Allen Turner was invited to be part of the Digital Storytelling Colloquium at the Institute for Digital Research in the Humanities at the University of Kansas.
An Afro-Indigenous game designer, storyteller, artist, dancer and author, Allen Turner believes in the power of play and story as fundamental, powerful medicines which shape our sense of self. After working in the video game industry, and freelance storytelling, for over 15 years, Allen focused his design, storytelling, and cultural experience to create, and publish a table-top RPG called Ehdrigohr: The Roleplaying Game, which pulls from the myths and folklore of indigenous and tribal peoples from all over the world, looks through a Lakota lens, while exploring allegorical battles with depression, solitude, identity, and erasure.
Currently, Allen teaches game design at DePaul University as faculty for the School of Design and Creative Director of the DePaul Originals Game Studio. This new game studio focuses on giving students the experience of being at a large studio, developing mastery, and working on a long term game project. Outside of DePaul he uses game design concepts as a tool for examining personal narratives and empowerment with local communities and local urban youth.