Andrea “Liga” Ligabue: Cosa Bolle in Pentola ? #39 - Giancarlo Fioretti

Dear gamers, here again with my interviews to Italian designers, the first in 2010 and also the first with my new look. I’m also writing my annual personal report of games in Italy (2006, 2007 and 2008) , but I think it will not ready before the end of January.

I think few of you know Gianfranco since his first game, Costantinoplis, is not yet published but is in publishing since a long time. It is a real gamers game I was lucky enough to try during several step of the long play-testing walk.

Anyway, here is my short and quick interview to Gianfranco hoping it will be the first step in the hall of fame!

[Liga] Hi Gianfranco. Was nice to have you here on BG. Please, tell us something about yourself

[Gianfranco] I’m almost 37 years old, living in Reggio Emilia and married with Giusy: we have 4 beautiful cats. My first boardgame was PacMan; my father bought it in ‘81 I think. I started playing RPGs and BG regularly in ‘87 and never stopped apart from short periods. The first complete game I have created was a party-game close to Saltinmente but more complex, with a sort of worlds maze ... I think I have created it something like 10-12 years ago.

[Liga] Not too much about you but I know Gianfranco is a shy person. Gianfranco is well known in Italian gamers community as Dominex and produced really great Italian translations/version of several games not officially produced in Italy that really helping in spread the BG passion in Italy ... but now, Cosa Bolle in pentola ?

[Gianfranco] Now, of course, Costantinpolis, that probably will reach the shelves during 2010 spring. Was a very long production for several reasons ... anyway we almost reach the goal and that is important now. It is a game a really like since tooks almost 2 years of development to get a really good balancing. At the moment no other games close to be published.

[Liga] So really a long design. I was lucky enough to play-test it and I found rally a nice gamers game. Of cours it will be good to have ot published 2 yeras ago since it was a really innovative design. I really hope to see Costantinoplis fight for gamers’ hearth and gamers awards this year. And projects for the future ?

[Gianfranco] I designed, commissioned, a card game about mosaic compositions ... they told me the game is good but it will be published for sure only after Costantinopolis. I have another challenging big project but I can’t tell nothing about it ... and lately I have not too much time to design ... not too much time to play too, since my work is really challenging me. I hope in the future ...

[Liga] I’m sure a lot of gamers, like me, are looking forward to new design by you. And now the last question: please, tell me the 10 games you like to play most

[Gianfranco]

1.  Merchant of Venus
2.  Dungeonquest
3.  Twilight Imperium III
4.  Cosmic Encounter
5.  Here I Stand
6.  Age of Renaissance
7.  Das Zepter Von Zavandor
8.  Siena
9.  Railroad Tycoon
10.  Bang!

[Liga] Really a nice selection that shows you are really a gamer! Thank you Giangranco, nice to meet you and I hope to see Costantinopolis published in time for PLAY: the Games Festival

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