Sea Monster

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Managing Director of Lucan Animation Studio

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Boutique Animation studio that delivers high-end work for various clients in various sectors.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Sea Monster to accomplish?

• Game Idea Exploration
• Game & App Development
• Expertise

SOLUTION

How did you find Sea Monster?

Local Industry and Word of Mouth

Why did you select Sea Monster over others?

• Great culture fit
• Referred to me
• Company values aligned

How many teammates from Sea Monster were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

Describe the scope of work in detail. Please include a summary of key deliverables.

Sea Monster created an IOS and Android application based game for Fast Heroes.com
Development Foundation for Lo-fi and Mid-fi wireframes & technical setup
User Interface (UI) design
Development for game development and asset implementation
Testing & Fixes
Sound & Music within the game
Basic Analytics setup and implementation, via Google Analytics
Creation of a standalone executable app for Android and iOS.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What were the measurable outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

We needed to develop a Phase 1 game that engages the existing community of children, with a primary focus on fun. This initial version serves as a foundation for future development, allowing for the addition of new features, expansion of gameplay, and the introduction of educational elements. Focus group testing has confirmed that these objectives have been successfully met.

Describe their project management. Did they deliver items on time? How did they respond to your needs?

Excellent! Clear communication, timely and detailed.

What was your primary form of communication with Sea Monster?

Virtual Meeting

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

Their processes and the discovery phase stood out. The whole team is lovely, and it was a joy to collaborate with Sea Monster.

Are there any areas for improvement or something Sea Monster could have done differently?

No, they were clear from the get go on what the final delivery will be and came in on time and budget.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am an executive at Lemonade Day

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Lemonade Day is a fun, experiential program that teaches youth how to start, own and operate their very own business - a lemonade stand.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Sea Monster to accomplish?

• UX/UI design to create intuitive and engaging digital experience for kids
• Create an educational app to teach kids about entrepreneurship

SOLUTION

How did you find Sea Monster?

• Referral
• Other

Why did you select Sea Monster over others?

• Referred to me
• Company values aligned

How many teammates from Sea Monster were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

Describe the scope of work in detail. Please include a summary of key deliverables.

Our collaboration on the My Lemonade Day (MLD) project involved the initial development and the ongoing enhancement and support of a digital ecosystem aimed at educating young entrepreneurs through an interactive learning experience.
The project was centered around the My Lemonade Day Learner App and the administration web application that we call the Mentor App, designed to provide an engaging, structured way for children to develop business skills through operating their own lemonade stands.

The Sea Monster team worked closely with us to ensure the apps aligned with our mission while also integrating advanced functionalities that supported mentors and administrators.

The scope covered:
• UX/UI design to create intuitive and engaging digital experiences.
• Development and deployment of the Mentor and Learner apps across multiple phases.
• Implementation of analytics through Metabase for performance tracking.
• Multilingual support (English and Spanish) to cater to a broader audience.
• Enhancements to user management features for both learners and mentors.
• Integration with e-commerce platforms to facilitate resource access and potential revenue generation.
• Development of administrative tools to provide more control over community and sponsorship management.
• Ongoing technical support and iteration based on user feedback.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What were the measurable outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

• Successful launch of the My Lemonade Day App in existing Lemonade Day communities.
• Increased engagement in learning and quantitative results that showed comprehension.
• Positive reviews from users and community leaders.
• User adoption by Lemonade Day communities.

Describe their project management. Did they deliver items on time? How did they respond to your needs?

The Sea Monster team demonstrated excellent project management, fully embracing the agile methodology to ensure an efficient and flexible development process. They consistently delivered items on time, adapting quickly to evolving needs and priorities. Their ability to reorganize content and prioritize features helped us create a more engaging and effective platform for our audience.
Communication was seamless—they were highly responsive, thorough in their approach, and proactive in addressing our needs. Their dedication and collaboration have been instrumental in helping Lemonade Day achieve its mission.

What was your primary form of communication with Sea Monster?

