Never Alone

 Area 1:

The opening screen is beautiful and peaceful, but there is a threat there. The howl of the the wind and the drifting snow remind us that this is a harsh, deadly environment. 

Right away, it's clear that the cultural insights are an important part of the story. They are a parallel dialogue, in well-produced, short videos, that tell us about the people, about their interconnectedness with each other and their environment. The first insight reminds us that the Inupiat are a living people, not a historical museum piece.

The first scene of the story is animated in the style of a scrimshaw carving, and it captures a mythical feeling right away. The next scene puts you right into gameplay, and it's an urgent situation - escaping from a polar bear. The fox that rescues the girl has a faint glow, as if it might be magic. Playing the fox in co-op makes the game more interesting and helps you realized the interdependence the cultural insights mentioned. 

In the trapping trail segment, Ronald talks about 'ecological time,' which I think might be the biggest challenge to have people understand. Maybe folks who have lived on a farm and in the city would understand just a little bit, but I don't suppose most of us would.

Area 2:

I think that Ishmael's observation about the importance of stories may be meant for us all. But those of us not raised in the oral tradition may not see the value, even though we still tell each other and ourselves stories. 

The game design is beautiful. I especially appreciate the depth of field, music, and weather/sound effects. 

The insight about caribou skin, especially how harvesting from certain aged animals or at certain times of the year, was fascinating. 

I found the game to be very well done. The design is fantastic; the gameplay isn't too complex, so it's very accessible for those without gaming experience. The cultural insights are peppered throughout to make them unobtrusive and interesting. I like the insights the best, but playing them game in between helped them have more impact. I think this game succeeds at its goal: making history and cultural education interesting and fun.

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