To spark a passion for Philippine wildlife and biodiversity, government agencies and non-profit organizations unveiled an innovative mobile gaming experience titled “Animal Town.”
“Animal Town” is the product of the collaboration between the Biodiversity Finance Initiative (DENR-UNDP BIOFIN) of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources Biodiversity Management Bureau (DENR-BMB), and the Forest Foundation Philippines (FFP).
“Animal Town is a chill-paced simulation game where you build and manage a tiny town of animals,” said Lord Gosingtian, developer of Animal Town. “You can gather resources, develop various characters, and complete a host of quests.”
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Gosingtian also noted that the game can serve as an educational tool to learn about the challenges and solutions to protect Philippine biodiversity.
“In the making since 2019, Animal Town stands as a real-world experiment, probing the feasibility of utilizing free-to-play mobile games with in-app purchases as a means to bolster conservation funds,” said Anabelle Plantilla, country manager for DENR-UNDP BIOFIN Philippines.
Conservation
DENR said that with approximately 30 million gamers in the Philippines, an estimated 12 million individuals annually invest around P700 (or $13 in today’s exchange rate) each in their favored apps and PC games via game downloads and in-app transactions.
“Even a modest fraction of paying gamers, among the 46 million registered mobile app users in the Philippines, can significantly bolster our nation’s conservation endeavors,” said Environment Secretary Maria Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga.
Proceeds generated by the innovative app will be administered by conservation partner FFP, with DENR-BMB spearheading the identification of conservation initiatives to be supported by Animal Town.
“Philippine educational institutions can integrate the app into their curriculum, offering students a dynamic and enjoyable means to delve into biodiversity,” said Laure Beaufils, British Ambassador to the Philippines. “It presents educators with a ready-made resource to enrich lessons in environmental science and biology.”
Animal Town can be downloaded now at the Google Play Store for Android Phones or the Apple App Store for iOS Phones.