FJORD

My 2D design project that I chose was to design the art for a fake video game. While I normally wouldn’t write anything of a school project, with all the effort I put into it, I consider it one of my most detailed works.

My topic was to encompass Norse culture, psychology, and Geology. The basic premise consists of a young man using ancient magic to save his best friend who is generally believed to be dead and beyond saving. The use of dramatic Norwegian landscape, Norse culture, and the question of what is reality and what is fantasy incorporates all three themes.

I also sought to emulate Hayao Miyazaki’s style of drawing. Though I obviously didn’t utilize an anime style, I did my best to use intricate detail. I also was influenced by Square Enix games, and the realism of their human characters.

After much research, I incorporated many elements of Norse culture into the game. I decided to incorporate the Elder Futhark runes into the magic that the main character, Gerd, practices. The ancient nature of the runes and their previous association with magic made it the perfect choice. I also was careful to research the dress and appearance of Old Norse people. I learned that the only males who cut their hair short were slaves, and Gerd’s short hair implies that he is ill-regarded in his community. Other parts of Norse culture I used were the trademark Viking shields, runestones, and mythology. An example of mythology I used was Munin, Gerd’s raven guide. Munin and his counterpart Hugin were two ravens whose names meant “memory” and “thought” respectively. They delivered information to Odin. I used Munin because of his association with memory, another subtle allusion to psychology.

Another thing that deeply influenced me was the Bible. Though it is overlain with Norse imagery, the game is largely allegorical with the principal of the association of words with power, and the power attached to the name of Jesus. Accordingly, the bracelet that amplifies Gerd’s abilities bears a runic inscriptions of the name “Jesus”.  The whole principal magic of Liđvald (“bound ) in the game circles around the verse Matthew 18:18, “Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” In this game, I depict “binding” as an action that draws matter to one point and “loosing” as expelling matter from one point. This and other subtle references makes the game very Christian, despite the Norse overtones.



A wallpaper image, incorporating main character Gerd with Munin from the cover art, a runestone from the back cover, and the logo. Note the Norse sheild and the runic inscriptions both on the stone and in the wisps of magic.