazing developer. When Gearbox develops a game – any game – it is something worth pay attention to as their pedigree is top notch. We saw the similarity in their approach to the management of a squad in Brother in Arms to the management of a heist crew in HEAT. Through a series of conversations about other opportunities between us we learned they were fans of the HEAT film. We quickly asked if they would like to take the project on, and were thrilled when they said yes.

FiringSquad: What can you tell us at this time about the game itself in terms of its gameplay and whether it will be a straight adaptation or something that follows up on the movie?

Brad Foxhoven: The one thing I can say is that is will not be a straight adaptation. We are looking to either do a prequel or sequel, and are looking into which makes more sense right now.

FiringSquad: Will any of the cast members and director Michael Mann be involved in the making of the game in any way?

Brad Foxhoven: It is our hope they will be – the game won’t be the same without them.

FiringSquad: What can you tell us about the status of the Heat game and when will it be released?

Brad Foxhoven: We are still in preproduction, so I cannot say anything about the timing. It is still a bit too soon.

FiringSquad: The release of EA's The Godfather got mixed reviews and was not as big of a sales success as was first imagined. How will this release affect what you plan to do with Heat?

Brad Foxhoven: Godfather had big expectations – possibly too big to ever reach. Plus, they didn’t have Gearbox, and I think that this is a strategic advantage. We are also watching Scarface, and hope that does well for obvious reasons. In the end, we are also competing with other heist games. So, we need to be extra good at this to make sure we get above the noise.

FiringSquad: What other game projects is Titan Productions developing and what is the status of those projects?

Brad Foxhoven: Our projects include one with Guillermo Del Toro and Terminal Reality on a game called “Sundown” and John Carpenter on “Psychopath” with the developer pending. The Demonik game with Clive Barker is on hold, and we are in the midst of shopping two other Hollywood game projects with the hope to have the announcement on both of them in the coming month or so. We also still consult on Midway’s “Stranglehold” game from time to time. There are also two EA games we are a part of, but cannot talk about just yet. Go figure.

FiringSquad: Finally is there anything else you wish to say about Titan Productions and the Heat game?

Brad Foxhoven: No – just that we are fortunate that Gearbox is on this. So many of these type of opportunities like this fail due to one of the involved parties not caring – but in this case, every partner is highly motivated in making the game a success.

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