Black The Fall: Interview With Cristian Diaconescu, Sand Sailor Studios

Black The Fall is the new game by Sand Sailor Studios and published by Square Enix. It tells the tale of an old machinist plotting his escape from the oppressive grasp of the Communist regime. In ways, the game is reminiscent of Inside and Limbo, but has a fair amount of new ideas and gameplay elements to offer. We had a chance to chat with the game’s Creative Director, Cristian Diaconescu who talks about the studio, the game and his own personal taste in video game.

Gaming Central: Hi Cristian, tell us a bit about yourself

Cristian: I’m a life time gamer and a curious developer. I like to explore various gameplays, devices and concepts that could make the player have a unique experience. In my spare time I run away to the sea side or take a tour in the mountains on my motorbike, with my girlfriend.

Gaming Central: When did you get started with playing games (and what was the first game that you remember)?

Cristian: Two of my favourite games were Another World and Flashback, which also served as inspiration for creating Black The Fall. The first game I remember is Space Invaders.

Gaming Central: How did you get started with developing games?

Cristian: I thought myself graphic design and 3D modelling since high school, but I studied programming at university. Then I dived directly into gaming first as an employee, then with my own outsourcing studio and now with my independent development studio.

Gaming Central: If you weren’t a game developer you would be a…?

Cristian: Painter.

Gaming Central: How did you come up with the idea for Black The Fall? What games, movies, books inspired the game?

Cristian: Besides the games afore mentioned, there were movies like Brazil, Stalker and lots of Romanian movies, documentaries and books on Romanian history, but also, inevitably, Orwell’s 1984.

Gaming Central: Apart from gaming, what all do you enjoy?

Cristian: Drawing and painting, watching movies and TV series in the horror Si-Fi spectrum.

Gaming Central: What games are you playing lately? Which games are your favorites this year?

Cristian: I’ve been playing lately Starcraft and Battlefield, while last year it was Uncharted’s year.

Gaming Central: Anything else that you would like to add?

Cristian: Black The Fall is about my personal and my team’s personal experience of communism, so it reflects the transition from the communist block to the western block. It is not meant to be a documentary, but a piece of self-expression. Hope you’ll enjoy it.

Thanks Cristian for taking the time, it was lovely talking to you. We wish you and the studio the best for the future, and are looking forward to what you do next.

Black The Fall is available now for the PC, PS4 and Xbox One.

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