Drones and Droids is a co-operative strategy game developed here at the Scottish Association for Marine Science (SAMS). In it, you and four other sentient beings set out on the deck of the research vessel Seol Mara with six of our best robots to investigate an algal bloom near Lismore. Your mission is to find the source of the bloom and determine if it is dangerous before it reaches the seafarms in Ardmucknish bay. The mechanics of the game are designed to reflect the behaviour of our robots, and the narrative of your mission is told as you explore the map and deal with various calamities drawn from the real-life experiences of the roboteers, phycologists and other scientists at SAMS.

We originally designed it as a teaching tool, but after good reviews from our local pro-gamers we’re currently running a crowdfunding campaign to allow us to do a full production run. There’s a little over a month to go and we’re half-way to our goal of £16000. If we can reach it, we’ll be able to give a copy to every school in Argyll, and have plenty left over to sell, supporting our research. If you have an interest in robotics, abyssal horrors or teaching the next generation of scientists and technicians about these subjects, please consider donating, and keep an eye on the Drones and Droids website for updates.