A scene from Never Alone. Image from Upper One Games / Facebook
Parent Jef Rouner praises Never Alone, the first video game produced by Upper One Games, a company owned by the Cook Inlet Tribal Council of Alaska, for inspiring his daughter to become excited about Alaska Native culture:
My daughter turns six soon, and she’s finally reached an age where she and I can game together. She’s had her own gaming tablet, a LeapPad, for years, but these are really the first times we’re playing a proper, competitive game together. If you were one of those gamers who wondered why the Wii was so popular, play Wii Sports with a child and you’ll get it. Aside from things that allow me to simulate playing baseball with her that do not require exposing either of us to the Yellow Hurty Thing that glares down from the heavens, judging Houstonians for their sins with sunburns and swamp ass, we’ve also gotten into Never Alone on PS4. If you haven’t played it it’s a sidescrolling puzzle adventure starring an Alaska First Peoples girl named Nuna and her spirit guide, and Arctic fox. You traverse frozen wastes searching for the source of a mysterious blizzard that threatens your village, outrunning polar bears and evil men. The game was developed with participation of the Cook Inlet Tribal Council, a group that works with indigenous Alaskans living in city settings. Playing through it unlocks short videos that tell players about the culture of the Iñupiaq people. In a way it’s like an interactive National Geographic special, but with a solid focus on traditional gaming mechanics.Get the Story:
Review by Jef Rouner: Never Alone and Gaming Educationally With Your Kids (The Houston Press 8/3) Related Stories:
KTOO: Cook Inlet Tribe turns to video game to represent culture (8/27)
Interview: Cook Inlet Tribal Council launches Native video game (5/21)
Cook Inlet Tribal Council set to launch first Native video game (5/19)
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