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At the end of the general introduction the question arose if the benefit justifies the effort of developing entertaining games with a subtle educational effect when there is a chance that people play the games just for fun without any motivation to recognise the information and facts given in the game or proceed on their own with some research about the game's topic.
In this regard, additionally to the aquisition of knowledge, it is possible to state a second purpose, which is the potential touristic aspect and benefit of games. So, even when not reaching the audience on the intended educational level the efforts of game development may still be justified for a region or cultural institution by attracting mere tourists and visitors.
Therefore this article deals with some thoughts on using true locations in games.
As one example that videogame tourism can be successful I would like to point to people who visited all real settings of the game "Gabriel Knight 2: The Beast Within."1
In this regard, additionally to the aquisition of knowledge, it is possible to state a second purpose, which is the potential touristic aspect and benefit of games. So, even when not reaching the audience on the intended educational level the efforts of game development may still be justified for a region or cultural institution by attracting mere tourists and visitors.
Therefore this article deals with some thoughts on using true locations in games.
As one example that videogame tourism can be successful I would like to point to people who visited all real settings of the game "Gabriel Knight 2: The Beast Within."1
In this regard the "Hunt of zombies at castle Hohenwerfen" may also attract players of "Call of Duty: Black Ops III" as visitors.2
It is not really required to use a realistic or historic scenario for using real locations although this may lead to the touristic aspect as leading factor of the game and the imparting of knowledge fades into the background resp. becomes a side effect, when people are attracted to just visit a place they know from the game and subsequently learn about something completely different from the game's topic.
It is important that games mention the real locations they use and reconstruct, at least in the closing credits. Otherwise it is not possible to reach people who do not already know the used setting.
For example, the art museum of the fictional city Lost Heaven in the game "Mafia"3 bases on the art historical museum of Vienna (Kunsthistorisches Museum Wien).
(The pictures always show a game screenshot on the left and a photo of the real place on the right.)
It is important that games mention the real locations they use and reconstruct, at least in the closing credits. Otherwise it is not possible to reach people who do not already know the used setting.
For example, the art museum of the fictional city Lost Heaven in the game "Mafia"3 bases on the art historical museum of Vienna (Kunsthistorisches Museum Wien).
(The pictures always show a game screenshot on the left and a photo of the real place on the right.)
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| Exterior view of the front |
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| Art gallery |
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| Gallery |
As this is not mentioned in the game there is no potential touristic effect.
Ideally a game includes both the subtle educational and the touristic component. This means, the game uses real facts for its storytelling that can be checked and extended when visiting the true locations.
The before mentioned "Gabriel Knight 2" can be indicated as an ideal example for such games. The game deals with the history of the Bavarian king Ludwig II., it uses historical facts (e.g offers some information in form of a short guided tour at castle Neuschwanstein) and makes some fictional twists to create an interesting story.
Many real locations were used in the game which makes it to an excellent motivation and advertisment for holidays in Bavaria.
The before mentioned "Gabriel Knight 2" can be indicated as an ideal example for such games. The game deals with the history of the Bavarian king Ludwig II., it uses historical facts (e.g offers some information in form of a short guided tour at castle Neuschwanstein) and makes some fictional twists to create an interesting story.
Many real locations were used in the game which makes it to an excellent motivation and advertisment for holidays in Bavaria.
So you visit Munich in the game:
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| Town hall and statue of the Virgin Mary |
Or Rothenburg ob der Tauber (which is named "Rittersberg" in the game):
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| Rothenburg o.d. Tauber |
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| Burg Rabenstein |
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| Altötting |
And there are many more places to find in the game.
The given example distinctly shows that predominantly famous locations were used for the game (so the locations seem to be more an advertisment for the game than the game for the locations). However, in my opinion it seems quite possible to create such games also for less known regions, institutions etc. as a strategy for attracting visitors, ideally combined with including facts and information about the region/institution, of course.
Accepting the educational influence of computer games (without being an "educational game") when using true locations or correct historical facts (or the combination of both) leads to some questions about legitimacy of twisting facts for entertainment.
How great is the danger of creating and imparting wrong knowledge when the twists are too extensive? May it be necessary to rethink the strict legal laws of (not) using some symbols for computer games?
Does it make sense to think about a minimum request for authenticity?
The given example distinctly shows that predominantly famous locations were used for the game (so the locations seem to be more an advertisment for the game than the game for the locations). However, in my opinion it seems quite possible to create such games also for less known regions, institutions etc. as a strategy for attracting visitors, ideally combined with including facts and information about the region/institution, of course.
Accepting the educational influence of computer games (without being an "educational game") when using true locations or correct historical facts (or the combination of both) leads to some questions about legitimacy of twisting facts for entertainment.
How great is the danger of creating and imparting wrong knowledge when the twists are too extensive? May it be necessary to rethink the strict legal laws of (not) using some symbols for computer games?
Does it make sense to think about a minimum request for authenticity?
1 Youtube playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-Y9nKC8855-xhzNMJCbg0-_OzCVXkP-3
2 Zombiejagd auf Burg Hohenwerfen mit „Call of Duty: Black Ops III“: http://www.burgerbe.de/2016/02/07/zombies-auf-burg-hohenwerfen-call-of-duty-black-ops-iii-eisendrache-32836/
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