Cyber Defenders
Teaching cybercrime prevention through interactive play on Roblox
Publications of the European Union / Europol
Year
2023-2024
Location
Roblox
„Cyberdefenders“ is an innovative educational game designed for children, created in collaboration between Markenfilm SPACE, the European Publication Office, and Europol. Developed for the immersive platform Roblox, this engaging experience leaves young players with essential knowledge about the dangers of cybercrime and teaches them to protect themselves online.
Our team of experience designers, software developers, and game artists built an interactive adventure that blends learning with play. In Cyberdefenders, exciting quests and challenges teach skills for navigating the digital world safely. With a focus on fun and safety, the game prepares the next generation to recognize threats and make informed choices in an increasingly connected world.
Game development
The challenge was to find good ways to make critical online safety topics—such as online robbery, child grooming, and identity theft—engaging and accessible for children. We found creative ways to present these sensitive subjects in a playful yet educational format emphasizing the importance of online safety. We developed three unique levels, each designed to focus on one of the key topics. Players navigate through the game, learning important lessons in a hands-on way. They are rewarded with stars and gadgets as they progress.
Understanding the Metaverse
The project initially started with a feasibility study on metaverse solutions—diverse virtual platforms where users engage through avatars in immersive digital environments. Europol tasked us with exploring how these platforms could be utilized to educate children about online safety, positioning them as protectors in the digital world. This study laid the foundation for a concept designed to teach young users about the risks of the internet while emphasizing Europol’s role in safeguarding them across various virtual spaces.
Finding a platform for the learning objective
The study revealed that it was essential to choose a platform that was both widely popular among children and capable of delivering immersive, interactive experiences. Roblox emerged as the ideal choice due to its widespread appeal and accessibility. As a platform, it offers endless user-generated worlds playable across nearly any device, from smartphones and tablets to computers and gaming consoles. Its compatibility with virtual reality (VR) further enhances its immersive nature, making it a favorite among young audiences. By creating our game on Roblox, we leverage a platform children are already familiar with, ensuring they can easily engage in a fun, interactive environment while learning critical lessons about online safety.
Developing the Game in Roblox Studio
Once the concept was finalized, we began building the game in Roblox Studio, using Lua as the core programming language. Our team translated the ideas from storyboards into a fully interactive game, modeling the virtual world based on our initial drafts and KI generated images. We designed custom assets, from gadgets, assets and rewards to in-game houses, creating a playful yet realistic environment. One of the key elements was the Europol station, which we modeled to resemble the real-life headquarters, ensuring the game felt authentic while immersing players in a fun, educational experience.
