Abstract
Problem: What multiplayer content was originally planned for Vampire: The Masquerade — Bloodlines, and why was it cut?
Approach: Tim Cain recounts his direct experience working on Bloodlines and shares details from a conversation with Leonard Boyarsky about the game's lost multiplayer component.
Findings: Bloodlines originally had a Counter-Strike-inspired multiplayer mode called "Counter-Bite" featuring vampires vs. vampire hunters, with asymmetric objectives. Activision pulled the multiplayer component from Troika and assigned it to another studio, which redesigned it entirely — and that version was also cancelled. Several single-player areas were also cut, including the Bradbury Building (called the "Halliburk Hotel") and additional Library and Warrens content.
Key insight: The original "Counter-Bite" multiplayer design was asymmetric and thematic — vampires chose clans for powers, hunters used equipment, and the objective centered on an ancient vampire in torpor — but publisher pressure and scope concerns killed it before it could ship.
1. Context and Tim Cain's Role
Vampire: The Masquerade — Bloodlines was in development from November 2001 to November 2004. Tim Cain spent the first two years making Temple of Elemental Evil, so Bloodlines was primarily Jason Anderson's and Leonard Boyarsky's project. Cain joined toward the end to do programming coordination and AI work, mostly on boss encounters — the snake demon, the shark-headed creature, and the "Man-Bat" (the sheriff's final form, originally nicknamed "Batman" internally until copyright concerns prompted the rename).
2. The Lost Multiplayer: "Counter-Bite"
When Tim contacted Leonard Boyarsky to discuss cut content, Leonard reminded him of what he called the biggest cut of all: an entire multiplayer component.
2.1. Design
The multiplayer mode was inspired by Counter-Strike and featured two asymmetric teams:
- Vampires — Players chose a vampire clan, which determined their supernatural powers and abilities.
- Vampire Hunters — Players selected equipment loadouts instead of clan disciplines.
2.2. Objective
Instead of a bomb (as in Counter-Strike), the central objective was an ancient vampire in torpor, still resting in his coffin or sarcophagus:
- Vampires win by waking the ancient vampire (freeing him from torpor).
- Hunters win by finding and destroying the ancient vampire before he is awakened.
- Either side could also win by eliminating all players on the opposing team.
Tim considered the mode well-balanced, with cool maps that could be built using existing game assets and features. He named it "Counter-Bite" — a name he remains proud of.
3. Why It Was Cut
Activision decided that Troika had too much on their plate and pulled the multiplayer component from the studio. They assigned it to another external company, which designed something entirely different. That replacement multiplayer mode was also ultimately cancelled, and Bloodlines shipped as a single-player-only game. The network code went unused.
4. Other Cut Content
Beyond multiplayer, several single-player areas were also cut or reduced:
- The Bradbury Building (called the "Halliburk Hotel" in-game) — was completed but cut from the final game.
- Additional Library content — more was originally planned.
- The Warrens — had more content designed that the team simply didn't have time to finish.
5. Reflection
Tim sometimes wonders whether Bloodlines would have had even longer legs if Counter-Bite had shipped with the original game. But as he puts it: "these things happen."
6. References
- Tim Cain. YouTube video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6iugDcbR-gE