scholarly journals Using the Roblox Video Game Engine for Creating Virtual tours and Learning about the Sculptural Heritage

Author(s):  
Cecile Meier ◽  
Jose Luis Saorín ◽  
Alejandro Bonnet de León ◽  
Alberto Guerrero Cobos

This paper describes an experience to incorporate the realization of virtual routes about the sculptural heritage of a city in the classroom by developing a simulation of the urban environment using a video game engine. Video game engines not only allow the creation of video games but also the creation and navigation of in-teractive three-dimensional worlds. For this research, Roblox Studio has been used, a simple and intuitive program in which no previous programming skills are required. During the 2018/2019 academic year, a pilot experience was carried out with 53 secondary school students who were given the task of designing a virtual environment in which they had to include 3D models of the sculptural her-itage of the city of Santa Cruz de Tenerife. Before starting the experience, the par-ticipants answered a questionnaire to obtain a previous idea of the students' knowledge about the creation of video games. Once the activity was finished and in order to evaluate the result of the activity, the participants answered a final questionnaire. The students emphasized that after the activity they are more aware of the sculptural heritage of Santa Cruz and that they consider themselves capable of creating their own interactive worlds with Roblox.

2014 ◽  
Vol 2014 ◽  
pp. 1-12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dario Maggiorini ◽  
Laura Anna Ripamonti ◽  
Federico Sauro

Video games are (also) real-time interactive graphic simulations: hence, providing a convincing physics simulation for each specific game environment is of paramount importance in the process of achieving a satisfying player experience. While the existing game engines appropriately address many aspects of physics simulation, some others are still in need of improvements. In particular, several specific physics properties of bodies not usually involved in the main game mechanics (e.g., properties useful to represent systems composed by soft bodies), are often poorly rendered by general-purpose engines. This issue may limit game designers when imagining innovative and compelling video games and game mechanics. For this reason, we dug into the problem of appropriately representing soft bodies. Subsequently, we have extended the approach developed for soft bodies to rigid ones, proposing and developing a unified approach in a game engine: Sulfur. To test the engine, we have also designed and developed “Escape from Quaoar,” a prototypal video game whose main game mechanic exploits an elastic rope, and a level editor for the game.


Author(s):  
Michael J. Starrett ◽  
Andrew S. McAvan ◽  
Derek J. Huffman ◽  
Jared D. Stokes ◽  
Colin T. Kyle ◽  
...  

Abstract Research into the behavioral and neural correlates of spatial cognition and navigation has benefited greatly from recent advances in virtual reality (VR) technology. Devices such as head-mounted displays (HMDs) and omnidirectional treadmills provide research participants with access to a more complete range of body-based cues, which facilitate the naturalistic study of learning and memory in three-dimensional (3D) spaces. One limitation to using these technologies for research applications is that they almost ubiquitously require integration with video game development platforms, also known as game engines. While powerful, game engines do not provide an intrinsic framework for experimental design and require at least a working proficiency with the software and any associated programming languages or integrated development environments (IDEs). Here, we present a new asset package, called Landmarks, for designing and building 3D navigation experiments in the Unity game engine. Landmarks combines the ease of building drag-and-drop experiments using no code, with the flexibility of allowing users to modify existing aspects, create new content, and even contribute their work to the open-source repository via GitHub, if they so choose. Landmarks is actively maintained and is supplemented by a wiki with resources for users including links, tutorials, videos, and more. We compare several alternatives to Landmarks for building navigation experiments and 3D experiments more generally, provide an overview of the package and its structure in the context of the Unity game engine, and discuss benefits relating to the ongoing and future development of Landmarks.


Spatium ◽  
2016 ◽  
pp. 30-36 ◽  
Author(s):  
Petar Pejic ◽  
Sonja Krasic

Digital three-dimensional models of the existing architectonic structures are created for the purpose of digitalization of the archive documents, presentation of buildings or an urban entity or for conducting various analyses and tests. Traditional methods for the creation of 3D models of the existing buildings assume manual measuring of their dimensions, using the photogrammetry method or laser scanning. Such approaches require considerable time spent in data acquisition or application of specific instruments and equipment. The goal of this paper is presentation of the procedure for the creation of 3D models of the existing structures using the globally available web resources and free software packages on standard PCs. This shortens the time of the production of a digital three-dimensional model of the structure considerably and excludes the physical presence at the location. In addition, precision of this method was tested and compared with the results acquired in a previous research.


2014 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura Patricia Mancera ◽  
Silvia Margarita Baldiris ◽  
Ramón Fabregat

  This paper describes a video game named aTenDerAH, which was created, designed and implemented for attending the needs of adults with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). The purpose of aTenDerAH is entertains while different cognitive and organizational areas are being taught. aTenDerAH is integrated into an e-learning platform as a recommended tool for students with ADHD which were previously diagnosed with a user modelling process. The videogame was developed using: Unity for the creation of the 3D game and also for the interactive content, Cinema 4D for the creation of the models and animations in 3D, and Photoshop for the creation of textures for the 3D models. 


