Written and directed by Luke Whittaker, co-founder of the video game studio State of Play, “South of the Circle” is a game with a vintage aesthetic that tells the years of the Cold War.

More precisely a love story between colleagues Peter and Clara, set against the backdrop of past years, a narrative adventure game about memory, survival and the consequences of not facing the past.

But what mainly strikes is not the plot of the game or its spectacularity, but its aesthetics. To create this style digitally, Luke worked on the 2D concept art. Then each scene of the game was hand-colored, a huge but above all very selective work.

“I wanted a style evocative of the mid-century period in which the game was set. I’d been working on my own designs when I discovered some of my grandfather’s screen prints, which he used to make on an old 19th-century screen printing bed.”

“South of the Circle” is a plunge into the past not only for its game plot and setting. But especially for its scenes with a vintage flavor, inspired by the old silkscreen prints of his grandfather, whose influence was poured into the design and concept art of Luke Whittaker for the game.