My Perfect Console with Simon Parkin Dr. Elin Festøy, creative producer (My Child Lebensborn; My Child: New Beginnings)
Feb 10, 2026
Dr. Elin Festøy, Norwegian creative producer and BAFTA-winning maker who uses games to illuminate wartime histories. She discusses making My Child Lebensborn and New Beginnings to teach empathy through Tamagotchi-like care. She explains working with survivors, classroom use, viral global reach, and funding a foundation to support children born of war.
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Survivors Shaped The Game's Scenes
- Festøy worked closely with the Lebensborn Association and used survivor testimonies to craft scenes like bullying and background documentation.
- The team validated scenarios with survivors and copied archival Red Cross documents into the game for authenticity.
Validate With Survivors And Archives
- Validate sensitive historical content with survivor groups and archival documents to maintain authenticity.
- Integrate true testimonies into gameplay while preserving player motivation.
Game Funding Enabled Real-World Support
- Festøy used game proceeds to create a foundation supporting children born of war today and to preserve the Lebensborn archive.
- Publicity from the game enabled survivors to share their stories openly with grandchildren and national press.
