1. Datasets
The primary dataset of our interest was the Edinburgh Boundaries dataset of the National Library of Scotland. It catches our eyes for its detailed record of the time period when each and every street district of the city is formed. This information puts us in a perspective of how Edinburgh as a city evolved over the years. With an expanding city map as the backbone of our project, we can set out to explore significant historical events and time periods in the city's history, showing how these developments play out on a map.
To support the geographical change of the city, other information. We bring in Edinburgh City Through Time dataset, which records social data like the population, housing, social structure, industry, etc.
Another source of data does not come in the form of a dataset but rather as a textual narrative of Edinburgh's history. We can pick out interesting historical time periods or events from this data source to discuss our serious game. The narratives of historians will give us an in-depth insight into Edinburgh's history and guide our understanding of the datasets.
The fourth source of data is graphical datasets that can be used as game assets. Gaming can be a way to engage players, and these game assets can act as an incentive for players to continue playing the game. Datasets that can be potentially be used for this purpose are the Photographs of the South Side of Edinburgh dataset and the Stevenson Maps and Plans of Scotland dataset.
2. Moral of the serious game
Our project was focused on making a serious game about the historical development of our beloved city of Edinburgh, and we believe in a modern form of information. Gaming can be extremely useful in engaging an audience. Thus, we set out to explore serious gaming usage in bringing people to experience an immersive historical education.
3. Plan
1） Data Processing
As the first step of data processing, we will use Google Earth Engine API to organize and manipulate the Edinburgh Boundaries data. The dataset comes in the form of Keyhole Markup Language (KML) files, a geographical data format used in Google Earth. The Google Earth Engine API provides python functionalities for exploring these KML data.
Next step, we will incorporate the data into the Unity game engine, which can be performed using APIs and SDKs provided by Mapbox.
2） Technical realization of the game
The game's overall development is based on Unity 3D, implementing basic strategic gameplay, visual UI interaction, and advancing game flow. Mixamo is used to complete Automatic Character Rigging and Motion Captured Animations. In this strategy simulation game, players can design the infrastructure distribution for Edinburgh, which is inhabited by different classes of people, and drive the border's expansion. Over time, historical information becomes the trigger that drives the game, and players learn how different classes in a city affect the territorial changes in the region they build on the city by themselves, thereby increasing their knowledge of historical events.
4. Storyboard
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