10/01/24
Hawk & Puma, a 15-minute video game about the conquest of the Americas

"Chilean game designer Nico Valdivia surprises the indie world with an adventure inspired by historian Guaman Poma and created in Bitsy.

👾 This is a free 15-minute video game inspired by Guaman Poma, a 17th-century Andean indigenous historian known for writing a text addressed to the King of Spain, denouncing the abuses committed by the empire against indigenous people.

👾 The nearly documentary-like game can be played for free on Itchio and is available in Spanish, English, and Quechua, thanks to collaboration with the ÑawpaÑan community from Peru’s Sacred Valley. @mergrazzini shares all the details of this title, which is truly a must-play for Latin America."

09/26/18
Interview with Nico Valdivia Hennig of Niebla Games: Chile and Board Games

In an exclusive interview with La Matatena, Nico Valdivia Hennig, co-founder of Niebla Games, shared insights into the growth of the tabletop gaming scene in Chile and how Niebla Games has contributed to it. He discussed the studio's development of Careta and Hegemony: Shadows of Power, two tabletop games that reflect their unique design approach, focusing on innovative mechanics and Chilean cultural influences. Valdivia also touched on the challenges and opportunities in the Chilean gaming market, noting the importance of creating experiences that resonate both locally and internationally.

02/06/20
Niebla Games presents "Causa, Voices of the Dusk" as a deep card game with original mechanics

"Based in Valparaíso, Chile, Niebla Games came to Quebec to present Causa, Voices of the Dusk, a deep card game with original mechanics. Behind the project is a multidisciplinary team, with members from diverse backgrounds such as psychology, history, politics, and sociology. This variety helps foster a unique perspective on game creation. The studio's goal? To refresh the player experience by encouraging them to think about society, politics, and power. We spoke with Nico Valdivia Hennig, Creative Director at Niebla Games, to learn more about the team, their creations, and their philosophical values."

01/22/18
New Games from Latin America

"At Essen, I met with a representative from Niebla Games and was able to preview a prototype of Hegemony: Shadows of Power, set to release in 2018. It’s a card game about shifting alliances, where players try to stay on the winning side as often as possible. Last year, Niebla released Careta, which I previously reported on (and have since played—it’s a clever bluffing game). Hegemony will be the second tabletop game set in the world of Causa, for which they are also developing a video game. Like Careta, Hegemony comes from the mind of Nico Valdivia Hennig."

10/03/24
Nico to Moderate Critical Game Production Panel at UCR

Nico Valdivia Hennig will moderate a panel at UC Riverside titled Critical Game Production, featuring experts Brendan Keogh, Alenda Chang, and Phillip Penix-Tadsen. This discussion will explore the intersection of game production, cultural studies, and critical methodologies in contemporary game design. The panel is part of a broader event series focused on critical media practices and will address how games can be used as tools for social critique and transformation.

The event will take place via Zoom on October 8, 2024, from 3:00 to 4:45 PM Pacific Time. It will begin with individual presentations from each speaker, followed by a discussion moderated by Nico Valdivia Hennig, who will synthesize the speakers' contributions and reflect on their impact on research-creation practices in Latin America. The final part of the session will be dedicated to audience questions, providing an opportunity for interactive dialogue. The panel will be recorded and shared on YouTube, with Spanish subtitles added to ensure accessibility for Latin American audiences.

09/21/24
Nico Valdivia participated in the Game Arts International Assembly (GAIA)

Nico Valdivia, a Chilean game designer, was part of the Game Arts International Assembly, a gathering of artists, creators, and game designers from around the world to explore the intersection of art and game design. The event focused on fostering collaboration, innovation, and dialogue in the global game arts community.

09/18/24
Public Lecture: Nico Valdivia Hennig and Dr. Isabel Pérez-Ramos | Speculative Play and Just Futurities

"Nico Valdivia Hennig and Dr. Isabel Pérez-Ramos will lead conversations featuring their SPJF projects: “Andean Futures: Collaborative Play-Creation” and “Dismantling the Wasteocene through Solidarity.”

09/15/24
Chile Diseño - Jury Member of for the National Design Awards, Chile

We are proud to announce that Nico Valdivia Hennig will be serving as a jury member for the 9th edition of the Chile Diseño Awards, organized by Chile Diseño, the Association of Design Companies and Academies. Nico will lead the evaluation of the Video Game Design category, assessing submissions from designers across the nation.

The Chile Diseño Awards, which celebrate innovation in Chilean design across various disciplines, aim to highlight creativity and excellence in fields such as visual communication, industrial design, and interactive media. This prestigious event offers a platform for recognizing both emerging and established professionals who push the boundaries of creative design.

