Our strategy focused on simplifying the complex landscape of disaster management into a high-pressure, six-minute simulation that is engaging, educational, and suitable for a dual audience of older children and adults.
Key strategic decisions included:
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Core scenario simplification to translate the complex reality into three manageable strategic challenges for the player: communication, transportation, and emergency services.
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Role-based immersion that places the user in the position of Head of the Emergency Management Agency, establishing a serious, decision-making tone that meets the requirement of avoiding an overly “game-like” experience.
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Time-pressured gameplay by enforcing a six-minute limit to drive urgency and require players to prioritize public awareness, traffic flow, and the establishment of refuge camps before the simulated eruption.
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Intuitive interface design to ensure that managing complex tasks, such as identifying hazard zones and organizing traffic, remained accessible and engaging for the primary 12–15 age group.
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Ambient detail integration, such as the news ticker, to enhance realism, create an immersive atmosphere, and continually reinforce the high-stakes narrative of the unfolding crisis.
Every design and strategic choice aligned with the mission to extend the docu-drama experience by combining strong visual design with an engaging, management-focused simulation.
