Among the thousands of files regarding Face Noir`s graphics, design, sound and so on and so forth, there is a peculiar folder in my computer. It`s name is obsolete data and it contains all those files I don`t need to use anymore; it`s some sort of cellar inside which I put away the most disparate objects that otherwise would be tossed out, were it not that I feel some attachment for them by now.

The oldest file is dated September 29th, 2008, over two years ago. At that time I was still taking a Videogame Design course at the IED – I want to take the chance to greet Cangini who was coordinator of the course in that year – and in my mind there was nothing barely resembling Face Noir as it is today. My project used to be called EGA (Eniac`s Great Adventure, a title given by Claudio a.k.a. SideUp of Adventure’s Planet). There was no plot, no design documents, virtually nothing but the will to try my hand at the development of a Video Game – and it is a will that I believe about the 80% of people reading this post share with me.
Graphics were rather essential and basic, dialogues trivial. There was only me working on EGA, but Marco a.k.a. Azrael eventually joined the party and with his arrival everything became more serious: we were now able to program! We chose Wintermute Engine as Game Engine; decent graphic adventures using this engine had been released shortly before and it seemed to be what we were in need for.
The following months were spent with me thinking up utterly elaborate ways to use Wintermute and Marco going crazy in the attempt to realize them somehow, instead of simply replying “no, it can`t be done!”. As a result, we boast about having innovative game mechanics as dynamic puzzles, a thinking modality, 3D inventory and much more.

The EGA experience showed us that it was possible to make up something interesting. In the second half of 2009 we decided to mean business by creating a Video Game matching up to those graphic adventures that made us love the genre.
The plot needed to be improved, graphics had to recall the dull atmosphere of the Noir genre and dialogues had to become rough. Face Noir was born.

…to be continued.

The image above shows the improvement of Face Noir`s graphics from the first sketch of the office to the definitive scene you can find in the game.

Passione, Impegno, DELIRIO, chiamatelo come vi pare ma quest’uomo noi lo consideriamo un GURU.

Mentre noi, miseri umani, giochiamo le nostre avventure grafiche comprate nel negozio di turno, lui le sviscera, le analizza e, diamine, te le fa apprezzare come non avresti mai pensato (o le massacra con gentili giri di parole).

Quest’uomo è la prova vivente (e scrivente) che dietro quello che viene considerato un semplice gioco può esserci di più. Può esserci la volontà di comunicare qualcosa, di emozionare e farsi emozionare.

Buon anniversario Diduz!

Post available soon in English.

The Odyssey for Ulysses, The Iliad for Aeneas… The Restyling for me!
People who know me, also know that when I utter the word “restyling”… woe betide me!
I would spend entire days stuck in front of my pc yelling at every object coming to my mind – today I hurled heavy racial insults at a pot holder! – waiting for a flash of inspiration, for that moment in which two neurons brush against each other and give birth to a clear and coherent thought you have never ever got close to, making you feel as frustrated as a costive in a festival of bathroom fittings, but you acknowledge that frustration is all water under the bridge because the flash of inspiration came to you, it belongs to you, it expresses a simply thought: why the hell did you do that for? Changing the graphics of the whole website?
It`s a rather good question, that a logical person – not me – would have asked far before everything started, but you see? By now you are determined to give a new image to everything, you feel like God after the 5th day, when under his blankets – at least I think, I have no idea of the way in which a God sleeps! – he was brooding for hours “ah ah I am going to create my masterpiece tomorrow!” and then, as we all know, he created something fairly arguable.
Anyhow, after days of hard work I guess I can finally say: I have finished!
There are still modifications to be done, but the worst is over. I am quite satisfied and also happy, inasmuch as I apologized to the pot holder.

I hope to keep being satisfied with this website for at least other six months before I need to change it all again.
P.s. if you have any piece of advice or observation to tell us, don`t hesitate to write it here, waiting for me to ignore you.