Science games

Save a biotope

Science sounds for many after a dusty books, gray-haired gentlemen and endless rows of numbers – that’s not true. We show digital examples of the interactive dealing with science and technology.

A walk in the nature or in the home garden, are certainly the most people ever encountered it: A from the ecological balance causes the pond. Not a pretty sight and certainly not a nice experience for the sense of smell. In the Simulation, Among Ripples of the Swedish development Studio Eat Create Sleep have Gaming the opportunity now to ensure that it does not go that far. Since January 2015 is the game for free on the digital distribution platform Steam for Download.

Ecosystem Still Water

Bodies of standing water are complex Ecosystems in which a variety of interactions between animals and plants prevail, and delicate cycles form. Particularly important is the oxygen of the aquatic plants produced and of fish and Fäulnisprozessen is consumed. Creates a lack of oxygen, dies in the long term the entire body of water.

Equally important is the biomass in the pond. It serves as food for the lower links in the food chain, however, can in large quantities such as for above-average growth of algae concerns. The oxygen consumption increases then rapidly and the pond is once again from the colloquial to overturn threatened. No wonder, then, that it – gewässerkundlich considered – no natural ponds.

Water resource management

Like the pond in the garden, the waters of Among Ripples only through the intervention of humans to survive. In greatly simplified habitat of the game works this ecological balancing act by adding animals. Small white fish that feed on plant biomass and provide the food source for the larger pike and perch. While cancers of the mortal Remains of the Teichkollegen feed, help mussels, contaminants from the water filter.

At the top of the food chain of the Otter, from all other living beings are nourished. Like a more complicated rock-paper-scissors game, developed from the various properties and Nahrungsbedürfnissen the animals a complex System, the it with a delicate touch to influence. Add to that the (less realistic) possibility that the oxygen content of the water manually to increase or reduce, for example, the growth of the algae to the current requirements.

Tipping over in slow motion

Have the Playing for a configuration of the different creatures decided, it only remains to Wait and watch. The presentation of Among Ripples is simple but beautiful. Animals and backgrounds (depending on the Season, one other) were made with Watercolors, painted and then digitized.

The quiet music at an unobtrusive point. Much does not happen here. Big fish eat smaller fish. The other animals are multiplying or dying. The Otter eats them all. Depending on how species-rich the Ecosystem is advised, it may in the medium term, relatively stable loops form. However, about all of the crabs had already died, are the Remains of the other animals are no longer processed and increase long-term concentration of contaminants in the water. If you wait too long, living so soon nothing more. Sooner or later flips – slang – every pond. A perfect balance does not exist.

This Text first appeared on the independent platform
sciencegames.de. By the Bosch Foundation funded site collects and discusses digital Wissenschaftsspiele.