- "Don't know how you guys do it...I'd be shitting myself."
- ―The Elevator Operator.
The Elevator Operator (also known as The Liftman or The Old Man, real name: Unknown) was a unique minor character cut during the development of Hitman: Absolution. He appeared in an early demo version of "Run For Your Life" during the fourth/fifth segments "Shangri-La" and "Train station". However he makes a cameo easter egg appearance in the same segments.
Overview[]
In the demo, after Agent 47 kills Ernest Jacobus & takes down his colleague, he walks straight down the hallway to the elevator to reach the main floor, issue is Chicago police come from the elevator and walk towards his direction. 47 uses his instincts & blends in however eventually approaches the elevator undetected. When entering, the operator asks the disguised assassin if he's going down. After a few seconds the Operator pushes the button and the two proceed down.
While headed down to the main lobby of the apartment complex, the operator tells the "officer" about the events transpiring telling the assassin about how it's all about one man and that he must be very dangerous telling 47 he'd have absolutely no idea how he'd do it himself. The Operator goes to tell the disguised 47 that he's thankful that they're hunting down the perpetrator and gives him good luck.
Fate[]
- "If you have any information about this man please call: 555-576734."
- ―Missing Poster in the final version of the game.
Although it is well known that the operator shared the same model as Daniel Andrade in the mission "Terminus", the fate of the Elevator Operator in Run For Your Life led to him getting cut a year before the games' release. Thanks to some 2012 trailers & playthoughs its implied the operator was cut in late 2011-early 2012. The fate led to a missing poster of the operator in the same position he originally stood. The reason he was cut remains a mystery.
Trivia[]
- The Operator was scrapped very similarly to both Todd & Ma however unlike the two, he's never mentioned by other minor characters in the final game.
- In the original 2011 demo, the operator had no instinct highlight and had no NPC mini-map icon. This could mean he was a scripted NPC created only for the Elevator.
- In both the 2011 demo & final game, the S.W.A.T. run towards the elevator and stand guard, it is implied the S.W.A.T. were to originally have spoken dialogue with the Operator, unfortunately this claim has not been backed up.
- He has his own developer render, which was only shown during press releases.
- The Operator appeared in the teaser trailer[1] for the 2011 demo.
Gallery[]
Pre-release (demo)[]
Retail[]
References[]
- ↑ Teaser Demo of the Elevator Operator https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cZl9neFORRg&ab_channel=GameSpot