• In-Person Meeting
• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

What stood out most about Sea Monster was their ability to think beyond the conventional and push us toward a bigger vision of impact. They weren’t just a vendor; they were a true partner, challenging us to explore new possibilities beyond our standard business model.
Their creativity was exceptional, particularly in how they transformed our content into an engaging animated video series that truly brings our lessons to life. Their innovative approach has made complex concepts more accessible and engaging for our young audience.

Are there any areas for improvement or something Sea Monster could have done differently?

Sea Monster has been a fantastic partner, bringing creativity and strategic thinking to our project. Their ability to challenge us and elevate our vision has been invaluable. If there were any areas for improvement, it would be around streamlining communication and expectations at certain stages of the project to ensure alignment on timelines and deliverables.
That said, their adaptability and responsiveness helped keep things on track, and we truly appreciate their commitment to delivering a high-quality product.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the AGEC: Project Lead of Allan Gray Orbis Foundation

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

AGOF, the Allan Gray Orbis Foundation, founded by Allan Gray, cultivates high-impact entrepreneurial and leadership potential in Southern African youth through scholarship and development programs, reflecting his commitment to fostering positive societal change.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Sea Monster to accomplish?

• Focus on Retention: To design games that not only attract students but also keep them engaged over time, enhancing the retention of concepts and skills through repeated and sustained interaction.
• Develop Engaging Educational Games: To create interactive and engaging educational games that effectively integrate AGEC's learning objectives, fostering entrepreneurial skills and business acumen among high school students.
• Enhance User Experience: To design a user-friendly interface that ensures a seamless and enjoyable learning experience for students, which encourages consistent engagement and retention of educational content.
• Incorporate Analytics for Impact Measurement: To implement robust analytics and data collection within the games to track user engagement, learning outcomes, and overall effectiveness of the games in promoting entrepreneurial thinking and skills.
• Scalability and Accessibility: To develop games that are easily scalable and accessible across various platforms, ensuring that students from diverse backgrounds and with different levels of technological access can participate and benefit from the educational content.
• Integration with Educational Curricula: To ensure the games align with and complement existing educational curricula, providing teachers and educational institutions with a valuable tool to enhance classroom learning and foster real-world business and entrepreneurial skills.
• Promote Fun, Intuitive Learning: To create games that are inherently enjoyable and easy to understand, encouraging learning through intuitive gameplay mechanics that students can navigate independently, with progress tracking to monitor and enhance learning trajectories.

SOLUTION

How did you find Sea Monster?

Referral

Why did you select Sea Monster over others?

• High ratings
• Pricing fit our budget
• Great culture fit
• Good value for cost
• Company values aligned

How many teammates from Sea Monster were assigned to this project?

10-20

Describe the scope of work in detail. Please include a summary of key deliverables.

. Game Development:

Design and Development: Sea Monster created innovative, interactive educational games tailored to the learning objectives of AGEC. They conceptualized, designed, and developed game mechanics and narratives that engaged high school students while teaching entrepreneurial and business skills.
User Interface Design: They focused on creating intuitive, user-friendly interfaces that appealed to a youthful audience, ensuring the games were accessible and enjoyable for students with varying levels of tech proficiency.
2. Integration with Educational Standards:

Curriculum Alignment: The games developed aligned closely with current educational curricula to reinforce and supplement traditional learning, making it easier for educators to integrate these tools into their teaching.
Customizable Features: They provided features that allowed educators to modify game scenarios or inputs to better fit their classroom goals and the diverse needs of their students.
3. Analytics and Reporting:

Data Collection Tools: Sea Monster implemented advanced data collection within the games to monitor user engagement, progression, and learning outcomes.
Impact Reports: They delivered regular reports that analyzed the effectiveness of the games in enhancing learning, which could be used for continuous improvement and reporting to stakeholders.
4. Accessibility and Scalability:

Cross-Platform Accessibility: They ensured games were accessible on multiple devices and platforms, from desktops to smartphones, accommodating the tech realities of a broad student base.
Scalable Solutions: They developed the games with scalability in mind, allowing for easy updates and expansions to accommodate more users or additional content as AGEC’s program grew.
Key Deliverables:
1. A Suite of Educational Games:

A series of interactive games, each targeting different aspects of entrepreneurial education, such as problem-solving, financial literacy, and business strategy.
2. Comprehensive User Guide and Documentation:

