Alaska News

Photos: Never Alone video game preview party

On Oct. 20, the upstairs room at the Hard Rock Cafe filled with happy, festive, noisy video gamers. Adult video gamers. They included corporate presidents, foundation heads, the mayor and other politicians. People laughed and squealed as they guided a plucky girl and a friendly fox through ice, monsters and other perils of ancient northern lore.

The event was the preview party for "Kisina Ingitchuna" -- "Never Alone" -- the first Alaska Native-themed video game ever produced.

It features striking artwork, a story based on old legends and a main character named Nuna who, with the help of an arctic fox, must overcome the obstacles or use the assistance of mythical characters from the spirit world to save her village from an unending blizzard. Narrated in Inupiaq with English subtitles, the "story" consists of eight game "chapters" that tie into life lessons and video of real elders explaining the cultural and ethical aspects of the saga.

"It's a great way of transferring our culture to the younger generation," said Gloria O'Neill, president and CEO of Cook Inlet Tribal Council. CITC established Upper One Games, the first indigenous-owned game company in the country, specifically to produce the game.

Read more: First Native-produced video game 'Never Alone' brings culture to the console

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