Sinha recalls being persuaded to play the role by someone calling herself Angel who phoned him and in a voice like melting honey described how Burn:Cycle was going to be the world's first ever interactive movie, combining game play and graphics with live action sequences performed by real Hollywood actors. Only while being painted gold did the awful truth occur to the novelist that he had been cast for his physique rather than his acting ability. Indeed, trying to get in character for his first line ("Welcome, my son, have you come seeking wisdom?) he tried and fluffed a variety of approaches ranging from the oriental statuesque – prompting cries of "Just say it naturally" from director Aitan Arussi – to a chirpy streetwise Buddha of Balham. Finally, after some emergency acting coaching from the movie-game's star Aaron Swartz, our man of words managed to spit out his lines. He appears, duly robed and gilded, on the back cover of the CD case. Electronic Gaming Monthly voted Burn:Cycle "Best CD-i game of 1994".
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