Detailed guides for both students and educators on how to effectively utilize the games, including troubleshooting and tips for integration into classroom activities.
3. Analytics Dashboard:

A custom-built dashboard that provided real-time insights into user engagement and educational outcomes, empowering AGEC and educators with data to tailor their teaching approaches.
4. Training and Support:

Initial training sessions for AGEC staff and educators on how to deploy and make the most of the gaming tools, followed by ongoing support and updates.
5. Marketing and Promotional Materials:

Engaging marketing materials that highlighted the educational value of the games, designed to appeal to schools, educators, and students alike.
Sea Monster successfully delivered these comprehensive services and products, significantly enhancing AGEC’s ability to engage and educate young entrepreneurs across Southern Africa.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What were the measurable outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

User Engagement Metrics:

Increase in Game Downloads and Active Users: The number of downloads and active users of the educational games increased significantly, indicating higher engagement and reach among the target audience.
Time Spent in Game: There was a notable increase in the average time students spent playing the games, suggesting that the games were engaging and held the students' interest.
Learning Outcomes:

Pre- and Post-Game Assessments: Assessments conducted before and after game sessions showed improvement in students' understanding of entrepreneurial concepts and skills.
Skill Development Tracking: Data from the games’ analytics indicated measurable progress in key areas such as problem-solving, financial literacy, and strategic thinking among participants.
User Satisfaction and Feedback:

Positive Feedback from Users: Surveys and feedback forms collected from students and educators showed high levels of satisfaction with the game's interface, content, and educational value.
Educator Endorsements: Many educators incorporated the games into their regular teaching plans, which serves as an endorsement of the games' utility and effectiveness.
Expansion and Scalability:

Increased Adoption Across Schools: The number of schools adopting the educational games as part of their curriculum increased, showcasing the scalability and relevance of the games.
Cross-Platform Usage: The games performed well across multiple platforms, demonstrating their accessibility and robust design.
Strategic Impact:

Contribution to AGEC’s Overall Goals: The integration of these games contributed significantly to AGEC’s broader educational objectives, such as increasing entrepreneurial interest and capabilities among Southern African youth.
Partnership Opportunities: The success of the games opened up additional partnership opportunities with other educational and developmental organizations, expanding AGEC’s network and impact.
These outcomes not only demonstrate the successful delivery of the project by Sea Monster but also highlight the tangible benefits in terms of educational impact and user engagement.

Describe their project management. Did they deliver items on time? How did they respond to your needs?

Sea Monster's project management was highly effective, reflecting their professionalism and commitment to delivering quality educational tools for AGEC. Here's a detailed description of their project management approach:

Timeliness and Schedule Adherence:
On-Time Delivery: Sea Monster consistently delivered all milestones and final products on schedule. Their ability to adhere to the timeline contributed significantly to the smooth implementation of the educational games within AGEC's broader curriculum deadlines.
Proactive Scheduling: They managed the project timeline proactively, providing regular updates and adjustments as needed to ensure that both teams were aligned and any potential delays were addressed promptly.
Responsiveness to Needs:
Tailored Solutions: Sea Monster demonstrated a keen understanding of AGEC’s specific needs. They customized the games to fit educational goals and user demographics, making adjustments based on feedback from initial testing phases with students and educators.
Feedback Integration: They were highly responsive to feedback, incorporating suggestions from AGEC into the development process efficiently. This collaboration ensured that the final products were well-suited to the end users' needs.
Communication and Collaboration:
Regular Updates: Communication from Sea Monster was regular and informative, with scheduled meetings to discuss progress, challenges, and next steps. They established a structured communication plan that kept AGEC informed at every stage of the project.
Collaborative Approach: They fostered a collaborative working environment, engaging with multiple stakeholders from AGEC to understand and integrate diverse perspectives into the game development. This approach helped in creating products that were comprehensive and inclusive.
Problem Solving:
Adaptive Problem Solving: Throughout the project, Sea Monster demonstrated agility and creativity in solving problems that arose, whether they were technical issues, design challenges, or integration hurdles with existing AGEC systems.
Preemptive Issue Management: They often anticipated potential issues and proposed solutions before these could impact the project timeline or quality, ensuring a smooth development process.
Sea Monster’s project management not only ensured the timely delivery of high-quality educational games but also fostered a strong partnership with AGEC, characterized by mutual respect, responsiveness, and a shared commitment to achieving impactful educational outcomes.

