Students from Abertay University have worked with the James Hutton Institute, Scottish Ecological Design Association, and SEFARI Gateway to design a video game to educate people on the environmental effect of land use in Scotland.

Stone & Veil, the real-time strategy and resource management game, was designed by students from the university’s Professional Masters in Games Development.

Set in Northeast Scotland, the game educates players about soil health and land use, as well as the area’s unique mythology, drawing on Pictish heritage for the theme and narrative.

The brief set for the team was to help raise awareness and enhance the understanding of land use for people who may not be familiar with the topics and the pivotal role of the land in our daily lives.

By focusing on sustainable ecology, the video game gives players a better understanding of how land is deployed, as well as consequences for the future.

It also highlights the complex value of land use and the impact of different forms of production on soil health.

As part of their research, the game development team visited the nearby Ardblair Standing Stones and walked part of the Cateran Trail.

Designed to be playable on a tablet or smartphone device, Stone & Veil will be showcased at conferences and outreach events and hosted on the SEDA Land section of the SEDA website.

“Working on Stone & Veil has been a great learning experience for the team, and we’ve gained a lot of valuable insights throughout the process, from discussing and agreeing the client brief, through to planning, designing and delivering the finished product. I hope that Stone & Veil can help people of different generations to engage with this important topic and the excellent work led by SEDA Land, the James Hutton Institute and SEFARI Gateway.”

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SEDA Land is a Scottish registered charity focused on promoting a cultural shift in how we use and value land in Scotland with a view to achieving both a healthy ecology and a a dynamic economy.

Founder of SEDA Land, Gail Halvorsen said: “We have thoroughly enjoyed working with the Abertay team on the development of ‘Stone & Veil’. It has been a fascinating experience, not least because of what it has taught us about the complexities of games development.

“SEDA Land is always on the lookout for new ways of reaching new audiences who might not normally engage with ecological issues, and we are very optimistic that this exciting game will capture the imagination of young Scots.”

Professor Lorna Dawson, senior soil scientist at the James Hutton Institute, and Knowledge Exchange Lead for Environment at SEFARI Gateway said: “The game has in-built information about soil, farming and the environment, where the player can gain knowledge of land use change though interactive decision-making play.

“It is also designed to offer exciting challenges through contact with climatic events or the appearance of mythical creatures – both good and bad.”