Lactalis- Case Study

Introduction

Game Title: Stonyfield Barnyard Bonanza
Client: Lactalis
Platform: Roblox
Genre: Educational Farm Simulator

Stonyfield Barnyard Bonanza is a Roblox-based educational experience developed for Lactalis, one of the world’s largest dairy companies. The game transforms the brand’s real-world Have a Cow program into a fully interactive, family-friendly digital adventure — one that combines authentic farm education with entertaining gameplay.

Designed to engage both children and adults, Barnyard Bonanza invites players into a sprawling farm world featuring four interconnected barns, each modeled after a real Lactalis property. The core objective: teach players about cows, dairy production, and sustainability through fun mini-games and immersive exploration.

Every element — from the animated cows to the farm layouts — was crafted to mirror the warmth, charm, and integrity of the Stonyfield brand. More than a virtual tour, this project embodies Lactalis’ dedication to transparency and education, transforming the idea of “learning through play” into a polished digital experience.

Conceptualization Phase

The project began with a shared vision: build an educational game that doesn’t feel like a classroom. Lactalis’ Have a Cow initiative had already shown the potential of storytelling and transparency in dairy farming; our goal was to translate that ethos into Roblox, making the brand approachable and interactive for a global audience.

Our six-person team began by collecting real reference photos and videos from Lactalis’ farms. These served as the foundation for designing realistic barns, silos, and pastures. We mapped out four distinct zones, each representing a different aspect of dairy life — from feeding cows to understanding sustainability practices.

Early Brainstorming

We conducted several sessions with the client to align on three major creative goals:

Education through immersion: Teach without overwhelming players.
Entertainment through discovery: Encourage curiosity and replayability.
Authenticity through design: Reflect the real-life charm of Lactalis farms.

The client provided verified Q&A content for mini-games to ensure factual accuracy. This became the backbone of the educational gameplay: players approach NPC farmers, answer dairy-related questions, and earn in-game currency redeemable for fun rewards such as a cow suit.

The “Meadow Muffin” Moment

A humorous and memorable part of the early design involved the “Find the Meadow Muffin” mini-game. Initially thought to involve an actual muffin, the team quickly learned it referred to a cow patty — a discovery that sparked laughter and a creative pivot. Rather than remove it, we redesigned the quest as a playful scavenger hunt symbolizing discovery and curiosity on the farm.

Through these early discussions, we also defined timeline milestones, aiming for a three-month project span — with clear allocations for map design, asset creation, scripting, and quality assurance.

Pre-Production Phase

Pre-production was dedicated to turning vision into structure. Using the data and references gathered, we built detailed layout prototypes in Roblox Studio, establishing accurate spatial relationships between barns, silos, and fields. Each farm was plotted using precise coordinates to replicate real-world scale within the constraints of Roblox’s engine.

Overcoming Limited Visual References

Some private farm sections lacked photographic documentation. To solve this, our artists and environment designers used logical extrapolation — studying patterns from other Lactalis farms and combining them with creative freedom. The result preserved brand realism while ensuring fluid player navigation.

We also used this phase to:

Model early versions of cows, NPCs, and barns for client preview.
Refine lighting and environmental palette to match Stonyfield’s visual tone — bright, clean, and welcoming.
Prepare scripting templates for mini-games and dialogue triggers.

While waiting for compliance approval of the educational copy, our team maximized time by finalizing animation pipelines, asset optimization, and internal playtesting of the mini-game logic. This proactive workflow meant we could begin full production immediately once approval came through — without losing momentum.

Production Phase

When the green light was given, Stonyfield Barnyard Bonanza entered full-scale production. The team used Blender for high-quality 3D modeling, Photoshop and Paint3D for custom textures, and Roblox Studio for integration and scripting.

Core Gameplay Systems

Each farm featured a blend of educational and interactive experiences:

NPC Q&A Mini-Games: Players answer questions about cows and dairy processes to earn coins.
Find the Meadow Muffin Quest: A humorous scavenger hunt teaching observational skills.
Interactive Cows: Players can pet or observe named cows with individual bios and sound effects.

Farm Shop System: Rewards can be redeemed for cosmetic items, such as the popular cow suit.

Technical Implementation

Our lead scripter integrated custom Lua scripts to manage:

NPC dialogue trees
Currency collection systems
Animation synchronization for cows and NPCs
Environmental triggers for player interactions

The cows presented a unique challenge. Their models required custom rigging and dynamic weight painting to achieve realistic motion. Once integrated, they reacted smoothly to player proximity, occasionally letting out a moo or grazing — subtle details that enhanced immersion.

Weekly development calls kept Lactalis deeply involved. Each stage — from model previews to environment walkthroughs — underwent client review. This tight collaboration ensured brand fidelity and maintained alignment with Lactalis’ educational standards.

Testing & Optimization

Testing was an integral part of Barnyard Bonanza’s development cycle. We performed iterative testing after each milestone, addressing everything from animation desyncs to map performance.

