Cosmos Sterrenwacht
Solar observatory and planetarium

Introduction

Cosmos Observatory, located in the middle of one of the darkest locations in the Netherlands, felt the need to expand its educational mission. By integrating advanced technologies such as serious gaming, the observatory aims to immerse visitors of all ages in the wonders of the universe, with the sun as the central theme. GameLab Oost developed three interactive games in two five-month semesters, which continue to play a prominent role at Cosmos Observatory to this day. 

Assignment

Cosmos Observatory wants to create an interactive exhibition hall where visitors of all ages can learn about the sun and the starry sky. These serious games must be both educational and appealing to the general public.

GameLab Oost accepted the challenge with the temporary team Studio Sundae, to develop three interactive serious games. Studio Sundae will improve the prototypes and prepare them for Expeditie NEXT, a science festival for children. The games, aimed at children aged 10 to 15, teach about the solar system, nuclear fusion, the sun, and the sun's effects on Earth. The goal is to create an engaging and interactive educational program that increases the interest and engagement of young people and contributes to the educational and innovative mission of Cosmos Observatory.

Inspiration

 

During the inspiration phase, GameLab Oost carefully identified the most important challenges and goals. The focus was on effectively communicating complex scientific concepts such as nuclear fusion and the effects of the sun on the Earth in a way that is understandable and engaging for children aged 10 to 15. The visual appeal of the games was a crucial consideration to ensure that the young audience would better understand and remember the information. In addition, the technical stability of the games was a priority to ensure a seamless and enjoyable educational experience, without glitches that could disrupt the learning experience.

 

The MoSCoW method was used to clarify the priorities. This helped to define the essential, desirable and optional features of the serious games. The games had to be not only educational and appealing to the target group, but also robust and user-friendly. In addition, it was decided that the games would have three separate game stations, would be appealing to all ages and would last a maximum of 15 minutes. Optional extras, such as different interactions per station and the possibility for multiple players, were also considered to further enrich the experience. With a clear plan and objectives based on this detailed analysis, GameLab Oost was well prepared to enter the next phase of the project.

Ideation

 

During the design phase, we went through an intensive brainstorming phase for the development of the serious games for Cosmos Observatory. Extensive brainstorming sessions were held to generate creative concepts, and numerous mock-ups and prototypes were created to explore different ideas. This enabled us to conduct the first playtests, during which we gathered valuable insights to improve the game mechanics and user experience. This iterative approach allowed us to identify and further develop the most promising concepts.

Essential documents such as the Game Design Document (GDD), Technical Design Document (TDD), and Art Bible have been drawn up. The GDD defines the game mechanics, the structure of the game, and the objectives of the educational aspect of the games. The TDD provides a detailed overview of the technical requirements and implementations necessary for the smooth operation of the games. The Art Bible focused on the visual style, atmosphere, and colour palettes to create a cohesive visual identity that supports the educational content. With all these preparations in place, we have drawn up a solid plan for the next phase of development, with a clear roadmap and schedule for further iterations and optimisation.

Implementation

 
 

During the implementation phase, the Studio Sundae opportunity team made good progress in developing three educational serious games for Cosmos Observatory. An important milestone was reached on 6 May during Expedition NEXT, where the games were presented to the public for the first time. Visitors to this event were able to test and experience the games.

During the subsequent phase, user feedback was actively listened to and used to make improvements. Three extensive playtests were conducted to gain insights and optimise the user experience. This allowed us to refine the games technically and improve their educational impact. 

 

 Central to our development was the ability to clearly visualise complex concepts. By adding new features, improving visual quality and implementing new tutorials, Studio Sundae has developed three successful games: a game about the solar system, a game that explains how atomic fusion works and a game about time travel.

Curious about our serious games? Watch the trailer below or visit cosmos sterrenwacht in Latrop

Atomic fusion

The aim of the game is to combine atoms and charge the sun..

Solar system

The aim of the game is to explore all the planets and learn new facts and information.

Time traveller

The aim of the game is to travel through time and discover what the sun does to the Earth.