Like all good platform games, he has to collect items, skills and knowledge along the way. Some of the eccentric characters in the game share their wisdom (if not somewhat grudgingly) whilst you muse at the quirky puzzles and admire the beautiful artwork of the game. But it's the items that Yong collects that will draw the attention of the museum fraternity - Leeds Museums and Galleries, Museums Sheffield, the Thackray Medical Museum and the National Railway Museum have all 'virtually' loaned objects to the game. Gamers can explore items from Beijing Olympic mascots to ivory figurines, dragon robes and even fight with authentic swords.
Computer games are seriously big business
In 2004 the UK computer and video game industry recorded sales in excess of £2 billion (According to the Entertainment and Leisure Software Publishers Association or ELSPA). We have the third largest games market in the world, only after the US and Japan. In short, as a nation, we looooove computer games.
So China in Yorkshire may have been very canny in tapping into this huge and eager market. Only time will tell if this new venture will open up new audiences for the museums involved and engage young visitors more deeply with their objects. Play Yong's China Quest for yourself.
Hungry for more?
- My Culture Quest where you travel the world collecting objects, developing themes and finally curate your own exhibition (we all know this isn't as simple as it sounds!). Created by Weston Park Museum
- The slightly addictive Nit Fit (yes, about nits!), Mission:Explore, Hair Detective (solve the mystery of who has stolen a rock bands hair products - yes really!) and Dinosaur Defender from the Natural History Museum - I just can't bear any penguins getting lost
- Being a Librarian has never been so noisy and stressful as in Nanw's Great Adventure - see how far you can get
- The National Archives try at gaming is truly harrowing as you act as a messenger in WW2 Trench Mission - don't play this one if you are scared of rats. It was all too much responsibility for me
- The National Museums Scotland Egyptian Tomb Adventure brings archaeology bang up to date
- But my all time favourite and recommendation for Friday afternoon in the office entertainment has to be RoboPoop - yes this is a game about poop from the brave people at Scottish Water. Billed as science in the sewers, you are tasked with blasting away the items blocking the sewers
Will modern gaming help us to engage with new audiences in the future?
