Embark on an eco-conscious gaming adventure with each Eko-Deed Puzzle—your journey to sustainability begins here!

Inspiration

As Song'o, a seasoned software developer with over a decade of experience and a deep-rooted love for the environment, I found my calling in the 'Global Gamers Challenge'. The challenge's aim to defend the planet resonated with my personal passions for plants, livestock farming, and my hobbies that connect me with nature—hiking, soccer, swimming and walking on the beach.

Ekoest is not just a game; it's a mission. The idea was sparked by real-life events and the need to integrate eco-friendly tasks into our daily lives. The concept grew from a seedling into a robust tree, blending my expertise in Flutter development and full-stack solutions to create a platform that's not only engaging but also instrumental in fostering eco-friendly habits.

Building Ekoest

Leveraging Flutter's versatile framework, I sculpted Ekoest—a platform where players can convert their environmental deeds into interactive puzzles. Firebase's suite of tools provided the backbone for authentication, data storage, and real-time updates. The integration of AI for validating eco-tasks was crucial in ensuring the authenticity and educational value of each deed.

The design philosophy was clear—create a TikTok-inspired, intuitive interface where users can effortlessly slide between puzzles, saving progress as they go. The ability to return and complete tasks adds a layer of engagement, mirroring the ongoing commitment we must have towards our planet.

Challenges Faced

The journey wasn't without its challenges. Balancing performance with rich, lush visuals on mobile web platforms tested my skills. Ensuring the AI's accuracy in validating a vast range of eco-tasks pushed me to innovate and iterate relentlessly. The biggest hurdle, however, was creating an experience that was as educational as it was entertaining.

Lessons Learned

Ekoest has been a revelation. It taught me that gaming can transcend entertainment; it can educate, inspire, and mobilize. This project honed my technical skills, especially in AI and cloud services, and strengthened my commitment to eco-conscious development practices.

The Outcome

Ekoest stands as a testament to the power of gaming in contributing to a healthier planet. It's an invitation to the global community to slide into action—one puzzle, one deed, at a time. From Kenya to the world, Ekoest is a quest for sustainability, wrapped in the universal language of play.


Song'o, Kenya - Developer, Environmentalist, Gamer at Heart

Built With

  • cloud-storage
  • dart
  • firebase
  • firebase-authentication
  • firebase-hosting
  • firestore
  • flutter
  • flutter-flame
  • flutter-web
  • gemini-pro-vision
  • google-maps
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Updates

posted an update

Exciting New Updates for Ekoest Puzzle Game!

We're thrilled to announce several new features and improvements to enhance your gaming experience in Ekoest. Here's what's new:

  1. Tap to Show Hint: We've introduced a new hint feature that allows you to tap the hint button to reveal the final image of the puzzle. This feature provides a visual aid when you're stuck, helping you visualize the completed puzzle. However, using this hint comes at a cost of 6 Green Coins, so use it strategically when you need that extra bit of assistance.

  2. Double Tap to Show Tile Numbers: In addition to the visual hint, we've added another level of support. By double-tapping the hint button, you can now reveal the tile numbers on the puzzle for 12 seconds. This feature is particularly useful when you're close to solving the puzzle but need a little nudge in the right direction. Keep in mind that using this feature will deduct 12 Green Coins from your balance, so choose wisely when to utilize this powerful hint.

  3. Improved Gaming on Multiple Devices: We've fixed an issue that affected the rendering of puzzle tiles when playing the game on different devices. Now, you can seamlessly play Ekoest across multiple devices, and the puzzle tiles will be accurately rendered, ensuring a consistent and enjoyable gaming experience no matter which device you use.

  4. Visual Enhancements: We've made various visual improvements to elevate the overall look and feel of the game. From enhanced graphics to refined user interface elements, these updates create a more immersive and visually appealing gaming environment.

  5. Performance Optimizations: We've optimized the game's performance to provide a smoother and more responsive gameplay experience. Whether you're solving puzzles or navigating through the game's menus, you can expect faster load times and improved overall performance.

We're excited for you to experience these new features and improvements. Your feedback has been instrumental in shaping the direction of Ekoest, and we're committed to delivering an engaging and rewarding gaming experience.

Happy puzzling, and remember to use the new hint features wisely to uncover the final image and tile numbers!

