What is there?
- Historical ruins, accessible to the public.
- Demarcated area, only one building or a cluster of buildings.
- The area has undergone archaeological research and been settled.
- Artefacts which were discovered during the research have been photographed and documented.
- We know what the building was used for but the personal history is unknown.
By gamifying a visit to the site, the goal is to encourage more people to examine the ruins and learn about them. The target group is school children or families.
Example 1
The story: The place where all documentation regarding the archaeological dig was kept has been burgled. The thieves messed everything up and now the archaeologists need help to find where in the ruins certain artefacts were discovered. They need your help.
The game: You get photos of artefacts on your phone with an explanation of what they are. Based on that you might be able to find out which space they were discovered in, but not necessarily. You walk to the ruins and start looking for the locations. You receive clues and questions about each artefact which guide you. Another way is for a compass of some sort to show you how far away from the location you are. Once you find the location with the right coordinates you get a point and the next image appears. The objective is to be as quick as possible to locate all the artefacts. The points appear on a scoreboard so you compete with others who are solving the same puzzle.
Material and technology: This game can be installed in Locatify or similar smart phone systems which use GPS. You use photos from the archaeological research and information about the location. You need to compose clues and questions.
Example 2
The story: You travel back to the past and visit this place in its heyday to find a valuable item, one of the artefacts found on the dig. This artefact has a certain value for your character (talisman, family heirloom) and you can’t return without it.
The game: To find the item you need to solve puzzles in different locations. The puzzles are connected to the activities which went on in the buildings in the past. They can be either questions which need answering or work methods which you need to display in a photo or a video. Each challenge brings you closer to the location of the artefact. You receive clues which guide you from one puzzle to the next. Eventually you’ll locate the artefact and see a 3-D image of it in augmented reality so you can photograph it with your phone. Points are given for correct answers and speed.
Material and technology: This game can be installed in Locatify or similar systems which use GPS. Information and photos from the archaeological research is used to compose questions and create puzzles. The talisman is a 3-D image of an artefact from the dig.
Example 3
The story: You are lost in the past and arrive at this strange building. You have forgotten who you are and don’t know what you are doing here. The only thing you know is that this building (ruins) hold the key to your identity and why you are here.
The game: This is a game of clues related to the history of the place and information from the archaeological research. When you have activated the game, first you need to find the entrance. Once there, you receive the next clue or puzzle which needs solving, each one bringing you closer to finding out your identity. It can be questions, pictures of artefacts and clues which lead you from one location to another. Coordinated spots within the ruins activate the puzzles. In the final location you receive the question: Who am I? with a few alternative answers. If you have been paying attention and solved the previous puzzles, you should be able to answer that correctly. Then you get the question: Why am I here? Again, you should be able to answer it based on previous experiences. If you answer both questions correctly you’ll receive more final points. Scores are given for correct answers, you compete with other registered users.
Material and technology: This game can be installed in Locatify or similar systems which use GPS. Information and photos from the archaeological research is used to compose questions and create puzzles. The character and their role are made up based on information about the activity that went on here.
Gamification and games-based approach to cultural heritage 