StarTracer
(2024-2025)
StarTracer is an educational adventure game conceptualized and developed by Lance Bunt and Byron Bunt. The game merges the excitement of space exploration with the critical skills of information literacy, providing players with an immersive environment to navigate, analyze, and synthesize information while uncovering the mysteries of the galaxy.
-
Digital
-
Sci-fi
-
Multi-player
Development
Collaborators: Lance Bunt & Byron Bunt
Copyright Holder: North-West University
Game Overview
Set in an expansive sci-fi universe, players join the Galactic Exploration and Research Team (GERT) on a journey to unravel the secrets of the Star Forgers—an ancient civilisation known for their celestial engineering and knowledge systems. Players encounter diverse challenges requiring them to evaluate data credibility, synthesise knowledge, and make ethical decisions that impact the narrative’s unfolding. The StarTracer project offers a thoughtful approach to integrating education and entertainment, transforming traditional learning methods into a dynamic and engaging experience. By harnessing the appeal of space exploration, the game provides players with a compelling narrative while embedding essential educational content within its mechanics. Beyond just a game, StarTracer serves as a tool for academic development, encouraging self-directed learning and collaboration. The development team has carefully designed an experience where every choice and challenge reinforces core information literacy skills, bridging the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical application. This project enhances the way students learn and demonstrates the potential of serious games to inspire curiosity, promote ethical decision-making, and prepare players for real-world challenges in a technology-driven era.
Key Features:
Educational Focus:
Built on educational principles like Constructivism, Connectivism, and Game-Based Learning (GBL), StarTracer equips players with real-world skills such as critical thinking, ethical decision-making, and effective communication.
Emphasizes the ability to evaluate, cite, and synthesize information, fostering a deep understanding of information literacy.
Dynamic Gameplay:
Players explore a non-linear galactic map filled with nodes representing challenges and quests tied to educational outcomes.
Each node presents players with Conduit Cards that outline tasks involving six key actions: evaluate, cite, analyze, search, synthesize, and communicate.
Strategic Decisions:
Choices impact the narrative and gameplay progression, encouraging player agency.
Includes a competing faction, the Orion Syndicate, adding tension and urgency to the missions.
Thematic Immersion: Set against the backdrop of interstellar discovery, StarTracer immerses players in a narrative blending science, ethics, and diplomacy.
Accessible Design: Designed for university-level players, the game incorporates adjustable difficulty, ensuring accessibility and engagement across varying skill levels.
