Digital Trends

Q: What did the process involve?

A: We worked for a few days, took a break, would come back with new ideas… Although I won't take credit for most of them – I didn't change anything major from what I was asked to do. The character is who he is, and Big Pussy talks like Big Pussy. It's not like I suddenly showed up one day and told [THQ] "let's quote Shakespeare."

Q: The secret to you suddenly coming back to life in the game is…?

A: I don't know that I'm at liberty to say. We don't like to talk about that – you'll just have to play to find out.

Have a seat...I insist.

Q: Fair enough. We're you surprised they called you in for the guest appearance, though? It's not like Big Pussy died anytime recently…

A: Well, listen… I was told that David Chase recommended me for it. David always promised me that somehow, someway that even after Pussy's death that I'd still be part of the family. So it's like David kept his promise. Was I surprised? No, because I know David always keeps his promises.

Q: Sources of inspiration for the appearance: Classic Mafia books and films, or…?

A: I come out of my room, go downstairs and have breakfast with a couple of these guys everyday. That's a joke. When you grow up, we all cross these people – we know the language, we know how they dress and talk. It's a lot of fun when we can make fun of that lifestyle.

Q: Growing up, you were familiar with a few of these seedy individuals – gangsters, if you will – from around the neighborhood, then?

A: Well, I grew up in New Rochelle [New York] and they said that wiseguys never existed there. But wiseguys exist in Italian-American communities all over the country. You know, that's just a fact of life…

Q: The trick to coming off just as menacing in a game as a TV show or film?

A: I give full credit to the game makers – that's all in the animated aspects of the title. I'm just talking; they're the ones who set up the scenes. If I'm sitting talking to my son and he's in a church kneeling, that's not as exciting as the guy going off and hitting someone in the back of a head with a bat. That's where my effectiveness comes from – the fact these guys paint a great picture in the game, just like you'd see in a crime movie.

Q: How scared or happy do you think people will be to see Pussy back and prancing around here?

A: I think they'll be very happy. He's probably one of the most popular characters on the series. People miss him. I think that whenever he shows up or is involved with anything related to "The Sopranos," they get excited.

Virtual Vincent