Crossed Design, India, Board games, Game design, aquaculture, Assam, Odisha

Shaping Behaviour towards Sustainable Aquaculture through Board Games

A series of 4 board games designed for fish farmers of rural India for capacity building and behaviour change towards sustainable aquaculture.

User Research & Testing

Sustainable Aquaculture must be practiced through scientific and technical methods. These board games are designed to help the user absorb information in a fun way. No classrooms are needed to understand different aspects of sustainable aquaculture, just print, play, and learn.

Crossed Design, India, board games, game design, aquaculture, fish-farmer, Assam, Odisha

Board Games Designed for Impact

• Board Games designed for behaviour change and long term impact

• Designed in a way to break complex technical knowledge in simpler blocks for easy understanding and repeatability

• Game mechanics are designed keeping in mind the literacy level and cultural context of the farmers

• All games designed as ‘print and play’ for accessibility and scalability at remote regions

Conceptualisation & Ideation

Crossed Design, India, board games, game design, aquaculture, ideation

Crossed Design, India, board games, game design, fish-farming, aquaculture, ideation

Crossed Design, India, board games, game design, aquaculture, ideation, card game, hatchery

What Makes up a Game?

Luck

Luck that randomizes the gameplay

Dexterity

Dexterity is the skill to perform a task

Strategy

Strategy is to decide what steps to take to achieve the goal

Crossed Design, India, board games, game design, aquaculture, game components

1. Fish Ludo

What is the secret to making profitable aquaculture? Keep your fish well-fed and healthy with sustainable aquaculture.

Gameplay

Sell all your fish in the market and earn maximum profit.

Learning

Sustainable aquaculture & its benefits over unsustainable practices.

Players: 2-4 Duration: 20-30 mins

Crossed Design, India, board games, game design, aquaculture, prototype, user testing

2. Pond Construction Site Game

Ever wondered what are the requirements for building an aquaculture pond? Make your moves and compete with your friends to build ponds and win the game! Strategize your moves to acquire land, build infrastructure so you can build ponds.

Gameplay

Any player who constructs 3 ponds first wins the game. Acquire land, build roads, waterlines and ponds to harvest fish.

Learning

Ideal location for pond construction like road accessibility, water source, proximity to home, land, role of FPO in providing financial/ technical assistance. Social sustainability, resource sharing & conflict resolution.

Players: 3-5 Duration: 30-40 mins

Crossed Design, India, board games, game design, aquaculture, prototype, strategy board game, aquaculture

Crossed Design, India, board games, game design, aquaculture, prototype, strategy board game, ideation

Crossed Design, India, board games, game design, aquaculture, prototype, strategy board game

3. Feed the Fish

Your fishes are hungry and need to get to their feeding zone. Strategize your moves and make sure the hungry fishes get their food in this fast-paced board game!

Gameplay

There are 4 fishes of different species. Each with their specific feeding zone with their feed in the pond. Your aim is to make sure each fish reaches its feeding zone.

Learning

Feeding zones & feeding habits of fish species, fish stocking composition.

Players: 2-3 Duration: 10-15 mins

Crossed Design, India, board games, game design, aquaculture, prototype, aquaculture, fish-farming

Crossed Design, India, board games, game design, aquaculture, ideation, prototype, aquaculture

4. Hatchery Card Game

Use fun game cards cleverly to complete an entire fish hatchery system. And learn how fishes are hatched for aquaculture.

Gameplay

Match the cards to build a hatchery system. First player to use all their cards wins.

Learning

Process & stages of a hatchery unit.

Players: 4-8 Duration: 20-30 mins

Crossed Design, India, board games, game design, aquaculture, card game, ideation, prototype, aquaculture

Crossed Design, India, board games, game design, aquaculture, card game, ideation, prototype, deck of cards, aquaculture

Crossed Design, India, board games, game design, aquaculture, card game, ideation, card design, prototype, aquaculture

Crossed Design, India, board games, game design, aquaculture, card game, ideation, card design, prototype, aquaculture, user testing

Print & Play version for Distribution & Higher Penetration

Implementation in remote regions like Assam and Odisha is always a logistical challenge. That is why all our games are designed as Print-and-Play versions. Print-and-play means exactly what it sounds like – it's a method that allows you to print game components locally, making them accessible to community spaces, including Farmers' Producer Organizations (FPOs) and NGOs.

Our aim was simple, to design engaging games that are easy to print and play, even in regions with distribution challenges and

limited budgets. We wanted to ensure learning was accessible to all, regardless of location or available resources.

It was no small feat to envision each game artifact crafted from basic bond (100gsm) paper. Our designers faced the unique challenge of ensuring that game pieces, like pegs, remain stable even in open fields where many of these communities come together for play.

This journey has been one of creativity, resilience, and a deep commitment.