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Climate Change Mapping

JainalGandhi edited this page Oct 17, 2019 · 7 revisions

Declining Ice Levels and Rising Water Levels

Visual Differences Between Past and Future Worlds

The differences between the world in the past and the future show the decline in ice levels; this is caused by climate change. The levels are built around ice melting, causing the layout to change between the past and the future.

The world backgrounds further exemplify the effects which climate change has had on the Arctic region between the two time periods. However, the changes here are more subtle to ensure the game remains realistic and relatable to the young audience; if a more drastic change were made then the young children playing the game may not understand the connection to climate change.

Wilbur's Internal Monologue

Through internal monologue, Wilbur explicitly comments that he "does not remember seeing the melted ice spikes" in the future view of one of the tutorial levels. This causes the player to notice the small detail differences between the two worlds, and thus reflect on the terrain differences climate change causes.

Water Hazard

TODO: Something about the water level here

Breakable Ice Platforms Only Appear in the Past

There are ice blocks in the past that do not appear in the future. These are brittle and break when stepped on, showing how melting ice has made the Arctic a more hazardous environment. In the future, these have melted and do not appear anymore.

This makes the navigation through the levels much more difficult for Wilbur in the future as it exposes a number of obstacles which were not initially present. This highlights the effects which melting ice and rising water levels has on the animals of these regions (it physically alters the hibernation and feeding routes which these animals have to make).

Loss of Habitat and Animal Behavior Changes

Wilbur's Interaction with Iris (Arctic Fox)

TODO: Whatever Wilbur and Iris talk about - probably about finding food

Wilbur's Interaction with with Simon (Arctic Tern)

TODO: Whatever Wilbur and Simon talk about - probably about finding new habitat

Ocean Acidification

Wilbur's Interaction with with Willie (Beluga Whale)

TODO: Whatever Wilbur and Willie talk about - probably about ocean acidification, warming water, the effect on fish life