Wednesday, January 14, 2015

Never Alone: The Adventure Game Based On Alasken Inupiat Fairytales That Deserves To Become A Movie!


We're going to shake things up a bit with a good old fashioned review (I don't want to talk about my stuff all the time--you'll be gouging your eyes out by the time the Woven blog tour is over, I'm sure).

It's the middle of January. Cold enough for you? If not, you can load up the game of endless ice and snow. It's frigid and harsh to its characters, but warming to the player's heart.

Never Alone is a puzzle platformer adventure game about an Inupiat girl named Nuna and her adorable arctic fox, trying to restore balance to a world caught in an eternal blizzard.

Much of the plot centers around Inupiat folklore, a subject I was not familiar with, and the game splits them up in a series of chapters. And let me tell you how gorgeously foreboding the artwork is. The controls might be a little hard to control at times, but that might be do to the fact that I'm walking along, there's really cool scenery I have to look at, and next I know - oops - I've fallen to my death.


And there's seriously cool characters and artwork to be had! I'm just sad it's a relatively short game. But I'll take awesome in any form. And this would make a reaaly cool movie ala Dreamworks or Pixar.


If you want a platform gaming experience that's truly unique in scope and execution, which some of the proceeds go to fund the Cook Inlet Tribal Council, I highly recommend giving Never Alone a go.

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Authors' Workout Update

Today is Day 1 for the Authors' Workout initiative. Thank you for your helpful stay-fit tips you shared in the comments in my last post. I've worked some of them into what will be my routine. As this is the first day, I have no stats. But I will share what I plan to do.

I was given a WiiFit over the holidays, and it's been working great as a warm up machine. I will proceed with four small meals a day (with reduced carbohydrates - I love bread too much) and a 200 calorie burn walk in the afternoons. There is also a body-shaper/sweat adsorbing thing to help remove water weight from my midsection. I started this before joining the initiative and have lost 10 pounds in the last three weeks. I'm going for another 10 before this ends.

I'll let you know how things go in greater detail next Wednesday.

Until then, be cool my friends. Stay safe on those winter roads.

Is there a culture whose stories you'd like to see in a game? How would you stop an eternal blizzard? Any new workout tips for me?

I'm David, and I could use a hot cup of tea right about now...


22 comments:

  1. The animation is stunning.
    Ten pounds - good for you! Keep at it, David.

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  2. This looks cute and cool! I'm not much of a gamer but I'd play this. I think this would make a neat animated movie.

    High-five on losing those ten pounds! :)

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  3. That artwork looks amazing! And great job on losing ten pounds! That's such a great start!

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  4. WOW. This is beautiful! I seriously might get this for my kids. I usually don't mind when they play JOURNEY because the graphics and music are gorgeous.

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  5. It looks lovely and truly delighful! And we hate water weight! Hope the body slimmer works for you! I've taken about 7cm from my waist by using a cheap electric manual massager every day for a couple of month

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  6. Truly a must see. I like movies like this. About unusual friendship. Or is it really unusual? Makes me miss my dog.

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  7. Thanks, David, I know where your ten pounds went. So I just ordered a rowing machine. Here's the thing. The minute I start working out, my body moves back "in shape". My daughter says we are lucky like that. I just wish I weren't lazy. Next week, I'll be giving you your ten pounds back--or the week after. :) PS I love bread, toooooo. Like a lot and ten pounds of it.

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  8. My cousin lost a lot weight with her WII Fitness. She uses it every day.

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  9. Winter just feels endless to me, so i could use a cup of something hot, too. Many of the Native American cultures fascinate me, although i'm not sure how any of that would translate into film.

    Good luck with the exercise!

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  10. I heard about that game. It sounds fun and it looks gorgeous.

    I still don't have any workout tips. I'm struggling with that myself!

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  11. Ah, so cute! Good luck with the workout.

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  12. First, I just have to say that I LOVE the artwork. To answer your question, I'd love to see a lot more of my own culture (I'm filipino) make it into a game. How that would look, I'm not sure. But that would be awesome! Good luck with your workout. I'm lagging when it comes to staying fit (at least during the winter). I'm much more active during the summer, so I'm much more forgiving this time of the year when it comes to health habits. ;)

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  13. Ah your Northern Hemispherics! Down at the bottom of the world we'd like nothing better than to stay cool! Man! It's so hot it's like walking behind a jet engine at full throttle. You had me going with the delicious cool goings on of Nuna and her pretty arctic fox. The art is so wonderful! Who knows, it may become a movie one day if it's so good!

    Hope your Woven tour is mighty successful. Oh, and I could do with some of those fit tips. Other than swimming most of the day to try to keep cool, I'm not exercising as it's far too sweat inducing! :-)

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  14. Sounds like you have a great workout plan. I have to not eat much bread or carbs like that too. I buy whole grain 35 calorie bread now to eat. It's too cold here to walk so I joined Planet Fitness for the winter and am riding the bike for 40 to 45 minutes a day. I feel better physically and mentally.

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  15. That does look like an awesome story!

    Busting up my meals is helping me too. I'm a nosher at heart, may as well just work around that.

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  16. Jamaican, especially The Maroons. Nanny of the Maroons is one of our national heroes and their exploits would make an amazing video game. Stay fit David. That game sounds amazing and love the graphics. Oh and you are reading Steelheart? Have it on my kindle and need to get on it. Today I have started my first new book for 2015. I'm reading Ever After High book 1: The Storybook of Legends by Shannon Hale. Have a great week David and keep a look out if you are having snow troubles.

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  17. I've been trying to go to the gym M, W, F. I'm mostly successful. Keep it up with the Wii and stay away from the bread!

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  18. I try to get to the gym 4-5 days a week. I've noticed that this is MUCH harder when I have writing things I want/need to do. I'm going to blog about it, though so I won't bore you here!

    Can't wait for your release party!! I hope it doesn't snow...

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  19. Hope your stay fit program is working. I love bread too!

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  20. What is this thing for the midsection that gets rid of excess water? I'd like one of those! Good luck as you work on your fitness. This game looks interesting, with a culture that's not often represented.

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