SANTUARY
SCRAMBLE
A strategic card game about building wildlife sanctuaries in Northeast India.
PREMISE
For my final project, I was inspired by the complex interplay between wildlife conservation and the growing environmental challenges in Northeast India.
This inspiration culminated in Sanctuary Scramble, where players take on the role of ecologists tasked with establishing and managing wildlife sanctuaries. The game combines elements of strategy and chance as players navigate decisions like expanding protected areas, mitigating disasters, and ensuring the survival of endangered species.
Through engaging gameplay and dynamic mechanics, Sanctuary Scramble challenges players to rethink their relationship with the natural world, promoting awareness of the delicate balance required to protect biodiversity in the face of ecological crises. By situating the game in Northeast India, the project highlights a region often overlooked in mainstream discourse, emphasizing its ecological significance and the urgent need for responsible conservation practices.
Research
For Beyond Headlines, I sought to explore the role of media sensationalism in shaping narratives about human-wildlife conflict. To build a grounded and impactful experience, I researched several interconnected themes, summarized here:
Themes
The game explores themes of wildlife conservation, biodiversity, disaster management, and human-nature coexistence, with a focus on Northeast India's ecological significance.
Core Mechanics
Players strategically use cards to build sanctuaries, mitigate calamities, and protect endangered species. Choices between map expansion, precautionary actions, and animal protection drive gameplay.
Educational Element
Inspired by real-world conservation challenges, the game emphasizes the delicate balance between growth and sustainability, simulating ecological decision-making.
Research-Based Design
Research-Based Design
Developed through research into human-wildlife conflict, disaster mitigation strategies, and habitat preservation, with special attention to the biodiversity of Northeast India.
Artistic Influences
Incorporates both strategy and chance, such as passing cards, triggering calamities, and using precautionary measures, fostering competitive yet collaborative decision-making.
End Goal
Players aim to accumulate points by saving animals, mitigating disasters, and expanding their sanctuary while learning the importance of long-term ecological planning.
Rulebook
I designed the Sanctuary Scramble rulebook to be concise, ensuring quick and easy gameplay. By keeping instructions clear and under one page, players can learn as they play without feeling overwhelmed.
