Gamers and gardens team up to develop co-inspired video game

Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria is collaborating with Melbourne-based game developers Weird Flex Studios, to develop a nature-inspired video game which aims to engage players more with nature around us. This game will use the knowledge of the Gardens’ botanists and horticulturists, who are serving as an ‘Australian Plants in Gaming Reference Group’ to showcase local ecosystems.

The game, featuring some of the Gardens’ plant collections, offers new and exciting opportunities to learn about and interact with nature. By combining digital storytelling with botanical accuracy, the project seeks to foster a deeper connection with the Australian landscape.

“This collaboration emphasises the importance of local ecosystems and supports our commitment to education, place, and community. We’re thrilled to support Australian creatives who bring together art, technology, and nature, particularly those elevating First Peoples’ voices and stories.” says Chris Russell, Director and Chief Executive of Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria.

In the game, players will embody a Blue Banded Bee musician working to nurture an ecosystem of anthropomorphised musical plants by building relationships with local animals. The passing of seasons will occur over the year in real-time, reflecting Naarm’s (Melbourne’s) own seasonal changes, encouraging players to connect with changes they see in the game, and in their daily lives. Players use the Blue Banded Bee’s unique buzz-pollination abilities to play music with your garden, encourage plant growth and maintain the ecosystem. Once plants are fully matured, they can be conducted in a musical pollination extravaganza. Collect musical tracks to add to your discography by exploring different biomes, and playing with different combinations of plants, to advance your musical career.

Gaming and nature enthusiasts can also participate in the game’s development through “community pollination” events at Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne. These events will take place over the course of the game’s creation, giving attendees a chance to provide feedback, test early versions of the game and contribute to its educational potential.

The first of these events, Greening the Screen, was part of Melbourne International Games Week recently. This special afternoon at Melbourne Gardens saw the official launch of the development of the game and of the partnership between Weird Flex and the Gardens. It gave people the opportunity to play the early stages of the game, and also to take a Sensory Walk or participate in activities such as making creatures out of natural materials.

“Our partnership with Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria lets us deepen our understanding of the local environment and share that learning with the community. Our goal is for players to connect with nature, beyond the screen – observing changes in seasons, noticing plants and animals, and gaining a greater appreciation for the world around them. The partnership with the Gardens means we can bring the community on our learning journey throughout the development, and not just after the game is released,” said Maize Wallin from Weird Flex.

As Australia’s game-development capital, Melbourne is home to 170 of the country’s 200 digital games studios and hosts key events such as Melbourne International Games Week and PAX Australia. Supported by Creative Victoria, these events highlight Melbourne’s position as a global hub for gaming innovation.

Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria and Weird Flex Studios are eager to see how this exciting new project will inspire both gamers and nature lovers alike, deepening the public’s engagement with the local environment.