This research focuses on if and how video games could be used to reach out to and involve a wider and particularly younger audience of people between 20-45 years old in archaeology. By setting out...Show moreThis research focuses on if and how video games could be used to reach out to and involve a wider and particularly younger audience of people between 20-45 years old in archaeology. By setting out a questionnaire among the players of three video games belonging to three major gaming genres, namely Assassin’s Creed: Origins (RPG), Battlefield 1 (FPS), and Sid Meier’s Civilization V (strategy), this research searches to investigate how the target audience perceives archaeological and historical aspects in video games (EA DICE, 2016; Firaxis Games et al., 2010; Ubisoft Montreal, 2017). The research looks to find out what gamers find important in video games and what genres are preferred to use in order to implement more real-life (virtual) archaeology. Furthermore, it researches how the target audience perceives archaeological aspects in video games and to what extent they would be interested to play video games in which a bigger focus lies on archaeology, or that are ‘archaeologically/historically accurate. Lastly, it was researched which of the selected video game genre(s) would be most suitable to use to involve a wider public in archaeology. The three set out surveys resulted in a total of 163 responses from men and women, concerning several ages and countries, including the Netherlands, the UK and the US. The results show that the participants are interested in archaeological aspects and historical accuracy in video games. A number of participants were more interested in archaeological activities than they were before playing the video game, which means that video games can indeed be used in order to reach out to and involve a wider audience in archaeology. The research shows that the participants preferred the role-playing genre to have more archaeological and historical aspects implemented in. The participants who played Assassin’s Creed: Origins were most interested in archaeology and history in video games, and also most open to archaeological activities in the real world, like visiting museums after playing the video game. In conclusion: The most preferred video game genre to use in order to reach out to a wider public is shown to be the role-playing genre.Show less
