Digital Immersion in Melaka: Enhancing Historical Learning through Technology on the Malaccan Sultanate

Abstract

This article presents an evaluation on the “Enjoy Melaka” game, which aims to create an engaging educational tool that informs and enlightens the public society on the historical riches of Malaccan Sultanate. The main objectives of this study were to develop an interactive three-dimensional (3D) game that provides an immersive learning experience and to assess its effectiveness as a medium for disseminating historical information. The game was set around the Melaka River attraction site, allowing human players to explore a virtual world filled with historical landmarks and facts. The game was designed for the players to collect items to activate in-game checkpoints that displayed educational content about the Malaccan Empire. There were four checkpoints, each elaborating on different historical aspects of the Sultanate. The accumulated scores allowed the players to progress through the game until they achieved the maximum score. The game development involved creating a detailed 3D environment and integrating educational content into the gameplay. Data were collected through testing activities conducted with a target group of public users. This group provided feedback on the game's effectiveness in making historical information more engaging compared to traditional textual forms such as books, brochures, newspapers and online articles. The important contribution of this study is highlighted through the interactive 3D games which can serve as a more engaging and effective medium for historical education. By transforming the approach in conveying information about the Malaccan Sultanate, the “Enjoy Melaka” game has the potential to enhance public interest and understanding on historical period.