Biotech & Art SimWater

Minhao Yu

Abstract

Education games about water usually focus on teaching people how to save water resources at home. Meanwhile, water pollution, as another important issue, is often overlooked by games. SimWater is a game that helps players experience the life cycle of water and learn existing water pollution effects. Through the game, players will gain enhanced knowledge about how water recycles in nature, and how water pollution can affect our lives.

Concept

• Simulate the life of water• Play as a water droplet• Travel in the water cycle• Observe water pollutions in the outside world

Social Context - Water Cycle

[1]

Social Context - Water Pollution

• Every day, 2 million tons of human waste are disposed of in water courses [2]

• In developing countries, 70% of industrial wastes are dumped untreated into waters where they pollute the usable water supply [3]

• In the United States, 34 billion liters per year (60%) of the most hazardous liquid waste - solvents, heavy metals, and radioactive materials - is injected directly into deep groundwater via thousands of "injection wells" [4]

PrecedentsBert & Phil’s Water Busters [5]

PrecedentsThe Water Family Game [6]

Project ProposalThree states

– Liquid (travel in water courses)

– Solid (moved by nature)

– Gaseous (travel in the air but largely affected by nature)

Project Proposal• Player decides where to move the water molecule• The movement is influenced by geographic

condition, weather condition, etc.

Project Proposal

Water health is reflected by 5 indexes:

1. Taste/odor

2. Dissolved metals and salts (sodium, calcium, etc.)

3. Microorganisms (bacteria, etc.)

4. Dissolved metals and metalloids (lead, mercury, etc.)

5. Heavy metals

(From drinking water assessment)

Project Proposal• Water is polluted for various reasons in the game• Traveling in polluted areas will cause water

health to change accordingly

Conclusion• Most people don’t have chance to see the

severity of water pollution in person, but it is possible for them to experience it in the virtual world

• Digital game is an effective medium to educate people and gather their attention

• By building online communities via digital games, it becomes easier for people to unite and fight against bad things happening in the world

Discussion• Imagine playing the game, what scenario/story

do you expect the most?• Do you find a connection between the water

health and your own health? Will you care about the water health while playing?

References1. "The Water Cycle." USGS Water Science for Schools. N.p., n.d.

Web. 1 May 2011. <http://ga.water.usgs.gov/edu/watercycle.html>.

2. "Facts and Figures | Protecting ecosystems." The UN World Water Development Report. N.p., n.d. Web. 1 May 2011. <http://www.unesco.org/water/wwap/facts_figures/protecting_ ecosystems.shtml>.

3. "Facts and Figures | Water and industry." The UN World Water Development Report. N.p., n.d. Web. 1 May 2011. <http://www.unesco.org/water/wwap/facts_figures/water_indu stry.shtml>.

4. "Water Pollution Causes." Grinning Planet. N.p., n.d. Web. 1 May 2011. <http://www.grinningplanet.com/2005/09- 06/water-pollution-causes-article.htm>.

References5. WaterBusters!. N.p., n.d. Web. 1 May 2011.

<http://www2.seattle.gov/util/waterbusters/>.6. The Water Family Game. N.p., n.d. Web. 1 May 2011.

<http://www.thewaterfamily.co.uk/index2_content.html>.