New app-ortunity for Scottish tourism

VisitScotland has teamed up with Habitat, a new game which sends children on real-life missions to save virtual endangered species and reduce their carbon footprint.

Having worked with Activision on Skylanders SWAP Force™ last October, the national tourism organisation is continuing to seek out new and exciting ways to take Scotland to the world.

In an era where children are spending less and less time on unstructured outdoor play, this free app rewards them for undertaking environmental actions and exploring the great outdoors.

With virtual pins which can be collected and traded from destinations all over the world, VisitScotland has worked with the makers of Habitat the Game to help create 21 pins* which can be obtained by visiting various locations in Scotland including Loch Ness, Orkney and Edinburgh Zoo. Upon visiting, players are rewarded with a pin (showing a local animal, plant or place) that they can then keep or trade for other pins from countries such as Australia, USA and New Zealand.

Designed to teach seven to 12-year-olds ecologically sustainable habits, Habitat encourages players to adopt an endangered animal – a virtual polar bear – and keep it happy and healthy. Players earn points through games in the app and by completing real-life “missions”, like recycling or checking in at more than 30 parks around the world.

Malcolm Roughead, Chief Executive of VisitScotland, said: “Throughout 2014 we have welcomed the world with world-class events like the Commonwealth Games, The Ryder Cup and almost 970 Homecoming events. While 2015, the Year of Food and Drink, boasts incredible events like the World Gymnastics Championships and the Open Championship, we cannot rest on this. We must continue to find new and proactive opportunities to take Scotland to the world.

“Habitat the Game allows us to target the youth generation and teach them about the wealth of brilliant things to see and do in Scotland. From spotting white-tailed sea eagles on the west coast to admiring the Northern Lights in Orkney, Scotland really is a magical destination and we hope this will encourage even more people to come and explore the country for themselves.”

Scottish pins:

• Capercaillie – Cairngorms
• Gannet – Bass Rock, Edinburgh
• Tian Tian – Edinburgh Zoo
• Golden eagle – Glencoe
• Grey seal – Orkney
• Hen harrier – Clyde Muirshiel Regional Park, Glasgow
• Highland cow – Northern Highlands
• Loch Ness – Nessie
• Northern lights - Orkney
• Osprey – Loch Lomond
• Otter – Outer Hebrides
• Pine Marten – Cairngorms
• Red deer stag - Galloway Red Deer Range
• Red squirrel – Trossachs
• Scottish wildcat – The Highlands
• Shetland pony – Shetland
• Standing stones – Calanais, Western Isles
• Stone of Destiny – Scone Palace
• The Cobbler – Arrochar
• Thistle – Scotland
• White tailed sea eagle – Isle of Mull

Additional game features include:

- Individual animal care, similar to Tamagotchi games
- Temple Run-style feeding games
- Challenge a friend invitations to see each others’ progress
- Leader board to track progress against other players
- Location services to note when a Habitat pin location is nearby
- Pin trading to swap pins with other players around the world

Habitat the Game is available to download for free on all iOS, Android and tablet devices. Visit www.habitatthegame.com to learn more, or find the app on iTunes and Google Play.

Find out more information on our blog:
http://www.visitscotland.com/blog/scotland/habitat-the-game/