Abstract:

The advent of modern extended reality technologies and their increasingly accessible costs has spurred researchers and businesses in recent years to explore their application in various contexts to enhance people's quality of life across learning, entertainment, health, and work domains. One area extensively studied is cultural heritage, where these technologies are widely employed as tools to capture visitors' attention in museums and art exhibitions. In general, one of the primary objectives of museums and cultural sites is to enable local citizens to understand better and connect with their territory, fostering a shared culture and a sense of community. However, various surveys conducted among museum visitors in different cities have revealed that residents visit the local museums only once, rarely, or never, leaving these spaces predominantly to tourists, thus defeating one of the intended purposes.

This research aims to support cultural venues in their efforts to promote cultural exploration among citizens, facilitating a deeper understanding of their territory and fostering a stronger sense of community. Through virtual reality (VR) technology and an immersive board game, the study seeks to engage individuals playfully and educationally, encouraging them to participate in the discovery of their cultural heritage actively.

Using a user-centered design approach involving various stakeholders from the community, including experts in immigration and integration, museum curators, and local tour guides, this work presents the design process of a VR-based app featuring an immersive virtual board game that facilitates extensive interactions among users. The game is designed to be used within cultural venues, where participants can be physically present in the same room or located remotely, such as at home or in another museum. The application presents questions requiring players to explore museums and cultural sites within their city's network.

Finally, the study highlights how the intrinsic motivators of the Self Determination Theory can be activated through a combination of game elements, social interactions fostered by the chosen game type, territorial proximity of users, and inherent features of virtual reality. This synergy further enhances participants' engagement, enjoyment, and sense of autonomy, encouraging a deeper and more meaningful connection with their cultural heritage and community.

Keywords:

VR, Education, Resilience.