Eric Chahi to embark on “new and fresh” project

By Brenna Hillier

Eric Chahi, the creative force behind Another World and From Dust, has a mysterious new project in mind.

“I have a strong desire to create something very original. Not ambitious in terms of content, but really focused on bringing something new and fresh,” Chahi told Eurogamer of his plans.

“I have a couple of directions, but I need to clear my mind and start to code.”

Whatever it is, Chahi hopes to deliver it relatively quickly.

“I would like the project to be relatively short – something between one year and two years, maximum. One year would be great, but knowing me, well, I’m going to plan one year and it will end up as two.”

While Chahi said he would “love to do another From Dust”, he added that there’s no plans to do so right now – despite the game’s success.

“I can’t tell you the number because Ubisoft don’t want me to. But it sold very well. That’s good because we can push them to create more original things,” Chahi said of the god sim.

The developer commented that it was “not so hard” to bring Ubisoft on board the project.

“It had a good reception since the beginning, when I showed them the concept first in 2006,” he said.

“The top management, Yves Guillemot and others, always believed in the game. They were always supporting us even when it was more fragile. So thanks to them to support the game until the end.”

Guillemot wasn’t the only believer – Chahi took the game to Peter Molyneux, whose studio Bullfrog created Populous and Black and White, which are considered giants of the god sim genre.

“We showed him From Dust. It was not final but he loved it. I think, maybe it stimulated him. He gave us a true compliment. He said it is the first god game he’s played,” Chahi revealed.

“I was really surprised. I was thinking, maybe he’s over-complimenting. He was very kind. As a fan of Populous and his work, I was very touched.”

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