Pilot a tiny submarine in VR, save the Algae Queen, and learn the magic of photosynthesis in this fun, story-driven experience.
A project by Aleksa Savic, Paul Lakos, Max von Trümbach and Forouzan Salsabili
3. Semester, 2022
Supervised by Prof. Dr. Frank Gabler and Maren Demant
Augmented and Virtual Reality Design
Aquatic Power invites players into the role of a daring submarine captain—on a microscopic scale. Accompanied by Perry, a robotic periscope, players explore a small water pipe in search of life. Inside, they encounter the ailing Algae Queen, who pleads for help. With no time to lose, the Queen is brought aboard and placed in the ship’s incubator. After a quick exchange, Perry determines that photosynthesis is the key to her recovery. The player must then interactively supply water, carbon dioxide, and sunlight—essential elements of this vital process—to aid her healing.
This Virtual Reality experience is the creation of four Expanded Realities students, developed using Unity3D and C#. It was conceived as a playful educational tool to accompany Hydra by Thomas Feuerstein, part of The Intelligence of Plants exhibit at the Frankfurter Kunstverein. Rather than replicate the original artwork, Aquatic Power offers a unique narrative lens into similar themes. Designed for a room-scale VR setting, the project blends storytelling, cute visuals, and hands-on tasks to deliver engaging science education that is both accessible and memorable for museum visitors.
