The Interactive Pasts Conference: Sjoerd van der Linde
2Presentation at the Interactive Pasts Conference, April 4th 2016, Leiden University.
Sjoerd van der Linde (Studio Louter)
Emotion Design as a Possible Approach to an Interactive Past
"This presentation discusses the application of Emotion Design as a possible methodological approach to developing archaeological video games. This approach has been developed on the back of 20 years of experience in creating conceptual storylines and multimedia within the museum sector. It is grounded within the latest insights from the fields of interpretive archaeology, applied gaming as well as public history.
In our view, the construction of archaeological pasts has several remarkable similarities with the construction of game worlds. Both try to develop a universe, different yet familiar to our own, that has to be built upon an incomplete and limited set of 'data', whilst adhering to a meaningful and logical set of rules. Whilst video games often use atmosphere and moods to convince the ‘visitor’ of the reality of these incomplete universes, archaeologists often focus on scientific accuracy, thereby foregoing the communicative power of emotions in storytelling.
n this presentation we will look at the application of 'Emotion Design' in creating museum visitor journeys, and discuss what lessons could be drawn for the intersection between video gaming and archaeology. By drawing upon several case studies, we will argue how a meaningful connection the past can only be achieved by evoking the emotions of the visitor, especially if these are in constant relation to a clearly developed core interpretive message."
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