Saving Olly
Tasked with creating a new way for a well established brand to interact with their customers, I took the opportunity to champion WWF as I've been a supporter since I was a child. Capitalising on the rise of gamification, I opted to create a mobile game that would foster daily engagement whilst ingraining the understanding that each part of the ecosystem plays its part in the conservation of our planet.
Saving Olly is a mobile game designed to raise awareness of the plight faced by the Orangutans and other endangered species of Sumatra and Borneo. The game is both an educational tool and revenue generating product focused on user interaction. As a simulation game the user must look after the Orangutans and in turn, the forest. As the user progresses so will their land and the inhabitants of it.
Characters
The main character, Olly, symbolises the Orangutan population in Sumatra and Borneo. Orangutans are known as the ‘gardeners of the forest’ because they play a vital role in seed dispersal. This creates a diverse environment that many other endangered species also live in.
The Rhinoceros Hornbill is Saving Olly’s in-game guide. It can be found in the bottom left hand corner of the screen where, once tapped, it will give the player hints and tips. It will also pop up at game mile-stones to explain new game dynamics or give information.
Each species in the game has a set of requirements that must be met for them to move into the players forest. They will arrive in the game when one of the requirements is met, but will only permanently move in when all have been completed.
Environment
There are three stages to in-game forest growth. When the player starts, they will only have barren land. Getting from the first stage to the last will take careful maintaining, protection and resource management.
Currency
There are two forms of ‘currency’ in Saving Olly. Firstly, the Durian fruit, which is the Orangutans favourite thing to eat. In the game, the player can harvest these fruits from the Durian trees. The Durian fruits are then fed to the Orangutans so that they can produce seeds.
Seeds are used to grow the forest from barren ground to towering trees. They can also be used to purchase additional zones when the player is ready to expand. Both currencies will also be available to purchase in-game.
Threats
Illegal logging lorries and illegal pet trade trucks will circle players land looking for a way in. The player must scare off these threats by tapping the vehicles until they drive off.