2021 ◽  
pp. 382-395
Author(s):  
I.I. Shedko

The article examines the graphic styles that have arisen in the video game industry due to the technical features and development of this media. These styles are widely used and starting to go beyond the industry into the field of contemporary art. Despite the fact that pixel art is mainly used in the creation of video games, it has already become an independent form of visual style. Contemporary artists such as the Russian digital artist and designer under the pseudonym Uno Morales and the artist Natalya Struchkova turn to the pixel style when creating their works. Like the pixel art, voxel graphics has moved into the category of the game visual style, which employs an impressive community of digital artists. Low рoly graphics have modified from the main graphics of three-dimensional games, which look technically imperfect, into the category of an artistic style that forms a recognizable, attractive and unique geometric aesthetics of the image. We can trace the transformation of video game graphics, which have arisen as a result of technical constraints, into separate art styles: pixel art, voxel art, low рoly style, the minimalist style of the first classic video games. These styles are gradually becoming an independent visual unit that does not depend on the video game product as a whole.


Author(s):  
Vishal Thelkar

Computer and video game has gain enough popularity among teenagers also in children which is alarming and raised concern about the impact it may have on the youngsters. The games have violent themes, coupled with their interactive nature, have led to accusations that they may be worse than televised violence in affecting children's antisocial behaviour. Addiction is one of the reason it might hamper the effect on health. Other allegations are that they have an addictive quality and that excessive playing results in a diminished social contact and poorer school performance. But how bad are video games? There are strong methodological reasons for not accepting the evidence for video games effects at face value This research focuses on what are the views of people towards the computer gaming and to identify the actual effects of computer games on high school students. This paper covers earlier studies on the same topic and their findings in literature survey To reach to the objective, responses from significant no of people taken with systematic design of questionnaire. At the end it covers and conclude the relation of different variables & the effect of games on students.


Author(s):  
I Dewa Putu Eskasasnanda

Science and technology development causes a lot of changes in any fields including the form of popular games among the Junior and Senior High School students in Indonesia.The traditional games that are famous formerly have been replaced by the modern games like online video game.This article discusses the cause and effect of the online video game playing on the Junior and Senior High Schools students in Malang.This study reveal that students play video games online due to peers pressure; and online video games are liked because they are considered more modern, practical, realistic and varied. Initially, students play online video games to relieve the fatigue due to studying at school, but subsequently, they are becoming addicted, and reach a condition that they find it difficult to stop playing games.This condition will directly affect their achievement in school.


2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (11) ◽  
pp. 4262 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cecile Meier ◽  
Jose Saorín ◽  
Jorge de la Torre-Cantero ◽  
Manuel Díaz-Alemán

At present it is easy to digitalize sculptural heritage in 3D. Three-dimensional models allow for visualization of the work from all angles. The result can be seen in three-dimensional visors, in virtual reality, or by means of 3D-printed replicas. However, the recipient continues to be, as is also the case in books and videos, a passive spectator of the cultural patrimony. In order to promote participation and to increase interest in local heritage, alternative methods for promotion of the digital patrimony have been developed. In this article, two means of publicizing local (less-known) heritage in an active manner have been described. On the one hand, the transformation of 3D models into cut-outs (paper toys) where it is necessary to make the sculptures by hand, and on the other hand, the incorporation of the models into the video game Minecraft, an immersed 3D world which permits visiting or generating content. To validate these alternatives, two examples based on the sculptures of Santa Cruz de Tenerife (Spain) have been created, and they have been used in pilot studies in schools in order to obtain a first appraisal of user satisfaction.


2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 23
Author(s):  
Raimund Schnürer ◽  
Cédric Dind ◽  
Stefan Schalcher ◽  
Pascal Tschudi ◽  
Lorenz Hurni

Digitalization in schools requires a rethinking of teaching materials and methods in all subjects. This upheaval also concerns traditional print media, like school atlases used in geography classes. In this work, we examine the cartographic technological feasibility of extending a printed school atlas with digital content by augmented reality (AR). While previous research rather focused on topographic three-dimensional (3D) maps, our prototypical application for Android tablets complements map sheets of the Swiss World Atlas with thematically related data. We follow a natural marker approach using the AR engine Vuforia and the game engine Unity. We compare two workflows to insert geo-data, being correctly aligned with the map images, into the game engine. Next, the imported data are transformed into partly animated 3D visualizations, such as a dot distribution map, curved lines, pie chart billboards, stacked cuboids, extruded bars, and polygons. Additionally, we implemented legends, elements for temporal and thematic navigation, a screen capture function, and a touch-based feature query for the user interface. We evaluated our prototype in a usability experiment, which showed that secondary school students are as effective, interested, and sustainable with printed as with augmented maps when solving geographic tasks.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Mohsin Ali

<p>The technology of today, such as the Oculus Rift, can provide immersion in ways that were unachievable in the past. The Oculus Rift is a virtual reality headset that allows the user to see the three-dimensional world without the use of a traditional monitor. Unlike television, computer and mobile screens, a virtual reality headset digitally transports the user into the environment. Functionality such as depth tracking and rotational head tracking provides immersion unlike anything experienced to date.   My interest is to investigate interactive storytelling in combination with the Oculus Rift, to determine if virtual reality headsets can enrich storytelling experiences. This will be achieved by developing an application where interactive storytelling is compatible with the Oculus Rift, and testing that application with participants. Finally, a conclusion will be drawn from the data collected by participants.   Alongside the written thesis, a digital application will be produced in Unreal Engine 4 (Video game engine). The application will be an Oculus Rift driven experience, meaning that users can only experience it through an Oculus Rift. The application will have an interactive plot, which allows the user to influence the storyline. The design will be iterative and will be refined after each user testing session. The application hopes to strengthen the theories and concepts found in the written section of the thesis.</p>


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