What was your primary form of communication with Sea Monster?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

Sea Monster stood out in several impressive and unique ways during their collaboration with AGEC, making a notable impact on both the project's success and the overall working relationship. Here’s what was particularly remarkable about the company:

Exceptional Company Culture:
Innovative Spirit: Sea Monster's company culture is deeply rooted in innovation and creativity. This was evident in their approach to game design, where they consistently pushed boundaries to create engaging and educational content that was both fun and impactful.
Team Collaboration: They fostered an environment of collaboration not only within their team but also extended it to include AGEC stakeholders. This collaborative spirit made it easy to address challenges and innovate solutions together, creating a sense of shared ownership and partnership.
Fun and Engaging Collaboration:
Enjoyable Process: The process of working with Sea Monster was not only productive but also enjoyable. They brought a positive and energetic approach to meetings and interactions, making the rigorous process of game development fun and engaging.
Employee Engagement: Their team displayed high levels of enthusiasm and commitment to the project, which was contagious and motivated everyone involved to strive for the best possible outcomes.
High-Quality Deliverables:
Attention to Detail: Sea Monster’s attention to detail in game development was exemplary. From the graphics and user interface to the storylines and educational content, every element was crafted with precision and care to ensure high quality.
Effective Educational Tools: The educational games delivered by Sea Monster were not just technically excellent but also effective as learning tools. They managed to transform complex educational concepts into accessible and enjoyable game formats that genuinely enhanced learning.
Unique Approach to Problem Solving:
Creative Solutions: Sea Monster utilized a unique problem-solving approach that combined creative storytelling with technical innovation. This allowed them to overcome potential educational and technical challenges in ways that enhanced the overall learning experience.
User-Centered Design: They placed a strong emphasis on user experience, conducting extensive testing to understand user behavior and preferences. This user-centered design approach ensured that the games were not only engaging but also aligned perfectly with the learners' needs and expectations.
Overall, Sea Monster’s blend of a great company culture, enjoyable collaboration process, high-quality deliverables, and a unique approach to problem-solving made them an outstanding partner. Their ability to deliver a product that was both fun and educational set them apart, contributing significantly to the project’s success.

Are there any areas for improvement or something Sea Monster could have done differently?

While the collaboration with Sea Monster has been overwhelmingly positive and successful, we always believe in the philosophy of continuous improvement. It has been impressive to see how Sea Monster is always striving for excellence, and in that spirit, we might suggest exploring even further diversification in game scenarios to encompass a wider range of entrepreneurial challenges. This could help expand the educational impact for our students. Additionally, as we continue to grow and evolve, increased scalability in the gaming platforms could enhance user accessibility even more. It’s exciting to think about what we could achieve together with these enhancements, given the high standard of work Sea Monster has already demonstrated.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Founder/CEO of Maestro Games SPC

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

NeuroAesthetic Technology platform for First Responder reslience and healing from trauma, burnout and stress.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Sea Monster to accomplish?

• Create the musical virtual reality gamified experience entitled "The Last Maestro"
• Experience must spark joy, wonder, awe and delight in player
• Experience must align with the mental, emotional and spiritual impact of the music
• Experience must be safe for player

SOLUTION

How did you find Sea Monster?

Personal introduction from family members

Why did you select Sea Monster over others?

• High ratings
• Pricing fit our budget
• Great culture fit
• Good value for cost
• Referred to me
• Company values aligned

How many teammates from Sea Monster were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

Describe the scope of work in detail. Please include a summary of key deliverables.