The Ekoest Team

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posted an update

Exciting New Updates for Ekoest Puzzle Game! We're thrilled to announce several new features and improvements to enhance your gaming experience in Ekoest. Here's what's new:

Tap to Show Hint: We've introduced a new hint feature that allows you to tap the hint button to reveal the final image of the puzzle. This feature provides a visual aid when you're stuck, helping you visualize the completed puzzle. However, using this hint comes at a cost of 6 Green Coins, so use it strategically when you need that extra bit of assistance. Double Tap to Show Tile Numbers: In addition to the visual hint, we've added another level of support. By double-tapping the hint button, you can now reveal the tile numbers on the puzzle for 12 seconds. This feature is particularly useful when you're close to solving the puzzle but need a little nudge in the right direction. Keep in mind that using this feature will deduct 12 Green Coins from your balance, so choose wisely when to utilize this powerful hint. Improved Gaming on Multiple Devices: We've fixed an issue that affected the rendering of puzzle tiles when playing the game on different devices. Now, you can seamlessly play Ekoest across multiple devices, and the puzzle tiles will be accurately rendered, ensuring a consistent and enjoyable gaming experience no matter which device you use. Visual Enhancements: We've made various visual improvements to elevate the overall look and feel of the game. From enhanced graphics to refined user interface elements, these updates create a more immersive and visually appealing gaming environment. Performance Optimizations: We've optimized the game's performance to provide a smoother and more responsive gameplay experience. Whether you're solving puzzles or navigating through the game's menus, you can expect faster load times and improved overall performance. We're excited for you to experience these new features and improvements. Your feedback has been instrumental in shaping the direction of Ekoest, and we're committed to delivering an engaging and rewarding gaming experience.

Happy puzzling, and remember to use the new hint features wisely to uncover the final image and tile numbers!

The Ekoest Team

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posted an update

Exciting New Updates for Ekoest Puzzle Game!

We're thrilled to announce several new features and improvements to enhance your gaming experience in Ekoest. Here's what's new:

  1. Tutorial: We've added a tutorial that guides new players on how to play the game. The tutorial highlights the movable tiles and explains the objective of the puzzle, making it easier for players to get started.

  2. Account Bug Fix: We've resolved the account bug that affected anonymous players. Now, when you create an account after playing as an anonymous user, your progress will be seamlessly transferred to your new account, ensuring you don't lose any of your achievements or progress.

  3. Green Coins and Eko Points Display: You can now easily track your Green Coins and Eko Points while playing the game. The updated display shows your current balance of these currencies, allowing you to monitor your progress and rewards.

  4. Time Text: We've improved the time display to provide a clearer representation of the elapsed time during gameplay. The time is now displayed in a more readable format, making it easier to keep track of your solving speed.

  5. Eko Task Notification: When you attempt to view a hint without sufficient Green Coins, a notification will appear, encouraging you to complete an Eko Task to earn more Green Coins. This reminder helps you stay engaged with the game's eco-friendly missions.

  6. Hint Feature: You can now view a hint that reveals the final image of the puzzle. This feature comes at the cost of Green Coins, adding a strategic element to the game. Use your Green Coins wisely to get that extra bit of help when you need it most.

  7. Puzzle Sharing: We've introduced the ability to share specific puzzles with your friends. Whether you want to challenge others or showcase your favorite puzzles, you can now easily share them directly from the game.

  8. Continue from Last Puzzle: The game now automatically tracks the last puzzle you played, allowing you to seamlessly continue from where you left off. No more starting from the beginning every time you launch the game!

We're excited for you to experience these new features and improvements. Your feedback has been invaluable in shaping the direction of Ekoest, and we're committed to delivering an engaging and rewarding gaming experience.

Happy puzzling, and don't forget to keep completing those Eko Tasks to make a positive impact on the environment!

The Ekoest Team

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posted an update

Exciting New Update for Our Puzzle Game!

We've just rolled out a new feature to enhance your gaming experience. Now, when you're playing our puzzle game and you tap on a tile that can't be moved, we'll give you a hint by making a movable tile start blinking. This should help you figure out your next move more easily.

This blinking hint is controlled by a timer that alternates the tile between a normal and highlighted state every half a second, creating a noticeable blinking effect.

When the tile is in the highlighted state, it's drawn with a green border. This visual cue should help you identify the movable tile more quickly.

We hope this new feature makes your gaming experience even more enjoyable. Happy gaming!

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