Colonial Williamsburg Wins Award For Computer Game
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The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation has won a Gold “MUSE” Award from the American Association of Museums for the design of a computer role-playing game included in new DVD/CD ROM set called “A Day in the Life.”
Titled “Betwixt Folly and Fate,” the game offers players an immersive 3-D role-playing experience that takes them through 1774 Williamsburg as one of four characters: an enslaved house servant, a free black carpenter, a midwife’s assistant or a young gentleman.
As the players pursue the goals of their characters, they ultimately explore a large portion of the 18th-century capital, roaming the streets and meeting people in shops, taverns, the courthouse and homes. They also experience the challenges of daily life in early America while learning about the social classes and customs of the time.
The town is populated with dozens of historical characters, including George Washington, Thomas Jefferson and Patrick Henry. It also gives players the chance to bargain for goods with shopkeepers and try their hands at colonial games.
“Colonial Williamsburg seems to have looked deeply into the essence of its mission,” said the judges in their review of the game. “It has parlayed its mastery of storytelling to bring players right into some of the stories it finds most profound. And those stories are likely to stay with its players long after the game is done.
“The game makes the player think and feel and wonder as he or she assumes the role of a character in the Williamsburg of 1774. Some judges were engaged and emotionally affected, and some spent hours assuming new roles or exploring the ramifications of alternate choices…”
Museum professionals across the country judged the entries, which came from museums in North America, Europe, Australia and Asia. The MUSE Awards recognize excellence in all varieties of media programs produced by or for museums.
“A Day in the Life” originally appeared as an eight-part instructional television series designed to introduce elementary and middle-school students to the world of 18th-century America.
The $99 3-disc boxed set includes two DVDs with eight 18-minute video episodes and one CD-ROM featuring such teaching materials as background information, a timeline and glossary, and lesson plans with primary sources (in PDF format).
Tags: alternate choices, american association of museums, century capital, colonial williamsburg foundation, computer game, computer role playing game, europe australia, fate the game, game, gold muse award, house servant, large portion, midwife, muse awards, primary source
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