Ever wondered what happened to the old mobile phone you threw away? In the unique puzzle simulation game Burn The Boards you can not only experience the reality of an informal worker, who breaks down e-waste for a living, but also contribute to change. The game is available for free for both Android and iOS.
The player takes on the role of Arun, a villager who came to the big city with his wife and child to try his luck. Arun gets work in Chopra’s e-waste scrapyard, a small backyard factory where a dozen workers recycle electronic components. In order to feed his family, Arun has to recycle as many boards as possible, while toxic fumes will also poison him at the same time.
The gameplay is based on puzzles that gets increasingly complex. The player has to break the board apart in the most efficient manner, maximizing his profit and minimizing the numbers of moves. Through a shop system, the player can also purchase items that increase his ability to pick components, protect his health and help him to deal with health issues caused by the work. The game can be only be won by hard work: after a particular sum is reached, Arun can afford to retire from his recycling job and look for healthier opportunities.
Burn the Boards also aims at tangible change. Not only does it want to inform about the dangers of e-waste recycling and the hazardous conditions of informal workers, but it will also allow for an impact in reality. With the support of the German NGO Action for World Solidarity Causa Creations will donate 50% of its revenues to the support of migrating work forces in Indie, most whom are Dalits („Untouchables“).
Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lEndTcyxmWY
About the creators
In 2014 Tilmann Hars and Georg Hobmeier founded Causa Creations, a small studio for the development of games and interactive media. We have a strong disposition towards independent games, but also an equally strong interest in politics and social justice. For this very reason, we seek to develop our own brand of social awareness games, collaborating closely with NGOs such as Amnesty International and Action for World Solidarity. Burn The Boards was made in close collaboration with the artist and designer James Biddulph from Jamo Games.