Big ideas often start small. What we typically see are finished products. Whether we’re talking about epic movies, space travel or sandwiches, what we’re given is the final, fully realized version of a thing. This is especially true for video games, massively coordinated media undertakings that almost completely hide the unpolished drafts of what they once looked like. That’s why it’s always a surprise to learn that some of the biggest success stories, like a certain protein-based indie game hero, were created almost by accident.
When Super Meat Boy launched in October 2010, it wasn’t just another tough-as-nails platformer. It was a defiant, bloody, square-shaped middle finger to the glossy, focus-tested design of mainstream games at the time. Built by Edmund McMillen and Tommy Refenes, collectively known as Team Meat, the game’s rise from humble Flash beginnings to industry-defining success remains one of the most inspirational stories in gaming history.
