Arbëreshë VR: Guardians of Memory
Municipality of Andali
Primary and lower secondary school students, museum visitors, and tourists.
Project TypeVirtual Reality (VR)
ScopeEducation & Tourism
An immersive edutainment experience designed to safeguard and transmit the ethno-linguistic heritage of the Italo-Albanian community.
Engaging the younger generations in preserving the Arbëreshë ethno-linguistic heritage by overcoming the constraints of traditional museum education and conveying complex historical concepts without relying on violent narratives.
A VR experience that transforms memory loss into a metaphorical adventure, engaging users with gamification mechanics, archery, and interactive quizzes to solidify cultural knowledge.
The project
Arbëreshë VR: Guardians of Memory stems from the desire to evolve how museum content is experienced within the Municipality of Andali. Rather than relying on the passive consumption of documents or artifacts, the project leverages virtual reality to transition the student from a passive spectator into an active agent of cultural preservation.
The narrative structure was developed around two main pillars: historical accuracy (carefully overseeing the reconstruction of symbols, the Arbërisht language, and traditional costumes) and ethical gamification. Integrating the digital experience inside the headset with physical interaction, via collectible physical cards created for visitors, extends the value of the experience beyond the boundaries of the simulation, building a direct bridge between gameplay and in-depth museum learning. The result is a Learn by Playing tool that sparks curiosity and reinforces the core concepts of the Italo-Albanian identity.
Inside the experience
Upon putting on the headset, the user embarks on a 10-minute journey where the oblivion of historical memory manifests as a "Dark Matter" threatening traditions. Guided by the historical hero Skanderbeg from a 360° panoramic tower, the student becomes a "Guardian of Memory" and wields a virtual bow to rekindle the lanterns of the Vatra, the symbol of the hearth and community continuity, using arrows of light. The archery gameplay alternates with multiple-choice ethnographic quizzes covering local language and customs: each correct answer unlocks collectible "Power Cards" granting in-game bonuses, turning theoretical learning into an immediate reward before logging the final score on the local Leaderboard.
About the design
The visual direction adopts a stylized 3D art style, designed to be engaging and accessible for a young audience without trivializing the historical significance of the content. The user interface (UI) and interactive card management are seamlessly integrated into the game environment to maintain full immersion.
Ethno-linguistic fidelity was ensured by paying close attention to specific details—ranging from the reproduction of the double-headed eagle banner to traditional terms featured on the cards (such as Këngë polifonike or Martesa arbëreshe). The sound design guides the user by clearly highlighting moments of tension (the advance of the darkness), tactile mechanics (nocking the arrow on the bow), and positive feedback for completed quizzes.