Never Alone (video game) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Never Alone |
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| Developer(s) | Upper One Games |
| Publisher(s) | E-Line Media |
| Director(s) | Sean Vesce |
| Producer(s) | Matt Swanson |
| Designer(s) | Grant Roberts |
| Programmer(s) | David Koenig |
| Artist(s) | Dima Veryovka |
| Writer(s) | Ishmael Angaluuk Hope |
| Engine | Unity |
| Platform(s) | |
| Release date(s) | Windows November 18, 2014 PlayStation 4 Xbox One November 19, 2014 OS X February 26, 2015 Wii U PlayStation 3 Linux December 23, 2015 iOS June 2, 2016 Android June 22, 2016 Switch February 24, 2022 |
| Genre(s) | Puzzle-platform |
| Mode(s) | Single-player, multiplayer |
Never Alone, also known as Kisima Inŋitchuŋa (which means "I am not alone"), is a special puzzle-platform adventure video game. It was created by Upper One Games and published by E-Line Media. The game is based on an old traditional Iñupiaq story called "Kunuuksaayuka". This story was first written down by a master storyteller named Robert Nasruk Cleveland.
In the game, you play as an Iñupiaq girl named Nuna and her clever Arctic fox friend. You work together to solve puzzles. The story has eight chapters. This game was made possible by a partnership between the Cook Inlet Tribal Council and E-Line Media. It's one of the growing number of video games made by Indigenous people. A new game, a sequel, was announced in February 2022.
How to Play Never Alone
In Never Alone, you control two characters: Nuna, the Iñupiaq girl, and her Arctic fox. It's a "puzzle platformer" game. This means you solve puzzles by switching control between Nuna and the fox. The fox is very fast. Nuna can pick up items and use her bola to open new areas.
The game's story is like an old tale passed down through generations. Instead of just beating enemies, Never Alone gives you special "cultural insights." These are short videos where Iñupiaq elders and community members share their own stories. The main goal is to find out why a big blizzard is hurting Nuna's village. You need to help bring nature back into balance. You will also learn about other stories, like the Blizzard Man, the Little People, and the Sky People. The game takes place in a very cold and challenging environment.
Making the Game: Never Alone's Story
Never Alone was developed by Upper One Games. They worked with Ishmael Hope, a writer and poet with Iñupiaq and Tlingit heritage. They also partnered with the Cook Inlet Tribal Council. This council is a group that helps Indigenous people in Alaska.
The Council worked with E-Line Media, a company that focuses on video game education. They came up with the idea for Never Alone. Their goal was to "share, celebrate, and extend" Indigenous culture. Upper One Games is owned by the Council. It is the first video game developer and publisher in US history owned by Indigenous people. They wanted the game to explore what it means to be human. They also wanted to share stories passed down through families. The game aims to entertain players and make people more interested in Alaskan Indigenous folklore. Money from the game helps fund the Council's education programs.
Sean Vesce, a creative director at E-Line, was excited to learn about a culture and put its stories into a game. He and his team visited Alaska many times. They met with community members to collect stories and ideas. He was amazed by the rich storytelling traditions. He realized these stories had never been in a video game before. Vesce had worked on other big games before. He led a team of 12 people in Seattle. They worked closely with 40 Alaska Native elders and storytellers to create the game. Never Alone was built using the Unity game engine. You can play it alone or with a friend in a local co-op mode.
More Adventures: The Foxtales Expansion
An expansion for the game, called Never Alone: Foxtales, was announced on July 16, 2015. An expansion adds new levels and continues the story. This expansion was released on July 28, 2015, for Windows, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One. If you play the game on Nintendo Switch, the Foxtales expansion was included for free when it came out on February 24, 2022.
