The last few months, we’ve been diving deep into the endless abyss of Ocean Literacy. The main takeaway is that there is so much we don’t know yet about the largest habitat of our planet, but it has inspired us to start an exciting new interactive journey.

Gamifying ocean literacy

ODYSEA is an educational game for web and VR that immerses players in the beauty of the oceans and the challenges they face. Players take on the role of activists and work to address issues such as climate change, overfishing, and pollution.
The clock is ticking. The magical depths, along with its flora and fauna, are grappling with major challenges: from climate change to overfishing, microplastics, and other forms of pollution.

ODYSEA is a mix of adventure, exploration, social, and RPG elements. The central location of the game is the ODYSEA academy, where players start as recruits and work their way up to becoming “ocean literates” and “ocean guardians”.

The game’s world is primarily made up of the natural beauty of the ocean and its inhabitants. Players progress through levels, learning and completing tasks to earn rewards and unlock new environments. ODYSEA’s focus is on making a positive impact in both the virtual and physical world through various gameplay mechanics that align with real-world ocean conservation efforts.

The game is designed for a primary audience of Gen Z and Gen Alpha, with a focus on promoting ocean literacy and active participation in conservation efforts.

Why ODYSEA?

Our interest and expertise in ecology and education date back a long time and continue to grow. Long before establishing Poppins & Wayne, we were involved in the early development of Bingel, publisher Van In’s digital learning platform. For this consultancy project, we developed a conceptual and structural framework centered around an “evolving island archipelago,” using story progression and individual + collective impact as primary motivational mechanics for elementary school students.

A few years ago, the concept of an island-based learning environment resurfaced when we were approached by the Indian EdTech start-up 21K School. Their request to “shape & sell the dream” (target audience: investors) was met with an inspiring pitch video that brought their Web 3.0 ambitions to life.

The most direct -and probably most notable- project to pave the way for ODYSEA however was our Pollinator Park, which truly demonstrated the potential of VR, gameplay and sci-fi storytelling in raising awareness about environmental challenges.

Join the ODYSEA movement

If you’re active in ocean research, biodiversity, or sustainability in any capacity, we kindly invite you to reach out to us. We’re currently putting together a team of experts and partners to bring this ocean-game-changing project to life.