RelicVR: A virtual reality game for active exploration of archaeological relics

Yilin Liu, Yiming Lin, Rongkai Shi, Yiming Luo, Hai Ning Liang*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Chapter in Book or Report/Conference proceedingConference Proceedingpeer-review

20 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Digitalization is changing how people visit museums and explore the artifacts they house. Museums, as important educational venues outside classrooms, need to actively explore the application of digital interactive media, including games that can balance entertainment and knowledge acquisition. In this paper, we introduce RelicVR, a virtual reality (VR) game that encourages players to discover artifacts through physical interaction in a game-based approach. Players need to unearth artifacts hidden in a clod enclosure by using available tools and physical movements. The game relies on the dynamic voxel deformation technique to allow players to chip away earth covering the artifacts. We added uncertainty in the exploration process to bring it closer to how archaeological discovery happens in real life. Players do not know the shape or features of the hidden artifact and have to take away the earth gradually but strategically without hitting the artifact itself. From playtesting sessions with eight participants, we found that the uncertainty elements are conducive to their engagement and exploration experience. Overall, RelicVR is an innovative game that can improve players' learning motivation and outcomes of ancient artifacts.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationCHI PLAY 2021 - Extended Abstracts of the 2021 Annual Symposium on Computer-Human Interaction in Play
PublisherAssociation for Computing Machinery, Inc
Pages326-332
Number of pages7
ISBN (Electronic)9781450383561
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 15 Oct 2021
Event8th ACM SIGCHI Annual Symposium on Computer-Human Interaction in Play, CHI PLAY 2021 - Virtual, Online, Austria
Duration: 18 Oct 202121 Oct 2021

Publication series

NameCHI PLAY 2021 - Extended Abstracts of the 2021 Annual Symposium on Computer-Human Interaction in Play

Conference

Conference8th ACM SIGCHI Annual Symposium on Computer-Human Interaction in Play, CHI PLAY 2021
Country/TerritoryAustria
CityVirtual, Online
Period18/10/2121/10/21

Keywords

  • Archaeology
  • Exercising
  • Games
  • Uncertainty
  • Virtual Reality

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