Arcade Archives

Cambridge’s long list of innovations is now being told in an unusual way: through a retro-style arcade game. Orca Scan has launched OrcaCam, a mobile browser game where players guide an orca through the River Cam, dodging iconic breakthroughs linked to the city — from the discovery of DNA to the invention of the webcam, the rules of football, and even life-saving heart transplant surgery. Good to Know OrcaCam launched on August 4 during the Grand Discoveries 2025 exhibition at Cambridge’s Grand Arcade. Visitors can play instantly by scanning a QR code on-site — no download required. A live leaderboard at the Grand Arcade is expected to be viewed by over 2 million people. “Cambridge has changed the world in ways many might not realise. OrcaCam is our way of telling that story. Just scan the QR code to start playing instantly on your phone – no app, no install, just scan and play,” said John Doherty, Founder and CEO of Orca Scan. A Playful Take on Cambridge’s History The game was created by Orca Scan’s in-house team and is part of Grand Discoveries 2025, a two-month exhibition running at the Grand Arcade in partnership with more than 20 science and technology leaders. Partners include the University of Cambridge, Raspberry Pi, Qualcomm, Illumina, and Supersense Technologies. The goal: to celebrate the city’s contributions to science and technology through immersive, interactive experiences. Julie Kervadec, Marketing Manager at the Grand Arcade, said: “We’re thrilled to welcome Orca Scan to Grand Discoveries. Their interactive exhibit and new game bring a fun, fresh perspective to innovation in Cambridge. As a Cambridge-born company, Orca Scan perfectly embodies the city’s innovative spirit, and it’s been a real pleasure to work with their team, who brought such creative ideas to the event.” From Startup to Global Platform Founded in Cambridge in 2016, Orca Scan started with the goal of making barcode tracking easier for businesses. Backed by the Judge Business School Accelerate Programme, the company now serves over 50,000 organisations in 167 countries, including 58% of the Fortune 500. Its platform helps teams track inventory and assets with no coding or technical knowledge required.

Arcade

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