Electronic Arts released a new in-house interview today with The Godfather The Game Environment Artist, Sean Marr. In this interview Marr talks about this neighborhood in depth- what many consider the breeding grounds of the mob in its early days. You can find the rather brief but interesting interview below:
Fat Clemenza, one of your mentors in the game, says Hell's Kitchen is a 'real sewer of a joint'. Why does he say that?
Hell’s Kitchen is generally a run down yet colorful section of New York City, with a mix of residential and industrial elements. Industrial sections of cities are generally more dangerous than your average residential neighborhood, and Hell’s Kitchen was no exception. Historically it was a densely populated and tenement area set among slaughterhouses, warehouses, and factories. During the Godfather time period the population predominantly consisted of Irish and Italian immigrants who worked in the various industries: docks, factories, rail-yards and slaughterhouses. This area also absorbed much of the seedier life from Times Square, with a great number of bars, massage parlors, etc., probably due to the lower rents and the abundance of crime.
There are in fact some sewers in Hell’s Kitchen, but I think he’s referring to the actual condition of the neighborhood.
Where does the name "Hell's Kitchen" come from?
There are different theories of how it got its name, one being it’s proximity of the “Hell’s Gate Bridge”. There’s another story about 2 Police Officers coining the phrase while discussing the condition of the neighborhood. An obvious correlation would be between its seedy/tough atmosphere and if Hell had a kitchen it’d be that much more hotter and miserable. Another connection could be made to the "kitchen" aspect of the name with the fact that it was a poor neighborhood that was in fact a melting pot of the various working class ethnicities of the time struggling to make a living in the post depression era.
What makes Hell's Kitchen unique in the world of The Godfather?
The many different types of architecture ranging from the industrial elements (railyard, waterfront, warehouses, factories), the residential areas (tenements, walk-ups, low-rise apartment buildings), and various landmarks.
Favorite area of Hell's Kitchen?
The Railyard and the Waterfront since they are unique to this neighborhood.
You can find out more about The Godfather The Game by visiting
eagames.com
. Look for it to hit stores for PC, PS2 Xbox in late March. PSP and Xbox 360 versions will be released later this year.
Other Godfather The Game Goodies:
