Thoughts about research and learning in video games

[gabrielbodard]

1. Look at some of the free games on Itchio, and play just enough to get a feel of the gameplay, quality, affordances. You might like to try one or two from each category including: Archaeology, VR, AR. Think about how each game, in particular, and the platform and technologies in general, could be used in learning or research.

2. Based on these ideas and discussions, come up with your own concept for either:

   1. an AR game based on your own locality or an archaeological site/archaeologically rich area you know well, involving photogrammetry, geolocation, and an engine like Niantic; or
   2. a VR game/exploration platform for a site that could be both imaged and reconstructed and then built in something like Unity.

   You are not expected to build these games or even understand how the software works—even better for your imagination to be unfettered by the limitations of the technology!—but think about the possibilities and outcomes. What audiences would you address your games to? What would be the learning outcomes? What development would you need to make this work?

3. (optional) Continue to think about your game design over the next couple of weeks, and try to come up with some storyboards, mock-ups, high-level design factors. (These can be pen-and-paper, or using whatever technology you are comfortable with.)

[Ghilaevansky]

The audience for my game idea would be for teens and adults. The outcome would be learning about different archaeological sites around the world. I would make it so that you have to pass each level to get to the next site. The player can choose any country/place on the map where they want to start. The game would be similar to Indiana Jones, in that it would be an adventure and would involve discovering objects and the year they were found. Sites would include, Persepolis, Petra, Easter Island, etc. That way, the player learns and also has fun! The format of the game could either be VR goggles or an AR game with just a controller.