Davide Soliani
Davide Soliani is an Italian video game designer who worked as a creative director at Ubisoft until 2024. He has worked on several games in the Rayman and Rabbids series, including the Game Boy Color version of Rayman, Rayman M, Rayman Arena, Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle and Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope.
Biography
Soliani started his career as a game designer at Ubisoft Milan in 1999. His first project was the Game Boy Color version of Rayman, released in 2000, and he later worked on Rayman M and its American release, Rayman Arena. Soliani was also the creative director for Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle and its sequel, Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope, whose third DLC, Rayman in the Phantom Show featured Rayman as a main character.
In 2020, 2021 and 2022, Soliani shared several pictures of concept art for the Game Boy Color version of Rayman on his Twitter account, reminiscing fondly about his work on the project.[1][2][3][4][5][6]
In 2023, prior to the release of Rayman in the Phantom Show, the third DLC of Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope, Soliani shared a message with the community, revealing that a "secret hidden message" would show upon 100% completion of the DLC, and adding that he is on a mission to "bring Rayman back to the glory he deserves".[7]
On July 24 2024, Soliani announced his departure from Ubisoft.[8]
References
- ↑ Twitter, @DavideSoliani, https://twitter.com/DavideSoliani/status/1304726599619809280, « This morning, in my garage, I've found thousand stuff of my youth, my work and my passion about Nintendo. This one is about my first project ever, Rayman game boy colour, released in 2000 (I've started in Ubi in 1999. A 50 page archiver with the notes of my levels 😂😍😅 »
- ↑ Twitter, @DavideSoliani, https://twitter.com/DavideSoliani/status/1307226197106003973, « The garage digging continues. This time I've found a 21 years old collection of artworks of Rayman Gbc, and another game that was never released. I hope that the Rayman players will appreciate. Have a great week end you all 😊🙏 »
- ↑ Twitter, @DavideSoliani, https://twitter.com/DavideSoliani/status/1415577039097245696, « Many of you asked me to post more sketches from Rayman GBC, my first ever game in Ubisoft Milan. Here we go #1 »
- ↑ Twitter, @DavideSoliani, https://twitter.com/DavideSoliani/status/1415577561510424578, « Many of you asked me to post more sketches from Rayman GBC, my first ever game in Ubisoft Milan. Here we go #2 »
- ↑ Twitter, @DavideSoliani, https://twitter.com/DavideSoliani/status/1415578229360975873, « Many of you asked me to post more sketches from Rayman GBC, my first ever game in Ubisoft Milan. Here we go #3 I will post more when I’ll find them. Kudos to Fabio Pagetti 😊🙏🏻 »
- ↑ Twitter, @DavideSoliani, https://twitter.com/DavideSoliani/status/1569298868675698688, « Now that it’s official I can post those level design work I did with serenity once again. Found them I’m my garage 23 years after with my notes (sorry, In Italian). The pages shows the integrity of the map of course, not the GBC frame portion. Good memories ❤️ »
- ↑ Rayman Pirate-Community discussion forums, RAYMAN IS BACK in 3D in new Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope DLC, https://raymanpc.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=1456994#p1456994
- ↑ Twitter, @DavideSoliani, https://x.com/DavideSoliani/status/1816050633343938597, « Hi all folks. After 25 years, 11 of which beautifully spent working with Nintendo on Mario+Rabbids along the company of our incredible community of players, I have decided to leave Ubisoft to embark on a new adventure. I can't say more now. Thanks a lot for everything, truly 🙏❤️ »