As of 2024, the National Geographic Society estimates that there are over 300 variations of sign language around the world. The Odd Gentlemen is "adding" to that list with Harmonium Sign Language, a brand-new manual language created for the upcoming game Harmonium: The Musical. In Harmonium, protagonist Melody and the player learn Harmonium Sign Language as Melody travels through the titular fantastical world while preparing for her first big performance. Harmonium Sign Language serves as the basis for most of the game's puzzles as Melody traverses Harmonium and develops her own unique approach to music as a proud Deaf performer.
In a conversation with Game ZXC, Harmonium creative director Matt Korba and co-creator and writer Matt Daigle (via ASL translation) revealed that they created Harmonium Sign Language (HSL) so that players already familiar with an existing sign language would still be challenged by the game's puzzles and could learn something new. However, it's worth mentioning that players do not have to be familiar with any sign language to play the game. It was also inspired by communication difficulties that Daigle and other Deaf and hard-of-hearing people have experienced in their real lives. The result is accessible, fun, and occasionally slightly tricky language-based puzzles scattered throughout the realm of Harmonium.
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Harmonium Sign Language Takes Inspiration From Multiple Sign Languages
One frustration that Daigle feels as a Deaf creator is that people tend to assume that American Sign Language (ASL) is the sole sign language in existence and used ubiquitously. "ASL is American Sign Language and not universal," Daigle clarified. He himself speaks ASL and experienced communication difficulties with Deaf animator Soren Bro Sparre, who speaks Danish Sign Language. Daigle and Sparre worked together to design a language that incorporated hand signs they were both familiar with but also added some brand-new movements, gestures, and meanings.
"With his Danish Sign Language, some ASL, the creative mind, and with the change of some hand shapes, we've created Harmonium Sign Language."
Players will learn Harmonium Sign Language from Harper, a friend of Melody familiar with the realm of Harmonium. They will then use ASL and HSL signs they learned from each other to solve a series of puzzles that Korba compares to solving escape rooms, as they will involve interpreting visual clues and analyzing players' surroundings to progress. "Deaf people certainly haven't seen Harmonium Sign Language," Daigle explained, "so they'll be learning as well. There's something for everyone."
A Real-Life Trip Inspired Matt And Kay Daigle
In addition to his work with Danish animator Sparre, Matt Daigle and his wife Kay were also inspired by a trip they took to France. Describing the vacation and the communication hurdles they experienced when interacting with speakers of French and Belgian Sign Language, Kay Daigle said:
"We basically did this nonverbal communication that was just a collaboration of all of our understanding: a lot of shapes, a lot of modification. We'd see them sign something and then point, so a lot of nonverbal communication. We wanted to incorporate that into the game."
The Daigles hope that the inclusion of Harmonium Sign Language, which will be gradually taught and introduced to the player as they explore, will allow anybody to "open their mind to taking in language digitally rather than audibly." The result is a series of inventive language puzzles that bring to mind titles such as Chants of Sennaar. The Harmonium Sign Language-based puzzles, as well as the richly animated cutscenes and musical numbers, are designed to be accessible to every player, allowing Deaf and hearing players alike to experience the magic of Harmonium: The Musical.
Harmonium: The Musical is in development.
