The Archaeological Park of Sepino, in the province of Campobasso and known for its historical legacy and the complexity of its preserved artifacts, becomes the protagonist of an innovative digital experience. Rise of Ruins, the first management video game developed specifically for an Italian cultural context, is born. The project, promoted by the Archaeological Park itself and created by the international collective TuoMuseo, is available for free on the Google Play and App Store platforms, accessible to anyone with an Android or iOS device. The idea behind Rise of Ruins is simple, yet ambitious: to allow players to take on the role of a park director, dealing on a daily basis with the decisions involved in managing an archaeological site.
“The importance of this product,” in the words of the Director of the Sepino Archaeological Park, Molise National Museums Regional Directorate, Enrico Rinaldi, “lies not only in its value as a tool for promoting the Park’s cultural heritage, but also in its rendering of the complexity of the many activities that take place behind the scenes, and that aim to ensure efficient management of our cultural sites, in that virtuous circuit that holds together the functions of research, protection and enhancement.”
“As an Institute,” says the director of project implementation, administrative officer Dr. MicheleLaurenzana, “we immediately saw gamification as a powerful educational tool, an opportunity to introduce cultural heritage, especially to younger groups, in all its facets related especially to management, to ignite curiosity, to offer the possibility of transformative learning through play and, ultimately, to transfer the importance of taking care of Heritage.”
“For the first time, archaeology becomes a management video game. Rise of Ruins is based on an accurate scientific and historical apparatus that brings the player to relive the excavation phases that brought to light the Roman site of Saepinum through decisions and strategies to be carried out in order to become a good director of the archaeological park,” explains Fabio Viola, founder of TuoMuseo. “A project that combines didactic and popular aspects also designed for students and young cultural heritage professionals with a strong engagement component capable of attracting millions of video gamers eager to discover and musealize real artifacts.”
“Discovering the dynamics underlying the management,” says Mirko Marchitelli, director of production for TuoMuseo, "of the conservation and enhancement of a fundamental heritage such as the archaeological one presented within the Sepino Park. Rise of Ruins allows the player to investigate and experience firsthand the activities underlying the life of a cultural institution, which is essential to further bring the public closer to the heritage and professions that gravitate around the life of a particularly valuable cultural site such as Altilia-Saepinum."
The game offers the opportunity to lead excavation campaigns, take care of the restoration of unearthed finds, and set up exhibitions that are coherent and respectful of the historical value of the materials. Economic and logistical management then becomes an integral part of the experience, as does responding to unforeseen events, accurately simulating the real-life challenges faced by archaeologists and park directors. Gameplay is structured on two distinct levels of difficulty, designed to suit both novices and more experienced players of the management genre. Progression within the game requires attention to the proper display of artifacts, heritage protection, and site enhancement, with the ultimate goal of making Sepino’s history visible and usable to a digital audience as well.
In addition to the ludic aspect, Rise of Ruins stands out for its popularizing function. Within the video game experience, players can access informational content about the history of the park and the preserved artifacts, with insights designed to bring a wide audience, from youngsters to adults, closer to the knowledge and protection of Italy’s archaeological heritage. In this sense, the game is proposed as an educational tool that combines entertainment and culture, offering an alternative way of enjoying historical heritage.
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| Rise of Ruins: Sepino (Campobasso) stars in first archaeological management video game |
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