Key Testing Challenges

Animation Bugs: Early versions had cows walking mid-air or clipping through terrain. Rig adjustments resolved these.
Sound Timing Issues: Mooing and footstep sounds occasionally overlapped; audio cues were resynced for realism.
Q&A Text Errors: Minor grammar inconsistencies were polished for educational clarity.

Item Spawning Bugs: The Meadow Muffin collectible occasionally failed to appear — fixed through server-side checks.

External Playtests

We conducted external testing with a sample group of Roblox players to ensure intuitive gameplay and readability for all ages. Feedback was overwhelmingly positive but revealed opportunities to enhance visual indicators for interactive areas — which we promptly implemented through glowing outlines and subtle animations.

Once finalized, the game was optimized for all devices. This included performance tuning, asset compression, and occlusion culling — crucial for maintaining smooth frame rates across four fully detailed farm environments.

Launch and Release

Following successful internal QA and client approval, ownership of the game was officially transferred to Lactalis’ Roblox account to ensure long-term control and brand security. The title launched as part of the company’s digital outreach initiative, emphasizing education through virtual play.

Performance Highlights

Despite not being monetized, Stonyfield Barnyard Bonanza demonstrated strong organic reach:

6,687 visits within the first month
79 player favorites
Dozens of positive comments emphasizing its “fun yet educational” gameplay

Players particularly appreciated the balance between learning and fun — describing it as a “real farm brought to life” and praising its attention to detail.

Brand Impact

The project reinforced Lactalis’ innovative approach to public engagement. By bringing their Have a Cow educational mission into Roblox, the brand reached younger audiences where they already play — demonstrating how gamified education can strengthen brand trust and awareness simultaneously.

Outcome

Stonyfield Barnyard Bonanza achieved its mission as a digital extension of Lactalis’ values: education, sustainability, and authenticity. It proved that learning can be engaging when paired with immersive storytelling.

Players not only learned about dairy farming but also developed curiosity about where their food comes from — aligning perfectly with Stonyfield’s real-world sustainability message. The project’s success validated the potential of virtual brand storytelling as a tool for experiential marketing and public education.

Notable Achievements

Translated complex agricultural education into interactive play.
Showcased the value of non-monetized, purpose-driven experiences on Roblox.
Strengthened Lactalis’ presence within digital learning spaces.

The game stood as proof that digital experiences can be authentic brand ambassadors — engaging players emotionally and intellectually, without the need for competitive or commercial pressure.

Future Plans

While the game achieved its original scope, conversations with the client explored potential expansions:

Adding new farms featuring different Lactalis facilities worldwide.
Introducing additional mini-games like cow feeding, milking simulations, or sustainability challenges.
Implementing learning analytics to measure educational impact and player retention.
Enhancing customization with outfits beyond the cow suit.

These proposed updates would enrich replay value and further align the experience with Lactalis’ mission of transparent, sustainable education.

Team Reflection

The project’s success was built on teamwork, creativity, and consistent communication. Each team member contributed a specialized skill that collectively elevated the final experience.

Stephen – Project Lead / 3D Modeler / World Planner
Oversaw world layout, ensured asset quality, and directed creative consistency.
Reynel – Lead Programmer / Scripter
Developed the core interaction systems, NPC logic, and gameplay flow.
Ryan – Environment Artist / Map Designer
Translated real farm references into immersive digital environments.
Darius – GUI Designer
Created user-friendly and visually cohesive interface elements.
Jeremy – Visual & Icon Designer
Designed game branding assets, thumbnails, and promotional visuals.
Raul – QA Tester / Optimization Specialist
Identified bugs, refined gameplay feel, and ensured stable performance across devices.

Development Insight

As project lead, Stephen reflected:

“This was more than a game — it was a bridge between digital play and real-world learning. Translating Lactalis’ values into a playful, interactive world reminded us how powerful games can be as educational tools.”

Key Takeaways

Client Collaboration: Frequent communication ensured brand alignment and factual integrity.
Adaptability: Quick pivots — like reimagining the Meadow Muffin quest — turned challenges into creativity.
Quality Assurance: Multiple test rounds ensured stability across mobile, tablet, and PC.
Educational Value: Learning objectives were achieved without sacrificing entertainment.
Scalability: The foundation supports future updates, expansions, or cross-brand experiences.

Multimedia

🎮 Play the Game: Stonyfield Barnyard Bonanza on Roblox
📺 Watch the Trailer: Coming soon on YouTube

Meet the Team

Stephen – Project Lead, 3D Modeling, UX/UI
Reynel – Lead Programmer, Systems Design
Ryan – Environment Artist, Map Designer
Darius – GUI & UX Design
Jeremy – Branding & Visual Design
Raul – QA and Optimization

Together, we transformed Lactalis’ real farms into a vibrant educational experience — proving that the future of learning can be both digital and delightful.