Sea Monster was tasked with creating a vision:  the VR technology industry was not at all evolved enough at the time we began designing "The Last Maestro (TM)".  To create and build a working demo that could execute on our hypothesis of using the transformative power of music, Virtual reality and gamification required imagining what could be:

The demo had to work tethered to a Dell Technologies 17 inch laptop

The demo had to entice the player into the environment and compel them to pick up the conducting baton and become fully engaged physically

The visual experience had to be precisely timed with the musical cues

The entire experience could not be more than 4 minutes

The experience had to be visually compelling and exciting without being over stimulating

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What were the measurable outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

"The Last Maestro (TM)" succeeded beyond our wildest dreams:  not only did the demo Sea Monster built result in a much coveted case study and peer review of its impact on Nurses suffering from PTSD and burnout during the pandemic, but our ongoing collaboration has resulted in the creation of a truly unique and in demand healing platform. 

Describe their project management. Did they deliver items on time? How did they respond to your needs?

Sea Monster's project management is extraordinary (shoutout to Jade).  We frankly have never worked with anyone else who is that good.  We made demands that were frankly bordering on unreasonable, and Jade always delivered.

What was your primary form of communication with Sea Monster?

Virtual Meeting

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

It is indeed rare to find a tech company that is equal parts talent, integrity, brilliance, stellar work ethic, creativity and passion. Sea Monster is extraordinary in all of these ways, and as they grow, excel even more. It truly is an honor to work with them

Are there any areas for improvement or something Sea Monster could have done differently?

I just wish we were geographically closer (I wish I were in Cape Town instead of being stuck in Los Angeles).  Actually Sea Monster was very accomodating of our time differences in scheduling scrum meetings.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Founder, CEO of Habitheque Inc.

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

HABITHEQUE Inc. is a privately held company with a mission to inspire individuals and communities to become genuine partners in the clean water and environmental justice movement. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Sea Monster to accomplish?

• Creation of Game Deck

SOLUTION

How did you find Sea Monster?

Referral

Why did you select Sea Monster over others?

• High ratings
• Great culture fit
• Referred to me
• Company values aligned

How many teammates from Sea Monster were assigned to this project?

6-10 Employees

Describe the scope of work in detail. Please include a summary of key deliverables.

The Game Deck was conceived as a collection of these categories:
Industry Funding and Marketing 
Game Overview and Mechanics
Art and Story
Demo and Team
Technical Overview
Production Roadmap and Budget
Project Management

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What were the measurable outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

The collaboration resulted in a highly engaging 37-slide video game deck that I am now using to secure funding for the development of the final game and eventual release globally. 

Describe their project management. Did they deliver items on time? How did they respond to your needs?

I have been leading multi-disciplinary teams to bring complex projects to fruition for more than 15 years. Sea Monster is one of the most organized teams I have worked with to date. They have clearly established roles and responsibilities, where each team member is working within their expertise as part of a connected whole. They are on time with deliverables promised while consistently being transparent, flexible, and genuine. 

What was your primary form of communication with Sea Monster?

Virtual Meeting

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

Sea Monster is made up of a diverse group of capable, creative, smart, thoughtful people. They are expansive thinkers who seem guided by the innate understanding that what we bring into the world matters. But what impresses me most about Sea Monster is that they took the time to listen for the essence of my project. They enthusiastically applied their talents, and skill sets to help my vision soar in such an additive way that the creative process with them was a joy from start to finish.

Are there any areas for improvement or something Sea Monster could have done differently?

Not that I can think of. 

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the founder of FitFable, a gaming company. We create a mobile fitness role-playing game that encourages people to get active.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Sea Monster?

We needed support to create the assets for a crowdfunding campaign.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Sea Monster has designed the UI, digital assets, branding elements, game design, and mini-game mechanics. The team has created characters, items, maps, biomes, promotional videos, logos, and splash screens. 

What is the team composition?

We’ve worked with 5–6 teammates from Sea Monster.

How did you come to work with Sea Monster?

Two friends recommended Sea Monster. We chose them because of their proximity and attitude.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent almost $30,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in April 2023, and the engagement is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?

The deliverables have been impactful, especially the promotional videos. Although we haven’t implemented them yet, we expect to receive positive feedback from potential customers and successful fundraising. 

How did Sea Monster perform from a project management standpoint?

Sea Monster’s project management has been good. The team delivers on time and responds well to our needs. We communicate through emails and meetings.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Sea Monster is very creative, positive, and enthusiastic.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I can’t think of anything for Sea Monster to improve.