Students in Master of Science in Virtual Engineering at the Institut Arts et Métiers Laval have developed a collaborative virtual escape game to bring to life the story of the last marquis of Château de la Rouerie.
When virtual reality brings history to life...
The Château de la Rouerie, a 17th-century building located in Ille-et-Vilaine, enlisted the help of students in the Master of Science as part of their senior capstone project. The goal: to bring to life the story of the château’s last marquis, Armand-Charles Tuffin de la Rouerie, a hero of the American War of Independence and founder of the Breton Chouannerie.
To fulfill this order, the students developed a collaborative virtual escape game from scratch that can be played by four players simultaneously!
The game then plunges visitors back into the past, propelling them into the stormy setting of a ship on the English Channel. Load a cannon with gunpowder, attack an enemy ship, find a hidden letter, obtain weapons, and defeat revolutionaries... a powerful program where objects can be manipulated using Oculus Touch (motion-sensing accessories specially designed for virtual reality).
Bringing the past back to life: the challenge of realism
The game's realism is at its peak with scenes taken from detailed scans of the castle's rooms (with retopology work done in 3DS MAX), avatars that exactly reflect the busts of historical figures, paintings brought to life using CrazyTalk, and dialogues and character voice recordings made in Audacity. A narrative and informative commentary also guides the player throughout the experience.
I was truly impressed by the work that went into recreating the sets and characters, Diego Barbier de Chalais, owner of the castle.
Scientific evidence shows that virtual reality is a valuable tool for promoting heritage, as it creates a stronger sense of engagement than a simple visit. Visitors actively participate in their journey while wearing a headset, making it easier for them to acquire new knowledge! This is an exciting new approach to visiting, which is particularly useful for heritage days.
