MoA Master
Photo: Sami Perttilä
Photo: Vilja Helkiö
Photo: Risto Helkiö
Photo: Luis Orozco
Vilja Helkiö
MEDIA LAB
1981, FINLAND
1981, FINLAND
KATAKANA CHALLENGE
Statement
Katakana Challenge is a visual game to teach players Japanese. The idea
was to make it surprising and hysterically funny to help people get rid
of learning blocks. What could do-ri-n-ku or ka-n-to-ri bu-ru-u be in
English? My tools included photo compositions and fast animations. The
work was inspired by my experience as an exchange student in Japan in
summer 2006.
Katakana Challenge is designed to be used with the Flash player on the Sony PlayStation Portable (PSP). The music was composed by Antti Mäki, the voice of the main character provided by Kaori Otsu, and Risto Helkiö helped with the programming. The game won the DARE innovation competition organised by the Museum of Contemporary Art Kiasma and PlayStation Portable. It was exhibited in Kiasma in December 2006.
Katakana Challenge is designed to be used with the Flash player on the Sony PlayStation Portable (PSP). The music was composed by Antti Mäki, the voice of the main character provided by Kaori Otsu, and Risto Helkiö helped with the programming. The game won the DARE innovation competition organised by the Museum of Contemporary Art Kiasma and PlayStation Portable. It was exhibited in Kiasma in December 2006.
Biography
Vilja Helkiö is a graphic and Flash designer with a focus on games. She
will graduate from the Media Lab at the University of Art and Design
Helsinki in spring 2007. She also holds a B.Sc. in media technology.
While studying at the Media Lab, she participated in creating the
multi-user
Internet-based Tulse Luper Journey Flash game and the Talking Oven Mitt
sound
interface installation. She spent summer 2006 as an exchange student in
Kyoto and her final
thesis work is a game called Katakana Challenge, which motivates the
player to
learn Japanese Katakana characters. The game won the innovation
competition
called DARE, organized by Kiasma and Play Station Portable, and was
exhibited
in Kiasma in December 2006.
Contact information
+358 40 701 80 99
vhelkio(at)gmail.com
vhelkio(at)gmail.com
