In Conversation With Fabien Govini
What is your role with Reflector Entertainment and what does it entail?
My role at Reflector Entertainment is Game Director. I transition our creative visions into game rules, gameplay mechanics, and working systems for our audience. Some may perceive programming and this type of work as boring, but it’s not! Each idea, concept or vision must be translated into gameplay for the player. You need to think of which buttons do what and what kind of abilities you need to perform such as jump, slide, etc. I also have to determine important factors such as: Can the player die? What type of freedom do they have? Can they roam the entire map or only certain locations at certain times? These are only a few questions you need to think about when developing a game.
How did you get involved with the company?
Alex Amancio, the Co-Founder and CEO of Reflector Entertainment and I worked together at Ubisoft. It was easy for me to trust Alex and believe in the goal of creating new StoryWorlds. The great thing about him is that he knows exactly where he wants to go, and which experts he needs to accomplish his vision. I guess that’s why I’m part of the new adventure.
How do you imagine the storyworlds you create will impact culture?
I think each IP (intellectual property) will have its own message. We want people to dig a little bit, read the small typography on screen. We want to get people past the first layer and to discover something that will enrich their minds or enhance their perspective.
What’s one podcast, book, game or audiobook you’d recommend? Why?
I would recommend the book Band of Brothers:
A sentence from this book is:
“From this day to the ending of the World,
…we in it shall be remembered
…we band of brothers.”
This book tells the story of young men becoming soldiers from D-Day until the German armistice. You follow their story as they experience doubt and fear, embracing their bravery, the madness of war, and their sacrifices — not for honor but for their band of brothers.
Do you have a favourite experience you’ve worked on in the past (one you can talk about)?
My favourite experience would be working with incredible teams. In my career, I was lucky enough to meet and work with some brilliant people. I will try to recreate the same chemistry for others that was created for me.
Where do you see the future of entertainment (particularly, gaming) heading? This can be in relation to how we consume content, the type of content and/or how it’s being created.
Gamers are currently divided into two groups: The hardcore and the casual. Neither of these groups are necessarily high-skilled gamers; it’s more about the time investment associated for each. We must develop new systems that provide both groups with content, but restructure the current distribution methods. Will they be on-demand, seasonal, time, rental, etc.? We must also integrate the gamification on every system to create loyalty and motivation between us and our audience.
What are three rules you live by when undertaking a new project?
1. Supporting the Pillars (company, IP).
2. Have one breakthrough or one unique insight.
3. Put the right people in the right places.
What is your opinion on the latest Star Wars movie?
To be honest 4, 5, 6 are the best for me, probably because I saw those movies with youthful eyes. Number 1, 2 and 3 are interesting, but some moments are just too long. And 7 and 8 are just a copy-paste of 4 and 5… I don’t think it’s easy to keep the same audience for 30 and 40 years while trying to bring in new ones. Regardless, there is a Han Solo movie this summer! And he’s my favorite character!
In Conversation With… is a weekly series that features a few of the people behind Reflector Entertainment. The interviews are conducted by M A R I A, a Communications Manager who enjoys creating (and hearing) a good story.
