Report on “Life Below”: An Innovative Coral Reef Management Simulator Aligned with Sustainable Development Goals

Introduction

Life Below is a novel city-building game set deep underwater, focusing on coral reef management. This report presents an overview of the game’s storyline, gameplay mechanics, and its alignment with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly emphasizing life below water and environmental sustainability.

Story Overview

Players assume the role of Thalassa, a newly awakened Guardian appointed by Gaia to restore coral reefs. The narrative highlights the critical environmental issue of coral reef degradation, a major factor contributing to oceanic ecosystem decline. Guided by Gaia and aided by water sprites, players embark on a mission to revive the ocean’s health.

The storyline, though limited in the demo version, establishes a compelling foundation that raises awareness about marine conservation, directly supporting SDG 14: Life Below Water, which aims to conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas, and marine resources.

Gameplay Mechanics and Sustainable Development Goals

Core Gameplay Elements

1. Management of water sprites to perform tasks essential for coral reef growth.
2. Balancing resources to construct various coral structures that generate resources or power.
3. Conducting research to unlock diverse coral species.
4. Attracting fish to enhance reef biodiversity.
5. Monitoring and regulating environmental parameters such as temperature and pH levels.

Educational and Environmental Impact

• The game integrates scientific advice from marine biologists, educating players on ideal conditions for coral reef formation and maintenance.
• Players experience real-time environmental challenges, such as sudden temperature increases, requiring adaptive strategies to prevent reef degradation.
• Expansion into new territories necessitates increased biodiversity, promoting understanding of ecological balance and habitat diversity.

Alignment with SDGs

• SDG 14: Life Below Water – The game’s focus on coral reef restoration directly supports marine ecosystem conservation and sustainable use.
• SDG 13: Climate Action – Players manage environmental factors like temperature and pH, raising awareness about climate change impacts on marine life.
• SDG 4: Quality Education – By combining gameplay with real-world marine biology knowledge, the game fosters learning through interactive experience.
• SDG 15: Life on Land – Although primarily aquatic, the game’s emphasis on biodiversity supports broader ecological sustainability goals.

Pros and Cons

Advantages

• The game’s atmosphere and soundtrack create a calming, immersive experience, encouraging prolonged engagement.
• Step-by-step tutorials and alerts prevent players from becoming overwhelmed, facilitating accessible learning.
• Automatic standby mode for structures optimizes resource management and minimizes unnecessary destruction.

Areas for Improvement

• Water sprites’ default AI prioritization for repairs could be optimized to focus on critical structures first, enhancing gameplay efficiency.
• Notification frequency may occasionally clutter the user interface, suggesting a need for improved notification management.
• As this is a beta demo, further refinements are anticipated in the full release.

Future Development and Potential

The game previews additional challenging environments, such as underwater ice and lava zones, which will require innovative management strategies. This expansion is expected to deepen players’ understanding of diverse marine ecosystems and their vulnerabilities.

Life Below holds significant potential as a pioneering educational tool that combines entertainment with environmental stewardship, promoting the SDGs through interactive learning for both children and adults.

Conclusion

In summary, Life Below offers a unique and engaging approach to coral reef conservation education, aligning closely with multiple Sustainable Development Goals. Its realistic simulation of marine ecosystem management fosters awareness and understanding of critical environmental issues, supporting global efforts toward sustainable ocean use and climate action.

The demo is currently available on the Steam platform, with no confirmed full release date as of this report.

1. Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Addressed or Connected to the Issues Highlighted in the Article

1. SDG 14: Life Below Water
   • The article focuses on coral reef restoration and ocean health, directly relating to SDG 14 which aims to conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas, and marine resources.
2. SDG 13: Climate Action
   • The game addresses environmental challenges such as rising ocean temperatures and pH changes affecting coral reefs, linking to SDG 13 which focuses on combating climate change and its impacts.
3. SDG 4: Quality Education
   • The game is described as a learning tool that educates players about marine biology and coral reef ecosystems, supporting SDG 4 which promotes inclusive and equitable quality education and lifelong learning opportunities.
4. SDG 15: Life on Land
   • Though primarily about marine life, the emphasis on biodiversity and ecosystem health connects indirectly to SDG 15, which promotes the protection and restoration of terrestrial ecosystems and biodiversity.

2. Specific Targets Under Those SDGs Identified Based on the Article’s Content

1. SDG 14: Life Below Water
   • Target 14.2: Sustainably manage and protect marine and coastal ecosystems to avoid significant adverse impacts, including restoring degraded ecosystems such as coral reefs.
   • Target 14.3: Minimize and address the impacts of ocean acidification, which is linked to changes in pH mentioned in the article.
2. SDG 13: Climate Action
   • Target 13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters, such as sudden heat events affecting coral reefs.
3. SDG 4: Quality Education
   • Target 4.7: Ensure that all learners acquire knowledge and skills needed to promote sustainable development, including education on environmental issues and biodiversity.
4. SDG 15: Life on Land
   • Target 15.5: Take urgent action to reduce the degradation of natural habitats and halt the loss of biodiversity, which aligns with efforts to increase biodiversity in coral reefs.

3. Indicators Mentioned or Implied in the Article to Measure Progress Towards the Identified Targets

1. Indicators for SDG 14
   • Coral reef coverage and health status (implied by the game’s focus on coral reef restoration and management).
   • Ocean acidification levels measured by pH values (explicitly mentioned as a gameplay factor affecting corals).
   • Biodiversity index of fish species inhabiting the reef (implied by the need to increase biodiversity to expand reef territory).
2. Indicators for SDG 13
   • Frequency and intensity of heat events affecting marine ecosystems (implied by sudden heat events in the game).
   • Adaptive capacity of coral reefs to temperature changes (implied by use of Chill Coral structures to counter heat).
3. Indicators for SDG 4
   • Number of learners engaged in environmental education through interactive tools (implied by the game’s educational purpose).
   • Knowledge acquisition about marine ecosystems and sustainable practices (implied by the game’s learning-by-playing approach).
4. Indicators for SDG 15
   • Biodiversity levels in coral reef ecosystems (implied by the gameplay focus on increasing fish species diversity).

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: nettosgameroom.com