Octopus Estate

There are more than 300 discovered species of octopuses, which live everywhere from the deepest of seas to intertidal rock pools, from the tropics to Antarctic waters. They are incredibly smart but operate in ways completely different from humans. They can sense light with their arms, for example – and each one of those arms has its own brain.

Dr Zoe Doubleday, UniSA press release

Beneath the ocean’s surface, an octopus hides away. A shark draws near. Will you command your octopus to challenge the shark? Try to escape? Or try and eat it? The fate of your octopus rests with you. Nurture your octopus, aiding its survival. Remain vigilant, for in this world where octopuses are prey and predator, anything could happen!

Serious research is behind Octopus Estate. Dr Zoe Doubleday leads the MARIS lab (Marine Research for Innovative Solutions) within the University of South Australia’s Future Industries Institute, and with Dr Jasmin Martino, Zoe researches the ecosystems, behaviour, and biology of octopuses and other cephalopods—they’re quite mysterious beasties!

The VISER team at QUT collaborated with the University of South Australia MOD. Gallery to create the game for the MOD. exhibition IT’S COMPLICATED in 2021, and it’s finally arrived at The Cube.

Take the game home with you, we’ve made it for Apple iPhone and Android phones – careful though, you’ll get nothing else done once you start playing.