A collection of downloadable games is to be launched at Avebury, allowing visitors to explore the World Heritage Site in a new way.
The twenty-two games have been developed by Bournemouth University and the University of Southampton, in partnership with the National Trust, and combine digital elements and locations around Avebury’s henge and stones circles to create mixed-reality experiences.
Dr. Charlie Hargood, Associate Professor in Games Technology at Bournemouth University, said: “People of all ages will find something in our anthology of games, whether they want to travel back in time to meet prehistoric people and animals, learn about the history of the stones, or create their own artworks to share with friends.
"I'm sure visitors to the Avebury World Heritage Site will enjoy exploring the landscape through the artistic visions of our community of games designers."The games have been funded through a European research project called LoGaCulture, set up to explore how technology can create engaging experiences at cultural heritage sites.
Visitors to Avebury will be able to see the results from Friday 25 July. These include narrative stories to follow, archaeological clues to uncover, and art experiences allowing users to design their own Avebury postcards.
Dr Ros Cleal, National Trust Property Curator at Avebury, said: ‘It’s been such an interesting experience to see how the designers have approached Avebury and brought novel ways of exploring and engaging with the site.
“The games cover such a variety of Avebury’s history and archaeology, and we very much hope they will benefit visitors to Avebury for a long time to come.”
The games will be available to download on iOS and Android from the Apple App Store, Google Play Store, LoGaCulture website, and via QR codes at Avebury. Visitors will also be able to see an augmented reality version of a complete stone circle in the barn at Avebury, andbuild their own miniature version of the late Neolithic West Kennet palisades, which once stood in the valley of the River Kennet.
Dr David Millard, Professor of Computer Science at the University of Southampton, said: “Avebury is a unique and powerful place, where visitors come to connect deeply with time, our ancestors, and the natural world.
“Our game, Ages of Avebury, gives visitors a chance to connect with Avebury’s ancient landscape and rich history in a new and playful way, opening up different perspectives and revealing hidden stories. We’re excited to see where the game will take people and what they’ll get out of this immersive experience."
Some of the twenty games developed by the BU team include:
- Navigate the history of Avebury in Replicas, collecting fragments of the past that tell the stories of the stone circle. Designed by BU graduate Alberto de Caro
- Investigate an augmented reality mystery set at Avebury in Echoes of Avebury, where you use your camera to find items and interact with characters. Designed by BU graduate Michael Smith
- Help two neolithic children lost in time find their way home through their memories of life in ancient Avebury in Journey Home. An adventure designed for children designed by BU graduate Zenah Horner-Payne.
- Take a piece of Avebury home with you using a VR headset with The Holodeck at Avebury which brings the stone circle and its stories to your living room. Designed by BU graduate Aaron Hawke.
- Take in the view and natural beauty of the Avebury site in Imagining Avebury where you collect artistic inspiration to design a post card for Avebury that you can share. Designed by Eloise Best.
Find out more about the LogaCulture Project at Avebury with Dr Hargood and partners in the video below:
Images of some of the games:
