Episode 242: 9/11 – The Day The Towers Fell

Tuesday, September 11, 2001…

8:46 am EST – Flight 11 hits the North Tower between floors 93 and 99, killing everyone on board. Many inside die immediately or are trapped above the crash zone

9:03 am EST – Flight 175 hits the South Tower between floors 77 and 85.

9:59 am EST – The South Tower collapses.

10:28 am EST – The North Tower collapses.

On the morning of this event, I woke up to news reports of one of the Twin Towers being hit by an airplane, initially thinking it was some movie preview. As I drove to work, the other Tower was hit, with the realization that the United States was being attacked after receiving reports of the Pentagon being hit. By the time I parked my car, the South Tower fell. The North Tower fell after I arrived at my desk. More reports came of a fourth airplane that crashed in Pennsylvania that was believed to be on its way to Washington D.C.

The mood was somber, with some employees crying at their desk. The drive home was quiet as I listened to music. At home, I watched the news report and comment on the day’s events and later the President’s address.

For this week’s episode, I will be paying tribute to 9/11, talking about some of the video games affected by it: A mission for Foxhound about a new Metal Gear mecha, a superhero about to fight a boss at the top of the world, and cybernetic agent in the aftermath of a terrorist attack. While there are covers and remixes to follow, no hot takes will be made.

Please note that the podcast opens with several sound bites of the live broadcast of 9/11, which may be graphic in nature. If you’d rather not listen them, you may skip to 9:05, where the commentary starts.

Patriot Day (9/11)

9/11 News Coverage, CNN LIVE September 11 – 13, 2001

Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty

“Hideo Kojima says Metal Gear Solid 2 had to make 300 changes and was almost cancelled in the wake of the September 11 terrorist attacks”

Spider-Man 2: Enter Electro

“Game Makers Cut Images of Destruction”

Deus Ex

Deus Ex (VG Facts)

“President George W. Bush’s address to the nation after September 11, 2001 attacks”

Track Listing

Intro: Audio clips from “CNN 9-11-2001 News Coverage” (BREAKING NEWS, 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM, 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM)

“Intro Theme / Main Theme” – [Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty] – composed by TAPPY (Tappi Iwase), arranged by Harry Gregson-Williams