Game developer explores colonialism through the eyes of a penguin
Following an award-winning debut, Ngāi Te Rangi developer Naphtali Faulkner turns one of HP Lovecraft's best-known works into an interrogation of colonial myth-making.
In 1939, an Antarctic landscape is gripped by the turmoil of Nazi polar exploration camps, corrupted by otherworldly forces. Amidst the chaos, a solitary penguin dances along the ice, a whimsical image reminiscent of Nintendo's Mario. Origame Digital's novel game, Penguin Colony, explores the myth-making behind colonialism and the unsettling influences of HP Lovecraft's stories through the unique lens of a penguin.
Melbourne-based Ngāi Te Rangi game developer Naphtali Faulkner says the penguin characters seem content with their role, while the invading Europeans struggle to adapt. The game delves into the revisionist histories at the core of settler movements, referencing the fictional Celtic New Zealand and Nazis searching for relics of the Aryan race that ultimately lead them to Lovecraft's creatures from the 1930s novella, At the Mountains of Madness.
Faulkner argues that Lovecraft's work is deeply rooted in racism, and his adaptations often shy away from discussing these troubling aspects. By employing Lovecraft's themes, Penguin Colony aims to challenge players' perceptions and encourage deeper discussions. Inspired by Japanese game studios like FromSoftware, the developer hopes to create an engaging experience that fosters meaningful conversations, without the overwhelming complexity of games like Dark Souls.
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