I was reading another thread where someone mentioned that the scenery for VV3 reminds them of Easter Island. I knew nothing about Easter Island so I decided to look it up.

Interestingly, I found MANY things about Easter Island that appear to be in the VV games, even down to the Isola name itself.

Easter Island is also known as Rapa Nui. Take a look at some of the things that first jumped out at me in which Easter Island and the VV games appear to match:

1. In VV, the island is given the name "Isola".

Interestingly, I found that Easter Island is considered to be the "'most isolated' of the Polynesian islands". Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rapa_Nui_mythology

2. Mythology in VV is everywhere. Even the water is considered to be "magical". The gong is some kind of god of sorts that can give or take things from/to the villagers. Even the story behind VV2 starts off with a mystery in which the previous adults claim the island appeared to have some sort of magic in which they believed was evil in some way.

Easter Island is known to have its own unique mythology. Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rapa_Nui_mythology. Note the myths linked at the bottom of that page.

3. Heads: In VV1, a statue is carved as part of the game. The statue does not look like those from Easter Island, but it's still a statue. There is also a head in both VV1 and VV2 at the lower left side which gives hints. But the closest match is the head in the VV3 preview posted here: http://www.ldwforums.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php/ubb/showflat/Number/127152/page/1#Post127152

Statues, named Moai, at Easter Island have very disproportionally large heads as compared to their bodies. These statues are also commonly called "heads" as a result. Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moai#Description

4. Seven villagers set out on a boat in VV2 and are never seen again (at least not in VV2, but maybe they'll be part of VV3? Notice that the previews of VV3 show villagers on a boat).

Part of the history of Easter Island includes a priest who sent "seven scouts" who found an island. Could this be the villagers who left on a boat in VV2? Or could they be the parents who left the children behind in VV2? Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kings_of_Easter_Island#The_First_King

5. Caves. Throughout the VV series, caves have been an important part of the games. We're also seeing more references to caves in the previews of VV3.

Easter Island was "riddled with caves". Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Easter_Island#Caves

6. Petroglyphs (pictures carved in rock) is part of VV2 underneath the vines.

Easter Island is known for having "one of the richest collections [of petroglyphs] in all Polynesia." Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Easter_Island#Petroglyphs

7. Ever notice that the villagers must duck down to enter the research hut and the privacy hut? Why would the game make the villagers do that?

Eastern Island had houses with entrances that "were very low, and getting in required crawling." Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Easter_Island#Stone_houses

8. Red hair. It's clear to most of us that the villagers generally end up having red hair unless we take special care to prevent it. But why red hair? Red hair isn't very common among most populations.

Interestingly, I found a single line that may answer this question. While reading about Easter Island (which has a fascinating history), I found this reference to red hair: "Heyerdahl, referring too [sic] the mysterious red headed race that was reported on the island concluded that they represented topknots of red hair." A red haired race on Easter Island? Coincidence? Source: http://mysteriousplaces.com/Easter_Island/html/site5.html


I ran across other tidbits that appeared to be a match. I ran across references to the trees at Easter Island (a very tall palm now extinct), another tree that's rather bush-like (any of the bushes in VV1?), discussions of birds and "birdmen" being an important part of Easter Island, among others. Trying to find them all and link them up takes a long time so I'll end it here. But I find the similarities to be rather interesting.

I'd be interested to know if anyone else can find things from the VV games and Easter Island that match. Or is this all coincidental? I find most compelling is the name "Isola" and the fact that Easter Island is one of he most isolated places in the world. Of all the names they could have selected for the VV island, they named it Isola. Maybe now I know why they gave it that particular name.

Actually, I believe 'Isola' is simply 'island' in Italian.

But your other theories seem pretty sound. Although, I haven't had an excess of red heads. I mean, I have some, but they're not overly common in my games.

those are very interesting! i also do not get many red-heads.

And right you are. I still like my theory, but I have to admit, yours is probably more likely.

Vicki: frankly, I watched a program about Easter Island four years ago and thought the same thing about Isalo. But then, it is a a game of friction and I'm enjoying how everything is unfolding.

Agreed on the game of fiction, but it would be even more interesting if it had its roots in something real. I just read a thread regarding what the villagers' name mean which I found very interesting.

I also liked how many of the seemingly made up things in the Harry Potter series actually had roots in something real; it wasn't just made up.

It adds an extra level to the game (or book). There's the story itself, but there's the story of the different parts (such as the names) that expands the game.

The only thing that struck me right away was the name of Easter Island, Rapa Nui. One of the villagers of my first tribe was named Rapa. I doubt the similarities are coincidental. Even a 'classic' like Lord of the Rings was partially based on Norse Mythology. New stories grow and expand on older ones, just like cities.

I thought it was 8 villagers who set out on a raft...

Wow that is intresting I am studying about Easter Island Ryt now

It could be Easter Island. Look at the VV2 totems. The heads are huge!