Save the Seeds – My Resist Jam Entry
A couple of weeks ago I started my Resist Jam entry, as a jam about resisting authority and highlighting diversity I had several grand ideas. Although as a white, middle class woman I’ve not faced much prejudice, and given the short amount of time we had to complete the games I didn’t want to make something about people from a different background and mess it up.
In the end I had quite a busy week, so made a small game over the weekend, that I’m actually quite proud of. While climate change might not be something we initially think of for this kind of jam, it’s super important and certain politicians, as well as the general public, just don’t see the consequences of living the way they do, and consuming the amount they do.
So in my game, the world has become toxic and uninhabitable. It is your mission to re-enter the earth’s atmosphere (in a solar powered hover craft) and collect seeds to bring back the plant life of days gone past and slowly restore the planet to a liveable condition.
At the moment the game is very simple (and only has two biomes) but I have big ideas for how to take it further. Initially it’s teaching about different biomes on earth (like deserts, rainforests etc) and the plants found there. I’d like to add more plants for each biome as well as other collectables, for example in one world you might have to clear up oil to complete the level or fish plastic bags out of the sea.
I want to make a beautiful greenhouse inside the TARDIS-esque hovercraft and show the beautiful vibrant plantlife we might lose if we continue to consume the planet’s resources in the way we do. I’d also like to include a little apiary in the greenhouse, as bees are super important to the continuation of plant life on earth. And honey tastes good, which could be used in an additional mechanic.
Considering that I made this little game in two days, I think I did a pretty good job of it, I wanted to have another biome for the submission but I didn’t manage it. The aim now is to have a good solid version ready for Develop in July then I can submit it for all the things like the Indie Showcase and the Big Indie Pitch.
Play Save the Seeds here
