Fathers and Sons videogame
Virtual Heritage: Reinventing museum engagement through digital innovation
Dream
The project's inception aimed to engage the public in an innovative manner by promoting the museum and the city of Naples. The strategy, introduced in 2017, sought to enhance the museum's image and broaden its audience, setting a foundation for using digital tools to captivate a wider, especially younger, international audience.
Idea
The collaboration between the museum and TuoMuseo represents the initial conceptual phase. The vision was to create a video game titled "Father and Son," set in Naples, allowing players to traverse different historical periods. This idea focused on making the museum's offerings more accessible and appealing, with an emphasis on historical exploration and narrative choice that affects the game's outcome.
Realization
The execution phase involved the active collaboration of museum experts and TuoMuseo in developing the game's content. It highlights the technical choice of 2D technology, incorporating watercolor paintings to vividly capture the city and its landmarks, and composing a unique soundtrack. The game features meticulously recreated real streets of Naples and characters that draw players closer to modern Naples, effectively merging education with entertainment.
Challenges and solutions
During the development, the team faced the challenge of accurately representing Naples' rich history and culture. The solution was a close collaboration between museum experts and game developers, ensuring the game's content was both informative and engaging. Regular updates for compatibility with new devices and the introduction of geolocation-based features to encourage museum visits were key responses to technological and engagement challenges.
Innovation
The game's design, using watercolor aesthetics and a unique soundtrack, along with the integration of historical and modern elements of Naples, showcases the innovative approach taken. The addition of geolocation features to foster real-world museum visits further emphasizes the project's creative use of technology.
Effect
The game's success is evident in its popularity, with over 4 million downloads across 97 countries, notably achieving significant outreach in China. This widespread acceptance demonstrates the project's effectiveness in reaching its target audience and encouraging cultural exploration.
Financial support
The project was entirely funded through internal resources, showcasing the institution's commitment to leveraging digital tools for cultural promotion without external financial aid.
Future
Looking ahead, the museum plans to launch a second version of the game featuring new scenarios and a female lead character. This indicates a sustained commitment to updating and expanding the game, with plans for multilingual expansion, including an app in the Neapolitan dialect, and the introduction of additional features to maintain interest and compatibility.
Responsible institution
MANN - National Archaeological Museum of Naples, Italy
Good practice link
https://mann-napoli.it/en/father-and-son-2-2/https://elmp.gr/3dvirtualtour/
Contact person on good practice
Elisa Napolitano, museum education manager for teaching, research, promotion, and enhancement, man-na@beniculturali.it