Meaningful Fun Indie Games for the Heart

20 Sept, 16:00 – 18:00 CEST, Scandic Triangeln

 

Bearing in mind that the gaming industry outperformed both movies and sports combined as the biggest mo- ney-maker in entertainment last year, many of us think of games as a uniquely commercial product.

But games are also a culture-bearing media with strong artistic qualities and a focus on important issues. In this seminar we will introduce award winning games developed throughout the Nordic region, as a kind of public service art form – games created with an inspiring combination of taking a serious topic, based on reality, and creating a fictive universe in which the user is brought full circle into reality again as they become an active part of the story through the game. Join us for an inspirational talk about the power and challenges of interactive storytelling, audience enga- gement and dealing with important issues in a playful way. The film and gaming industries are fundamentally different – or are they?

What are the possible points of reference and meaningful collaboration across creative storytelling borders? My Child Lebensborn created by Elin Festøy and Svenn Jakobsen, Teknopilot Norway What happens when the war ends? Does hatred just go away? My Child Lebensborn is a story driven nurture game – a dark tamagotchi – letting you experience the fates of children born of war. Take care of Karin and Klaus and help them survive in a post-war society. Find out what hap- pened to their parents and try to find a better future.

Welcome to Elk – created by Astrid Refstrup, Triple Topping, Denmark Welcome to Elk is a biographical adventure set on an island like no other, where every character you encounter has a story to tell. From the weird and wonderful to the dark and desperate, all tales told on Elk are based on true stories of life on the road less travelled. Help your new friends on Elk through playful mini games. All games are uniquely tailored to underline the story and the mood of the game. Some are fun and made for laughter, while others are dark and made for reflection. On Elk you will meet weird and wonder- ful characters – people the world has either ignored or forgotten – and follow their ups and downs. But you will also meet the people who told and live the original stories that Welcome to Elk is based on.