Revive Bangkok: Designing Digital Game-Based Learning for Bangkok History

Abstract

This research aims to experiment with digital game design to promote historical learning, a prevalent issue in many countries but relatively new in Thai society. Several studies have suggested that the "play and learn" or "play-based learning" method is effective for children and young people. This method involves creating or simulating game-based scenarios in various ways, including online games.

Despite their design efforts, most historical games have been unsuccessful in Thai society. A few historical games did achieve success, but they were not designed for learning history. This research identifies a significant academic gap in history teaching, which should receive more attention.

To address this gap, this research integrates historical knowledge, archaeological evidence, architecture, and various art forms, including written documents, old photographs, artifacts, and maps, into the design of the digital game "Revive Bangkok."

The primary target audience is high school and university students between the ages of 13 and 25, the primary age group for learning history through the formal education system. The game's design is based on three key concepts: the "overlay of Bangkok city area," which is a theme in historical studies; "fun, suspense, and questioning," which combines historical learning with gaming; and "the beauty of scene and character," which is crucial for engaging players.

"Revive Bangkok" is an educational digital game that teaches the history of the city in the form of a "Role-Playing Game" (RPG) in the "Puzzle Adventure" genre. The main storyline involves players collecting antiques and solving various puzzles in the old city of Bangkok, both in the present and the past, to solve the city's flooding problem, as predicted by ancient scripture.

The mission encourages players to ask questions about Bangkok's history, which is the primary goal of the game's design. It aims to provide a different perspective on learning history, creating a comprehensive and new "past" pattern with a rich and holistic "new" perspective. It also stimulates the imagination, promoting an understanding of history beyond mere memorization and fostering a foundational thought process that can lead to other ideas in the future.