Student-run game design studio Fenrir Studios is currently working on its entry for the 2010–11 Iowa State University Game Development Competition that began Sept. 1.

However, production has recently come to a halt as the studio is short on talented 3-D artists.

“We need 3-D artists to make this game good, but there aren’t enough people at Iowa State who are interested,” said Shelby Holtzinger, one of the programmers/level designers of Fenrir and sophomore in pre-computer science. “Since ISU doesn’t have a dedicated 3-D design program, it’s been a real challenge finding the right person.”

Fenrir is currently interviewing one graphic designer, but the team needs more.

Instead of focusing on adrenaline-fueled gunplay, Fenrir is instead trying to create a more character-driven narrative. Inspired by the recent game “Amnesia: The Dark Descent” by indie Swedish developer Frictional Games, the studio wants to focus on creating a pervasive and intense atmosphere of suspense and minimize violence or combat of any kind.

“We wanted to tell an engrossing story,” Holtzinger said. “It’s about trying to find things that everyone finds scary.”

While most of the story is still under wraps, the team indicated that it will be set in the present day.

Games like “Amnesia” and “Penumbra” may influence the atmosphere, but Derek Wiers, the lead sound designer, said that the story is heavily influenced by the “Mass Effect” series.

“I love how they established such an engrossing story,” Wiers said. “I want this game to have that kind of an effect on people.”

Blake Harely, another programmer for Fenrir, also said that the puzzle aspects of their first-person game were — at least in part — inspired by “Half-Life 2,” one of the highest reviewed games of the last decade.

What makes this project special, though, is that they are the only group of students creating a 3-D game, or a horror-themed one. Most of the other projects are either text adventures, music games or 2-D sidescrollers.

Fenrir is currently using the Unreal Development Kit, the free version of the Unreal 3 engine that has powered such critically acclaimed games as “Gears of War” versions 1 and 2, “Unreal Tournament 3” and “Shadow Complex.” Holtzinger stated that it is a lot easier to use an already established engine than making one from scratch or modifying an existing one.

One of the best aspects of Fenrir Studios is that everyone involved is a gamer. Most have been playing all their lives, but Wiers has just started to take his hobby seriously after he got a PC that could run games efficiently. Fenrir is dedicated to making a great gaming experience that they themselves would enjoy.

If you have the know-how and a passion for expanding the medium of video games beyond the current rut of brown and gray first-person shooters, contact Fenrir Studios at [email protected] and apply for a spot on the team.