Cascade Game Foundry’s Infinite Scuba Simulation Game Featured in the Academic Journal, Aquatic Conservation
Redmond WA (PRWEB) September 16, 2016 -- Two video game makers at Cascade Game Foundry (CGF™), creators of the award-winning Infinite Scuba®, are co-authors of “Concepts and Practice in the Emerging Use of Games for Marine Education and Conservation,” a paper published in the academic journal Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems.
The paper was released online during the IUCN (International Union for the Conservation of Nature) World Conservation Congress (WCC) in Honolulu.
“It’s a great privilege to be able to share our love of the ocean and our expertise in video game development in an academic context,” says Kathie Flood, Managing Director and CEO of Cascade Game Foundry, and co-author of the paper. “A virtual dive can raise awareness of environmental issues for people who might never have an opportunity to get into the ocean themselves.”
For co-author Kiki McMillan, CGF’s User Experience Lead, contributing to the paper was a chance to return to her graduate school research roots. “After working on games for over 20 years, it is fun to look at the bigger picture of how our work can influence player’s attitudes about the environment,” she says. “There’s an enormous potential to use gaming and virtual reality technology to help people gain empathy for the planet.”
A link to the paper, Volume 26, Issue Supplement 26, is here: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/aqc.v26.S2/issuetoc
Lead Author Nancy Colleton is the President of the Institute for Global Environmental Strategies in Washington DC. Other co-authors include Vijay Lakshman, Monica Birnbaum, and Albert Lin, all of Planet3 in Washington, DC.
World Conservation Congress attendees played Infinite Scuba at the #NatureForAll Pavilion and Mission Blue booth at the IUCN World Conservation Congress September 2-9, 2016 at the Honolulu Convention Center. The relaxing, visually stunning game enables players to explore real international dive sites as a real diver would. Attendees tried the exciting new VR version of the game, and got a sneak peek of the game’s newest dive site.
The IUCN World Conservation Congress is a prestigious environmental event that brings together over 8,000 leaders and dignitaries from government, civil society, indigenous peoples, business, and academia from around the world, with the goal of conserving the environment and harnessing the solutions nature offers to global challenges. Held every four years, this year’s theme was “Planet at the Crossroads,” with a focus on emphasizing that nature conservation and human progress are not mutually exclusive.
To ensure that Infinite Scuba provides an authentic and illuminating diving experience, CGF works closely with the legendary Dr. Sylvia Earle, National Geographic Explorer-in-Residence and founder of Mission Blue. Mission Blue is a non-profit organization that creates public awareness about critical ocean issues and inspires support for organizations, projects and scientific expeditions that make a positive difference for the ocean. CGF donates $1.00 of every game sold to Mission Blue.
CGF also works with the Diving Equipment and Marketing Association (DEMA) and over 20 dive equipment manufacturers, including SCUBAPRO®, Oceanic, and Body Glove, to ensure the integrity of Infinite Scuba’s diving experience while raising awareness of critical ocean and marine life issues.
Infinite Scuba was a runner-up in the Intel Buzz Workshop in June 2016, a finalist in Game Connection America’s Selected Projects 2014 competition, a finalist in the 2013 Seattle Independent Game Competition, and the winner of the Best in DEMA Show 2012 award. Cascade Game Foundry is a 2013 Graduate of the Washington Interactive Network's REACTOR Accelerator.
Below are links to two videos of the game:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R11EPXkMtoQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vazIGupFf_s
For more information about Infinite Scuba, please visit:
https://www.infinitescuba.com.
For more information about Mission Blue, please visit:
https://www.mission-blue.org.
For more information about the IUCN World Conservation Congress, please visit: http://iucnworldconservationcongress.org.
About Cascade Game Foundry
Cascade Game Foundry SPC (CGF) is an independent Seattle-based development studio composed of simulation experts with a passion for helping people learn about and explore the world from home. Their first independent release is the award-winning Infinite Scuba. Partners include Dr. Sylvia Earle, DEMA, and over 20 dive equipment manufacturers.
For more information about Cascade Game Foundry, please visit: http://www.cascadegamefoundry.com.
Kathie Flood, Cascade Game Foundry SPC, http://www.infinitescuba.com, +1 (425) 591-6417, [email protected]
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