Storyline

Plotline

Polar bears meet for the Polar Bear Summit every ten years to discuss polar bear affairs. Life of Wilbur explores the journey made by Wilbur, a polar bear, to the Summit as a child and as an adult. The game begins with adult Wilbur waking up from hibernation. He has overslept due to his sleep cycle being affected by the hotter temperature and he needs to get to the Summit as fast as possible. As he travels to the Summit, he recounts the same route that he followed as a child. The game jumps between these time periods, contrasting the effects of climate change over time.

Throughout the journey, the effects of climate change are shown to the player through the platforming puzzles and obstacles that Wilbur must solve and overcome. The game aims to inform the player of various effects climate change has on the Arctic region, including:

• Melting of ice and rising sea levels. Wilbur must find a way to navigate around obstacles like water and thin ice.
• Wilbur meets other animal NPCs, such as an arctic fox looking for a new home, highlighting the loss of animal habitat.
• The pollution in the atmosphere, declining wildlife and change in vegetation are shown in contrasting elements between the two timelines. Child levels are vibrant and lively whereas adult levels are barren. For example, a lake which is filled with fish when Wilbur is a child. In the adult level, the lake is empty.
• Wilbur navigates through a blizzard, showing the increase of extreme weather events.

The game aims to raise awareness about climate change. This is highlighted at the end of the story. Wilbur reaches the Summit recounts what he has experienced to the other polar bears; he compares it to what it was like when he was a child. This serves as meta-commentary to the player.

Wilbur’s actions, as a child, impacts his adulthood. This gives a hopeful message to the young audience that actions addressing climate change now provide a positive impact in the future.

The World

The game is set in the Arctic. Levels will explore different parts of the Arctic habitat, including forest, mountain and tundra. Obstacles such as water, icy stalagmites, thin/slippery ice and steep cliffs will have to be navigated, creating challenges for the user.

Gameplay

Gameplay is centred around Wilbur making the same journey both as an adult and as a child. The goal of each level is to get both child and adult Wilbur to the end of the level. Due to the effects climate change has had on the environment, adult Wilbur will not be initially able to complete the level. The player is able to change between child Wilbur and adult Wilbur at any time by pressing a button. Certain interactions made by the young Wilbur will result in the level changing in the future, allowing adult Wilbur to progress. In more complex levels, the player will have to make multiple changes to successfully solve the puzzle.

The game is a puzzle game primarily targeted at the Explorer and Achiever player types who enjoy solving puzzles. The narrative encourages players to continue. Achiever player types may enjoy trying to get a high score in the game by trying to complete it as fast as possible.