Nico’s involvement in this distinguished event reflects their deep commitment to advancing game design as a tool for cultural expression. The awards ceremony will take place on October 29, 2024, following two rounds of judging that will run from late September to mid-October.

09/27/24
The latest episode of Telar Maestro Podcast featuring Nico Valdivia Hennig is now available!

In this episode, Nico, a game designer and cultural studies researcher, shares insights on how he transformed a 500-year-old indigenous text into a video game, blending history, culture, and modern technology. Don't miss this engaging conversation exploring the intersection of Latin American heritage and interactive storytelling.

Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, and more.

09/19/24
Artist Workshop: Minimal Game Design for (New Game) Artists with Open Source Tools with Nico Valdivia Hennig

"This workshop introduces new game artists to the fundamentals of minimalist game design using accessible open-source tools like Bitsy, Twine, and Godot. Participants will learn to create simple games with free and open-source software, developing practical skills for game development with minimal technical barriers. No prior experience is needed. Please bring your own laptop (Windows, Mac) or smartphone."

08/12/24
Indiana University (IU), Indianapolis Arts and Humanities Institute (IAHI)
Nico Valdivia Hennig in Residence Aug/Sept 2024

We are pleased to announce that Nico Valdivia Hennig will be in-residence from August 25th through September 22nd, 2024 with the Speculative Play and Just Futurities program. 

While in-residence in Indianapolis, Nico will work on their latest project, Andean Futures: Collaborative Play-Creation, an initiative centered on empowering Andean youth from the Pisac community in Peru's Sacred Valley of the Incas to envision and create digital futures rooted in their cultural heritage. This project seeks to address the underrepresentation of spaces for indigenous communities to actively participate in discussions about futures and traditions, such as indigenous futurism, which has been underexplored in Latin America. By fostering the creation of micro-games that reflect the distinctive Andean worldview, the project utilizes accessible, open-source tools to facilitate a collaborative process where tradition and technology intersect. This initiative offers a speculative exploration of potential futures shaped by the perspectives of indigenous and marginalized communities, aiming to inspire broader recognition and appreciation of indigenous voices in global conversations about the future through interactive media.

08/05/24
Nico Valdivia Hennig to Speak at Cinemateca de Bogotá’s "Datos y Relatos"

Nico Valdivia Hennig, co-founder and creative director of Niebla Games, will present at the "Datos y Relatos" event hosted by the Cinemateca de Bogotá and Idartes MediaLab. In this talk, Nico will delve into the research-creation process behind Hawk and Puma, a minimalist game that pays homage to the Andean chronicler Guaman Poma de Ayala. The session will highlight the game's development using the Bitsy platform, blending pixel art and Andean music, and incorporating sustainable cultural practices through collaboration with the ÑawpaÑan community in Pisac, Sacred Valley of the Incas, Peru. The virtual event will stream on the Cinemateca's YouTube and Facebook pages.

02/20/24
Video Game Created in Valparaíso Raises $4 Million for Wildfire Victims

"Niebla Games successfully raised over $4,200 USD (4 million Chilean pesos) with a video game created to support victims affected by the wildfires in Valparaíso.

The micro-game Wildfire Chile 24 was developed to provide financial assistance to organizations helping victims through a GoFundMe campaign."

03/12/20
Beta Announcement for Causa: Voices of the Dusk

Niebla Games has officially announced the beta release of Causa: Voices of the Dusk, a collectible card game developed by the Chilean studio. The game offers innovative mechanics where players build decks, make strategic decisions, and manage resources to influence the tides of battle. The closed beta, now available, allows select users to test out its intricate gameplay, rich narrative, and diverse cast of characters. With a strong emphasis on both strategy and storytelling, Causa aims to captivate fans of card games worldwide.

02/11/20
Niebla Games Launches New Trailer and Announces Closed Beta for Causa, Voices of the Dusk

Valparaíso-based game studio Niebla Games has released a new trailer and announced the closed beta phase for their strategy card game Causa, Voices of the Dusk. Known for its deep mechanics and unique gameplay, Causa immerses players in a rich narrative where choices shape the outcome. The beta version will be available to a select group of players, who will be able to test the game's complex decision-making systems before its full release.

01/20/2018
Three Niebla Games Titles to be Presented at PAX East 2018

The Chilean studio Niebla Games will showcase three of its games at PAX East 2018 in Boston, one of the most important video game conventions in the world. The games include Hegemony: Shadows of Power, a card game focused on changing alliances, Careta, a clever bluffing game, and the digital card game Causa: Voices of the Dusk, which is set in the same world as Hegemony. This opportunity marks a significant step for Niebla Games as they present their projects to an international audience at one of the industry's most prestigious events.