S2E3 Heidi Rautalahti: Making “Runo” – Journey from History Lessons to Emotional Work (Further Questions)

In the third episode of our "Further Questions" series on the Games Now! Podcast, we explore the insights of Heidi Rautalahti, a postdoctoral researcher from Aalto University.

In November 2023, Heidi delivered a presentation on the emotional labor involved in developing the game Runo. She discussed the complexities of designing a game rooted in rich cultural heritage, navigating its sensitive and controversial aspects. The development of Runo drew from childhood memories, historical narratives, and the creation of new, untold stories.

Join us as we delve into Heidi's insights on the rewarding aspects of Runo's development, the challenges of deciding what to include or exclude, and the concept of 'contemporary Finnishness'. We also discuss balancing historical accuracy with creative interpretation in cultural heritage themes, the importance of cultural diversity in game development teams, and the potential for a sequel to Runo.

Check the original lecture "Making “Runo” – Journey from History Lessons to Emotional Work" at: https://youtu.be/uqtx6Xcpa4k

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What is Games Now! Podcast?

Games Now! is an open lecture series on game industry trends run by Aalto University. Since 2013, the lecture series has been inviting game industry experts from all over the world to share their insights on what is current in games right now. In the second season of the "Games Now!" Podcast, we introduce our "Further Questions" series. In these episodes, we revisit the lectures of the academic year, diving deeper into topics with questions submitted by our students.