Neva - a game for frosty winter weekends (& nights)
Postcard 19th January ‘25: Aarhus
You know I am a little nerd.
I have been playing computer games since I was… I think 4-5-ish? At least I remember that I played “Snakes” on my dad’s computer in the early 90s before we moved. And we moved when I was 4.5 years old.
I also got my own DOS computer at the age of 6 and a first windows computer shortly after.
We played Age of Empires with LAN cables all over the house, with Mum getting crazy since her kids and husband vanished into a void that would not even require food anymore.
I played car and boat rally games, SIMS, and later Skyrim.
I started the shooter games like PUBG and Battlefield way later in my 20s together with Sven and since then, I barely play them by myself (only when I want to practice my aim) but play them online with friends.
And I struggle to find solo-computer games that appeal to me.
Yes, we millennial gamers are maybe the most original gamers. Think about your parents or grandparents. Did they play? Well… I got told that my mother-in-law had a gameboy-addiction, and I remember that my grandma used to love her Tomy Caveman Tabletop Arcade Game sessions.
Games used to be simple.
Don’t get me wrong, games came far along. There are fantastic and complex open-world, simulators, survival games, shooters …
But why can’t I find a good game to play?!
I want something plug-and-play after work. Like instant-enjoyment without having to spent three weeks to even get a first idea of all the different controls, keys, graphic settings, maps, character setups, etc.
BUT I also have pretty decently high expectations when it comes to graphics, story and overall aesthetics.
So, after watching a few 2024/2025 game reviews on Youtube, I stumbled across “Neva” by Nomada studios.
It’s a jump and run game featuring a young woman and her wolf companion, first as a puppy and slowly growing up from needing support to venturing and fighting alongside in a crumbling world through the seasons (there is plenty of room for interpretation and reflection during the game if you let your mind wander). The game is advertised as a story about identity, growth, love, trust and courage.
It is absolutely beautiful and magical. Like come on? A female character and a wolf companion? That would have been sufficient to get me sold but the stunning graphics, aesthetics along with the intuitive gameplay have won me over in no time.
And when Sven convinced me to try his controller, it even got better (always been team keyboard, but I might change my mind here).
Well, highly recommend Neva (it’s the name of the wolf) 😊.
About this week’s postcard
Random things I learned this week
One of the most popular Danish kids series is “John Dillermand” (John Penis-man). The main character is a guy with an enormously long penis which allows him to do all kinds of crazy things as he uses it like an extremely long third arm.
Yep. I mean, it is all covered in red-white-striped fabric. And reminds me a bit of Marsupilami if anyone remembers.
And no, it’s not from the past century, it was launched in 2021 😆. I think it’s hilarious and well, I mean, why not?
If you want to read more:
Well, you do you, Denmark.
Marine acoustics science corner
Last year in fall I got interviewed by a science journalist from New York for a podcast episode on shipping noise pollution in the Arctic she was working on. It just came out this week, and I can’t believe I am a guest in this conversation next to one of my biggest inspirational researchers, William D. Halliday from Canada! Well, I don’t like listening to the section where I speak myself, but I guess I just see it as motivation for getting better.
But most of all I am sharing this since I think the journalist, Kate Callaway, did an amazing job of portraying our work and the different perspectives around shipping noise in the Arctic. So - I know some of you have asked to share more about my work - this is an excellent start and it’s only 10 minutes :)
Things that made me smile, laugh, think, cry or curse this week
Smile & laugh
My colleague and friend from Norway sending me beautiful pictures from her work down in Antarctica right now.
Managing to speak to quite a few dear friends during the week over the phone. It’s not always easy to keep in touch with everyone, but it means so much to exchange with the people who really know you. Also got some really heart-warming messages from
🥰.
Think
With everything happening in different areas of the world and being surrounded by so many new people and perspectives, I struggle to become involved in any kind of political discussion. And since I want to relate to people while also staying true to my own values, I realise that there are certain topics I want to spend more time learning about. Not to pick sides, join the actual discussion or make judgment calls. But maybe more is needed to be able to see (and retain) the grey zones when facing more black-or-white argumentation situations.
Cry & curse
Trying to get my head around octave bands and how (human) ears perceive sound. It’s incredibly fascinating how the field of bioacoustics joins together all different types of scientific disciplines, mainly physiology, neurology, behavioural biology, physics & maths, but then also again aspects of psychoacoustics, which is how perception is dealt with from a - well - psychological perspective. It’s super interesting, but sometimes also a bit rough trying to stay afloat.
Up next
Tomorrow, we are going out for fieldwork to hopefully recover four recording devices out in Storebælt, the waterway between the islands Fyn and the “Copenhagen-island”. It will be an early morning 3 hours drive down to Fyn, getting onto the vessel, and then back in the evening.
On Friday, I am probably doing the same journey again but then for a meeting with representatives from OSPAR which is the Oslo Paris Convention for the Protection of the North-East Atlantic.
Hug,
I didn't know I could adore you even more - and then I read this post! I've never wanted to play a game more! And dang I miss Snake and think about it way more often than I should!!
But, more seriously, connecting with you, building a friendship, recognizing a kindred spirit from across the world? It's one of the highlights of this journey. You're a fascinating, brilliant, beautiful and powerful soul, Fabienne!
I really enjoyed the podcast : )