Terra’s Day: Our Earth Week Game Mode
Hey Travelers and Heroes!
Northern Forge Studios has joined the 2024 Green Game Jam alongside 70+ other game studios in an effort to bring awareness to environmental issues and as a community, make a positive impact for the world!
The Green Game Jam is an annual event organized by Playing for the Planet and facilitated with the support of the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP).
The goals of this program are to empower players to change the world through the games they know and love, while supporting the betterment of the environment on a global scale.
This year, the Green Game Jam is focused on 3 main environmental issues: Food, Waste and Restoration. Terra’s Day will help shed a light on these through both gameplay and a new storyline.
(The following information is taken from the Playing 4 the Planet website, click here to learn more!)
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Food (Climate)
Our current food system is responsible for 30% of carbon emissions (UN) and is the primary driver of biodiversity collapse (UNEP). By observing our current food consumption patterns and making small changes, we all have the power to drive demand for sustainable food sources.
In the Terra’s Day event, you’ll learn that the planet Terra relied on food sources that emitted Gloom, a poison to the atmosphere upon harvesting. Through the event, you’ll teach the Terrans about a more sustainable food source so that they don’t bring a similar fate to our planet.
Waste (Pollution)
Our consumption patterns lead to billions of tons of municipal waste annually, with only 55% managed by controlled facilities (World Bank). On top of this, around 931 million tons of food is wasted each year (UNEP) and up to 37 million tons of plastic waste is expected to enter the ocean annually by 2040 (UNEP).
The Terrans faced similar problems in their harvesting of Green Grisal. The Gloom emissions became so dense that they discarded the byproduct “Murk” into the seas. In time, this pollution would return to the lands and lead to the demise of their planet.
Restoration (Nature)
Forests that would cover an area the size of India have been cut down (UNEP) and 69% of wild species made extinct (WWF). While this issue may seem too large on a global scale for an individual to tackle, there are ways to promote biodiversity in our own gardens, balconies, parks and town centers! How can we look after the environment around us as a first step towards restoration?
While travelling to Gloomsites across the world, players will be able to plant Light Elm Trees that will grow for players in other parts of the world. It will be your job to show the Terran refugees this sustainable food source with no negative byproducts.
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Studio Participation
As a studio, we’re also participating in Earth Week through action outside of the game as well!
We’ve already got a head start with some of this community action. So far, we’ve been collecting waste (or Rubbish – if you’re Dangy) throughout our individual communities.
We’ve also done some planting of seeds for our own food sources – potatoes, corn and carrots!
In addition to this, we’ve sorted through our closets in order to donate our clothing, reducing waste and allowing the clothing to be used by those in need.
Here are a few photos of our efforts so far!
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We’ll continue with our efforts next week and we hope some of these ideas can inspire you to get involved during Earth Week as well! There are so many community events to get involved with, so be sure to check out what’s happening around you to see how you can take action for the planet!
We’d love to hear from you about what action you might take or activities you may get involved with, so let us know in Discord or on our social channels!
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Terra’s Day Gameplay: What you can expect?
Terra’s Day is part of an ongoing commitment to the Green Game Jam that will evolve throughout the year. When Terra’s Legacy returns later in the year, the game mode will involve community action outside of the game blended with the in-game mode so that players will be able to make environmental change while playing (their favourite) RPG.
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In this premiere version of Terra’s Legacy – titled Terra’s Day, players will be transported to one of 50 Gloomsites -capital cities throughout the world- that have been overtaken by the Great Murk.
Join other players in raid battles against the Great Murk in order to collect Elm Essence. Consuming this Elm Essence will nurture the growth of Light Elm trees in other Gloomsites across the globe. In Aethric, these Gloomsites will spawn across the World Map in our new local event feature!
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As you spend time in the Gloomsites, be on the lookout for blossoming Light Elm trees that other players grew for you. These will provide you with Gaia Apples, a sustainable food source and also the currency for this event.
Gaia’s Apples can be spent on various rewards, including 3 separate sprite packs (a teaser of some of these sprites below) and many other rewards including a brand new shrine! Be sure to do your part in the Great Emerald Restoration!
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We’ve put our hearts into this event, as it’s something we as a studio believe in. We hope that our efforts here can inspire some of our community to make small changes in their life for the betterment of our planet. There are plenty of secrets left uncovered for this event and can’t wait for your to discover them!
Please enjoy Terra’s Day as it launches on April 22 and lasts until the end of the month!
