Minecraft Fort Santiago: Viability as an interactive informative tour

• Main Authors: Tabora, Liandro Antonio, Ambrosio, John Rusty Mark, Manabat, Kenneth, Santos, Chloe Althaia, Valeriano, Juan Raphael
• Format: text
• Published: Animo Repository 2023
• Subjects: Fort Santiago (Philippines)—Interactive multimedia; Minecraft (Game); Computer Sciences
• Online Access: https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/faculty_research/13058
• Institution: De La Salle University

This study explores the potential of using Minecraft, a 3D sandbox video game, as an educational tool for enhancing the understanding of historical landmarks such as Fort Santiago, an important Philippine historical site. Historical landmarks play a critical role in preserving a country’s culture and heritage and are important for a student’s overall formation. However, limitations such as geographical distance and travel constraints can hinder students' ability to explore these sites personally. Hence, this study explores the use of Minecraft to simulate the exploration of Fort Santiago remotely. The study involved the conceptualization and design of the Minecraft simulation, taking advantage of the games’ interactive features to engage participants through a virtual tour. The simulation was built as close as possible to the real Fort Santiago, making use of various in game materials to depict the site’s intricate layout and architecture. A pre-test assessed a participant’s prior knowledge of the fort, which was followed by the Minecraft-simulated tour, and a post-test to evaluate the participant’s knowledge acquisition. Additionally, a User Experience (UX) survey gauged participants' engagement, usability, and overall experience during the simulation. The results revealed a significant improvement in participant’s post-test scores compared to their pre-test performance, indicating that the simulated tour had a positive effect in their knowledge acquisition. The UX survey also showed a positive response towards the simulation. This study's results showed that Minecraft can be used as an alternative way to learn about historical sites. Minecraft's accessibility, immersive nature, and potential for interactive learning make it a viable tool for exploring historical landmarks.