For this project, we were commissioned by the Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency to design a game that allows players to experience daily life in a future scenario set in 2050. Through a combination of research and storytelling, we translated complex future outlooks into an engaging and persuasive game experience.
PlanetPoints is a secondary currency that exists alongside the euro, with products carrying additional costs based on their CO₂ emissions. Supermarket items display both a price in euros and in PlanetPoints, reflecting their environmental impact. Everyone receives the same amount of PlanetPoints, regardless of wealth, to ensure equal opportunities for making sustainable choices. This system promotes fair and environmentally conscious consumption.
In addition, innovative technologies such as algae trees have been introduced. These trees produce ten times more oxygen than regular trees and can be converted into algae paste, a free food source for citizens. Together, these solutions highlight the possibilities of a sustainable future.
In this game, you play as a single mother who struggles to keep her budget balanced while carefully managing her PlanetPoints. The story opens with a relatable moment: she wakes up late and rushes to get her child ready for school. Things become more emotional when she realizes it’s her son’s birthday, and he asks for hamburgers for dinner, something expensive in PlanetPoints but important to him.
With only limited resources, she faces a difficult choice: should she steal the hamburgers to make her son happy, or buy algae paste instead and turn it into ‘sludge burgers’?
The Process
I got to design and put together the audio for the game. It was a lot of trial and error, experimenting with different sounds and effects to create the right atmosphere. By testing various audio elements and adjusting the sound mix to match the gameplay, I was able to optimize the audio for the player’s experience. It was a really valuable learning process that showed me just how crucial sound design is for shaping the player’s experience.
The Team
For this project, everyone had their own role in creating the game. We coordinated our roles carefully to work together as effectively as possible. We spent a lot of time brainstorming how to best convey our scenario, using our different areas of expertise to seamlessly integrate the story, gameplay, and visual elements. By collaborating efficiently, we were able to create a game that works well both content-wise and technically, delivering a clear message that really makes the player think.
