| Self-Evaluation of Mapping Achieved |
Deep / Medium / Surface |
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| Aspects |
Related Game Mechanics/Element(s) |
Manifestation in Game Play (Examples, including screenshots as required.) |
| Issue: Trees are being cut down at an increasing rate. They are a source of the oxygen we breathe, play a key role in ecosystems and help to regulate temperatures. Deforestation not only ruins ecosystems but also is one of the main contributing factors to global climate change. |
The user must plant trees to alleviate deforestation. Planting trees requires the use of water (a perishable resource). Water can be collected from puddles in the surrounding environment. |
The NPC at the start of the Forest level highlights the issues with habitat loss due to deforestation. The NPC instructs the player to help replant trees in order to rebuild the place they call home. The player must go around with his water gun to replant trees. Only when this is finished, is the level complete and the player can continue with the rest of the levels. |
| Issue: Fires although sometimes natural will become an increasing issue as climate change occurs. Higher temperatures allow fires to move and be created on a much faster basis than ever before. Their impact will be felt in many communities with places in low humidity and high heat being especially prone to fire. Burning trees is also one of the most common causes of deforestation |
The user must put out dangerous fire sprites in the Forest level which represent actual forest fires. |
The NPC also instructs the player to help put out the fire sprites wreaking havoc on the forest using the water gun provided by the NPC. The player must go around with his water gun to put out the fire sprites These pose a danger to the player and must be dodged to ensure the player keeps his life and able to continue the level. |
| Issue: Water is a scarce resource which must be carefully managed as climate change impacts more of our lives. Its ubiquitous nature means we must carefully manage it to ensure everything from drinking to manufacturing is possible. |
Water is found throughout our level and pays a key role in three areas. It is used to grow trees, put out fires, and recharge the water gun. The user must carefully manage this resource by finding puddles to refill and choose exactly which task he wants to complete. |
The player must recharge his gun. When completing the tasks associated with this level, he must carefully choose where and when he uses the water. The player must strategically use his water and plan his route to optimise the number of puddles he encounters and ensures that there is enough in his water gun so that both the trees can be grown and fire put out. |
| Issue: There is a huge issue with rubbish and trash in oceans all over the world. The trash destroys ecosystems, pollutes water streams and also threatens aquatic life. This rubbish is also often eaten by birds and fish, causing toxic chemicals to be embedded in their tissues. |
Floating oil patches which damage the player show how harmful oil spills can be to the species living in the ocean. Rubbish/trash found in the ocean also highlight the issue with ocean pollution |
The NPC at the start of the ocean gives the player an explanation of what damage the rubbish has caused to his home. He requests the player to help him get rid of the appropriate rubbish. There are three different types of “rubbish” in the level. Recyclable, normal trash, and compost. The user must navigate the ocean level, avoiding oil patches which damage the player and place the correct rubbish in the correct bin. The player can also get rid of the oil patches by “diluting” them by using his/her water gun. This mechanic teaches the art of proper recycling and shows the devastation that regular trash can have on the ecosystem and how it affects fish and other animals in the ocean. Putting rubbish in the incorrect bin will cause the player to lose a life. |
| Issue: Energy overconsumption has been one of the leading causes of climate change. This is caused by inefficient and overuse of energy. One potential cause of this is people not turning off their energy sources when not in use. For example turning off the lights, or turning off the heater. |
The city level has buildings with lights, the player has to turn off the lights of buildings which currently have no inhabitants |
The city level encompasses the issue, the player has to manage between turning off the lights of buildings when there are no inhabitants. If a player turns off the light with an inhabitant in it, the inhabitant gets angry and turns all the lights in the building on. If all the building has all its lights turned on, the building gets short-circuited and the player loses a life. |
| Issue: There is an issue with people not knowing what affects the environment, both planting trees and recycling trash in the correct bins help the environment. The player needs to gain a reward for these deeds as a form of positive reinforcement. |
Gaining HP when the player does a good deed such as planting a tree or putting trash in the correct bi.n |
In the forest level and ocean level, doing certain environmental game objectives will allow the player to regenerate a “heart” (HP). In the forest level, planting trees are both used in order to complete the NPCS quest, as well as allow the player to gain HP. In the ocean level, placing trash in the correct bin will allow the player to gain HP aswell. In the city level, eliminating the CO2 clouds also regenerate HP |
| Issue: Acid rainfall caused by atmospheric pollution causes environmental harm to forests and lakes. The pH of lakes is affected which affects the organisms living in the lake. Forests are affected by destruction of the outer layer of plants/leaves causing them to be unable to photosynthesise. The main cause of acid rain is the industrial burning of coal -> a better alternative would be through the use of renewable energies |
There is acid rain clouds which move randomly and damage the player. The player has to dodge the raindrops while carrying out the game objective. |
The player has the choice to either eliminate the CO2 clouds or dodge the acid rain in order to reduce the effect of acid rain. The mapping results in the fact that these acid rain clouds are a “enemy” to the player. From this the player realises that they are inherently “bad” and are an obstacle. The NPC also mentions this, and mentions ways to reduce the appearance of these clouds. |
| Issue: Although there have been many initiatives to raise awareness about climate change, there are still many non-believers who spread false information. Raising awareness about climate change for future generations is an important issue we have to tackle. |
Facts inbetween the loading of each game level that highlight and teach the player about various aspects of climate change. |
Facts inbetween the loading of each game level that highlight and teach the player about various aspects of climate change. These facts/tips add an extra dimension of mapping. These facts are small and digestible so that the player remembers the facts. |
| Issue: People are habit orientated which means that we have to continuously carry out actions to remind them of their impact. |
In the city level, the lights are constantly turned on which must be turned off. |
Lights are placed on buildings throughout the city level which we hope to emulate the normal human life. The user must attempt to help manage energy usage through switching off lights when the user is done with it. |