On April 27, a new game concept based on the iconic Swedish livestream "The Great Moose Migration" was launched. Developed by international master’s students at the University of Skövde, Det stora älgspelet turns the slow-paced wildlife phenomenon into an interactive experience.
Available through the Swedish Television (SVT) DUO app, the game was met with immediate enthusiasm, with viewers praising it warmly in the live chat from day one. The development was led by Wu Mingmin as part of her Master’s thesis at the University of Skövde.
“I used to work in TV and online streaming before I started my adventure in games here in Sweden. I’m very interested in projects that combine interactive methods and game design with traditional audiovisual production. This project turned out to be a perfect fit for me,” says Mingmin.
The project is a proof-of-concept and features a set of mini-games that creatively integrate narrative elements from the SVT show, offering a playful take on the moose migration.
Development of the game was led by student Wu Mingmin as part of her Master’s thesis at the University of Skövde.
A Bridge Between Generations
SVT has played an active role in the project, offering both editorial and technical support. Producer Nils Pejryd even travelled to Skövde to meet the students in person for a full-day workshop, during which they discussed game design and made key decisions about the direction of the project.
“The target audience for the game is young people who might not have as strong a connection to SVT as the older generations. It has been very rewarding to collaborate with the students, who has given us valuable insights into the needs and wishes of the younger and more gaming oriented generations,” says Nils Pejryd.
East Meets North in the Moose Lane
None of the students were familiar with "The Great Moose Migration" before the project began.
“But we became big fans! It’s very comforting to watch Swedish nature. In China, we have similar shows – but people watch pandas instead,” says Mingmin.
The development team, brought together by Mingmin, is composed of current and former students from the University of Skövde, representing China, Switzerland and Cyprus.
“Our team is made up of six people from different countries. We met and got to know each other while studying in Skövde,” says Mingmin.
Ulf Wilhelmsson, Supervisor at the University of Skövde, Pierre-Benjamin Monaco, Programmer, Nils Pejryd, Editor at SVT, Sun Haoning, UI Designer, Wu Mingmin, Project Manager and Gao Ruihan, Programmer. Also part of the team were Wang Erzhuo, 2D Artist, and Osman Onat Alicik, UI Designer.
“Some of us have already graduated and returned to our home countries, so part of the project was done remotely across different time zones. That was a challenge, but we tried to meet offline when possible. We ate Chinese dumplings together after intensive group meetings or coding workshops!”
A Gentle Lesson from the Nordic Forest
Mingmin describes the development process as both rewarding and intense. The most surprising part of the experience was the emotional connection with the moose themselves.
“Watching the footage and learning about moose behavior was unexpectedly comforting. Coming from a culture that prioritizes efficiency and competition, the moose offered a different philosophy: life is an art of waiting. There’s no need to rush – spring comes when it comes.”
Now that the game is live, the team is monitoring feedback and preparing for upcoming user tests. Looking ahead, the team hopes to expand the game beyond its initial prototype.
“If we have the opportunity, we’ll complete all six mini-games that we initially planned for, and polish them based on user feedback. As for me, I’ll be focusing on finishing my thesis and looking for job opportunities after graduation,” she concludes.
