Location-Based Game

Overview

WWF asked us to digitally enhance nature as part of a project for my Masters. How could these apparent opposites – the artificial versus the natural – reinforce one another?

The primary goal was to create awareness of WWF’s active role in local nature preservation and development, and its relevance to the world we live in. The project targeted families with children aged 6-12.

Background

Like most of us, children spend a lot of time behind screens. So if we truly want this generation to appreciate the value of nature, there’s nothing like experiencing it for themselves. Clearly, a location based game was the way to go.

The temptation of technologies such as AR and VR was strong, but according to research, for children that grow up with an overload of technology, the only way to spark engagement is by creating meaning. In addition to coming up with the narrative, striking the right balance between the natural and the artificial was therefore crucial.

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Action

After comparing different technological and conceptual directions, we decided on the development of an app that:

• Allows families to embark on an adventure together as ‘Delta Rangers’
• Tells the story of the animals using primarily audio, preventing a disconnection from the surroundings
• Allows you to earn ‘badges’ by completing direct interactions with nature itself
• Gives a sense of agency to children, as they take on the role of biologist, explorer or team leader
• Provides an added educational layer about the animals you encounter
• Allows you to save your journey, retrace your steps, share your experience through a web-based platform – thus maximizing the reach of WWF’s activities

Outcome

The ability to work on a meaningful case like this, for a client like the World Wildlife Fund, was a truly satisfying experience. And the fact that WWF decided to allow a second student team to keep working on it throughout the final semester, pretty much says it all.