Stone & Veil – the digital game

by Marcus Young-Smith, MA student in Games Development, University of Abertay Dundee

As part of our master's in professional games development (MProf) at Abertay University, we are collaborating with SEDA Land and the James Hutton Institute to translate their vision into a playable game. 

We are thrilled to be working with these organisations on this project, whose goal is to raise awareness and enhance understanding of land use through the development of a strategy and resource management game which educates players about soil health and land use, as well as Scotland’s unique mythology, drawing on Pictish heritage.

The game is designed so even those who are not familiar with these topics will be able to appreciate the intricate web of influences on land use, and the pivotal role of the land in our daily lives. We’ve hopefully ensured this by sticking with the tasked platform for the game – a tablet/mobile device, meaning it can be shown at conferences and hosted on the SEDA website, from which it will be readily downloadable. 

A peek behind the curtain of our development team

Concept art of kelpie inspired by Pictish and Scottish mythology

Our collaboration with both SEDA Land and the James Hutton Institute forms the core of our third-semester project. We have been lucky to work with people including SEDA Land’s founder Gail Halvorsen, and the James Hutton Institute’s Geoff Squire, Lorna Dawson and Pete Iannetta (many thanks to them all) . They have been generous with their time, experience, knowledge and wisdom on so many aspects of land use and they have informed the foundational systems of the game.  

The game’s goal is to highlight the complex value of land use and the impact of different forms of production on soil health. By focusing on sustainable ecology rather than the extractive model of land use, we hope to inspire change and improve players’ knowledge and understanding of how land is deployed.

As part of our research, we were inspired to go on an excursion to nearby Blairgowrie to explore the Ardblair Standing Stones and walk part of the Cateran Trail. These experiences have enriched and helped inform the game's development. We would encourage others to visit these locations.

Thank you for following our journey. 

The Abertay MProf Games Development Team