Play, experiment, learn, survive! Life on the Edge is a tower defence game to strengthen knowledge of cellular biology. While maintaining homeostasis, place structures in the membrane to defend your cell against fierce bacteria and even the Covid-19 virus.
Place functional proteins or towers in your membrane to keep your cell alive. As you work your way up through the levels, new towers will be unlocked to better protect your cell as it struggles to survive.
ATP is currency used to purchase and upgrade towers in Life on the Edge (LOTE). The amount of ATP you generate is based on your water and nutrient intake. If you are able to keep these levels balanced, your ATP production will increase! Levels that are too high or too low will cause your cell to be stressed losing ATP.
Bacteria and viruses attack your cell in waves throughout the game. Manage your towers—proteins in the cell membrane—and phospholipid bilayer to eliminate these waves of enemies. Each level will introduce new and stronger bacteria than the last. Eventually you encounter coronavirus!
This game can help students achieve the learning objectives for a first year cellular biology course or introductory biology course such as:
Homeostasis is critical to life and taught in many introductory biology classes. Cells must maintain homeostasis and LOTE challenges players to help their cell survive. How cells use various membrane proteins and systems together to maintain balance becomes clear when playing the game.
The game introduces cellular biology in a fun to play tower defence style game where learning in a byproduct of the campaign. Visually pleasing design and animations help to enhance this learning experience.
Life on the Edge uses biological vocabulary to help link the game to actual cellular mechanics. This enhances learning complex cellular mechanics learning and contributes to the game as a valuable study tool for students in introductory biology courses.
Gives you the flexibility to build as many towers as you want and demonstrate the functions of each game item. ......................................
Spawn as many enemies as you want to demonstrate how cell defense works and clear the game board if things get out of hand.
Make your cell invincible to demonstrate how enemies attack and interact with the cell without worrying about dying. ............................................
Speed up to see results of your experimentation faster. Pause the game to take time explaining a concept more deeply. ...........................................
Take control over the environment to experiment with how different water and nutrient levels effect your cell. ..................................
A multi-year collaboration between faculty members and students of MacEwan University helped to make Life on the Edge a reality. Professors and students from computer sciences, music and design studies have contributed hundreds of hours to ensure the game is a perfect balance of educational tool and fun tower defence game for in-class learning. As a type of educational game we designed a game that teaches yet is fun to play!
Project Leads and Game Design
Ross Shaw, Assistant Professor, Biological Sciences
Isabelle Sperano, Associate Professor, Design
Robert Andruchow, Associate Professor, Design
User Interface Design
Chanelle LaFitte, Student, Design
Stephanie Lumayno, Student, Design
Cam Zimmel, Student, Design
Erika Amper, Student, Design
Lisa Cox, Student, Design
Game Programming
Cory Efird, Student, Computer Sciences
Prototype Programming
David Cao, Student, Computer Sciences
Kevin Ho, Student, Computer Sciences
Illustrations & Animations
Kia Valdez Bettcher, Student, Design
Cam Zimmel, Student, Design
Erika Amper, Student, Design
User Testing
Kelly Veillette, Student, Design
Isabela Lopez, Student, Design
Cam Zimmel, Student, Design
Cory Efrid, Student, Computer Sciences
Game Design Consultation
Matthew Satchwill, Sessional Instructor, Design
John Montague, Sessional Instructor, Design
Bertrand Marne, Assistant Professor, Information Science and Communication, Université Lumière Lyon 2
Concept Development & Game Mechanics
Life on the Edge Team
Music Supervisors
John MacMillan, Sessional Instructor, Music
Emilie Lebel, Assistant Professor, Music
Audio Director
William Deng, Student, Music
Composers
Kate Ashton, Student, Music
Fabio Henao, Student, Music
Shea Iles, Student, Music
Matthew O’Connor, Student, Music
Sound Effects
Colin Deneka, Student, Music
Technical Advisors
Dana Cobzas, Associate Professor, Computer Science
Brian Brookwell, Assistant Professor, Computer Science
Funding
MacEwan Arts and Science Project Grant
MacEwan FFAC Grant
MacEwan Office of Research Services
Undergraduate Student Research Initiative