Influent uses a 3D environment to assist language learners with acquiring new vocabulary in a fun and interactive way. The game was designed by gamers for gamers and incorporates both First and Third person views with a familiar WASD control system. The game was designed and developed at the University of Tsukuba's Entertainment Computing Laboratory in Japan by Rob Howland and Emily Olmstead thanks in part to a research scholarship from the Japanese Government Monbukagakusho and also to a successful Kickstarter campaign.