The Challenge
Sky Kelpie approached Actuator Digital with a unique vision: to create a single-player game that would not only simulate drone flying skills but also teach players the art of cattle mustering using drones. The project came with its own set of challenges, from crafting real world environments, to modelling real world cattle behaviour. Additionally, the game needed to deliver an engaging experience with polished visuals and realistic drone response, while meeting the practical training goals set by the client.
The Solution
Actuator Digital took a comprehensive approach to bring Sky Kelpie’s vision to life. We started with detailed planning and prototyping. This tackled two main challenges in isolation, realistic cattle response to threats in a herd, and realistic movement and control response of a DJI drone. With satisfying solutions to these areas found in prototypes we moved to building the foundation for robust gameplay mechanics and mission systems. Our team developed training-focused levels like “Learn to Fly,” “Keep Cow in Sight,” and “Advanced Flying Skills,” each designed to guide users in the development of specific foundational skills.
The user interface was carefully designed to be dynamic and responsive, featuring HUD elements, mission indicators, and menus. To enhance immersion, we created realistic environments complete with barns, paddocks, and interactive elements like gates and fences, and with special attention paid to the look and variation among our cattle.
The Result
The result is a visually impressive and highly functional training simulation game that met and exceeded Sky Kelpie’s expectations. The game featured:
- Engaging Training Missions: Tailored to teach drone flying and cattle mustering skills effectively in a scaffolded manner.
- Polished User Experience: A simple, user-friendly interface navigable with mouse, keyboard, or controller.
- Positive Stakeholder Feedback: The iterative development process ensured the game aligned with the client’s goals, resulting in a highly satisfied partnership.
Actuator Digital’s end-to-end involvement in this project ensured every aspect of the game, from concept to execution, was handled with care and precision. The collaboration with Sky Kelpie has laid the groundwork for further enhancements and exciting future developments.