The original visual representation and face model for the titular character in the first Max Payne game were directly based on Sam Lake. During the early development stages when the studio operated as a tight-knit independent team, budget constraints led the creators to utilize internal staff for character models rather than hiring external actors. Sam Lake lent his face to the iconic, perpetually grimacing protagonist, and his mother even served as the model for the villainous Nicole Horne, cementing a memorable piece of gaming history.