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Episode 3: Behind the scenes at SimBin Studios

Vara, Sweden, October 25th 2011 [ simbin ] [ interview ] [ jay ekkel ] [ meet the team ]



In Episode three of our meet the team series, we introduce you to Andrei Pastramagiu.  Andrei joined SimBin in August and hails from the capital of France. Andrei speaks English and French but after a few months we have discovered that he also speaks fluently Romanian. When our Romanian colleague, Sebastian, had his birthday fika (Swedish word for drinking coffee and eating cake) at the studio, Andrei surprised us all by singing the Rumanian birthday song loud and clear. We enjoyed it a lot and hope to hear more Rumanian music in the future. Please meet our new friend and colleague, Andrei Pastramagiu.




Name: Andrei Pastramagiu
Age: 25
Position: Junior C++ Programmer

RR: Why did you decide to join SimBin? 

Andrei: I always wanted to work into the video games industry since I’ve played my first video games at the age of 4.  So after an usual educational path I naturally made a computer science school near Paris (EPITA) in order to get ready when I’ll have a proper job, beside personal projects.  I’ve done 2 internships the last 2 years while in school and it comforted me pursuing this way.

SimBin was looking for a Junior C++ Programmer in Sweden and I felt it was a very good occasion for me to work abroad in a middle-sized team and in a video games company. Not too small to put a bridle on the game features and not too big to literally get drowned into the crowd. “Big Family” is the right expression I guess here. Moreover SimBin is specialized in simulation racing games so they have a great experience of what they are doing and how to do it, and for years now. These were only a few points that made me feel confident in my choice of joining this company. Now I’m here since August and everything goes well.

RR: Did you have any background in sim racing before coming to SimBin?  

Andrei: I have never raced in a car of my life but I played a lot of games like Gran Turismo back then and of course GTR and I have to say I’m not brilliant at all with simulation racing games but I love the spirit of competition and fighting for the win or find the perfect speed/apex combination in order to grab 10 milliseconds and set the best time.

On the other hand, my father has already competed in a few amateur rally races and won one of them almost 20 years ago. He is fond of cars and started collecting them, so I’ve always been that world, or at least surrounded by it.

RR: Your moved to Sweden to work for SimBin without ever visiting the studio beforehand.  What was going through your mind at this time?

Andrei: I was confident knowing the company moved in Lidköping a few months ago and that it was the new HQ, with the new RaceRoom and a restaurant. I’ve only seen a picture of the company from their website.

Now I know the place a little better I have to say we have good offices and everything is done in order to get proper work conditions. I can’t stop staring at the giant wallpaper with the BMW on Mid-Ohio track in my office.

RR: You mention the RaceRoom Location which is beneath the studio.  Have you done much racing in the RaceRoom?

Andrei: Yes of course I love driving in the RaceRoom, even if I'm just an average pilot.... But I desire to improve and these are the right conditions.  In the SimBin series I usually end up 4th or 5th, or disqualified (happened once) : it's a lot of concentration and fun at the same time.  It can be sometimes frustrating because a single mistake and it's over, but that's the correct way.

RR: Tell us about staying in the company apartment. 

Andrei: Cool ambiance and location. It’s good to share an apartment with others so you can also share some activities like gaming, watching movies, cleaning, etc.

RR: What do you enjoy about working for SimBin?

Andrei: I like what I’m working on even if it’s not always easy, and we also have active people always looking for and making progress so we can see the game (and not only) taking shape a bit every time. We also know what’s going on in the other departments thanks to an everyday meeting so we have a general view about the current state of affairs: we feel a bit more involved. And of course a great atmosphere here with people interested in what they are doing.

RR: You've just been in Lidköping a short time, but we have to ask, have you learned to speak much Swedish?

Andrei: Not yet, but I hope to get started soon! I think it’s really important to know the language of the country you’re living in, for many and obvious reasons. Så snart !

RR: Tell us about life in here in Lidköping? 

Andrei: I used to live in the suburb of Paris in a city about the same size as Lidköping. It’s a nice place to live and you’re not that far from Goteborg or even Oslo and Stockholm if you want to go there to visit for instance if you’re new here.

RR: Are you a gamer?  If so, what game are you playing right now?

Andrei: I'm playing a lot of games, right now I'm on League of legends, Team Fortress 2, The Last Remnant, Deux Ex Human Revolution, too many to quote.  In my free time I'm coding a game engine with a friend of mine and I'm also modeling/sculpting Warhammer 40k figurines and a lot of other stuff.

RR: Drinking the Swedish snaps is sort of an unofficial tradition here amongst the new recruits, have you had your turn yet?

Andrei: Not yet, but now I know what to do after work!

RR: Do you prefer GT, Touring, Rally, or Formula cars?

Andrei: I prefer Rally cars. Suits best to my driving style.
But I really like the sensation inside a GT car.

RR: Do you take your race lines straight or sideways?

Andrei: Depends on the car.

RR: During your free time, do you grab a Book or turn on the TV?

Andrei: A book maybe. I don't watch TV.

RR: Best friend's wedding or championship deciding race of the season?

Andrei: Best friend's wedding of course. And the race on TV/streaming 

RR: What is your favorite road car to date?

Andrei: Audi A5 Coupé. My favorite of the moment.

RR: What is your favorite race car to date?

Andrei: Nissan GT-R.

RR: Do you have a favorite race car driver?

Andrei: I would say Sébastien Loeb AND Michael Schumacher.
For me both are living legends.

RR: If we opened your refrigerator right now, what would we find?
Almost nothing... Some eggs and Coke...

RR: Coffee or tea?

Andrei: Tea, because I don't like coffee.

RR: iOS or Droid?

Andrei: I have an iPhone, I have never used Android systems.

RR: Train or plane?

Andrei: Plane. It's faster.

RR: Dog or cat?

Andrei: I love both, but I have a dog : Jack. He's a Labrador.

RR: What would you say to someone considering joining our family here at SimBin? 

Andrei: If you love video games and want to work in this industry here in Sweden, among enthusiastic and result-driven people, you should go check our website www.simbin.se and look at the open positions.


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