BerryMaker: DNA Soda factory

Immerse yourself in the world of biotech entrepreneurship with BerryMaker! Take on the role of the CEO of your own soft drink start-up that utilizes synthetic biology technology. Your task is to source beneficial genes from various berries around the world and transfer them to microorganisms. The goal of the game is to grow your start-up, increase efficiency of production, and maximize profits every 90 in-game days. The game starts you off with a limited credit of €3000, which you can use to buy your first fermenter and bottler in your factory. In your laboratory, choose from a variety of berries and extract genes that correspond with the required molecular weight of the molecules you need for production. Use the microorganisms available in the game to combine with the extracted gene to activate the production process. Your strategic skills will be tested to minimize costs and maximize profits! As you progress and earn more money, invest in more equipment to improve production capabilities. Keep an eye out for market events that are beyond your control, but still have influence over your business. The game is based on real-life research and innovation efforts by the European Commission’s FP7 funded project BacHBerry, which aimed to identify beneficial genes in different berries and transfer them to microorganisms for production. BerryMaker brings science gamification to players and offers a rewarding experience to those who favor strategic and forward-looking approaches.