21: A Geolocation journey into the past with Assassin’s Creed

Fern Dunn, Will Humphrey and Jason Veal, @sugarcreative, Sugar Collective

We are Sugar, an immersive design studio based in the UK, and we are currently working with Hampshire Cultural Trust on a geolocated historical experience based in the world of Assassin's Creed, exploring the amazing city of Winchester. We wanted to make sure that through this experience, we not only brought the accurate history of this fascinating city to life, but also kept the integrity of the Assassin’s Creed brand through styling, language and atmosphere to immerse users.

This has been done in a number of different ways. Guided by a narrator, you will be taken to key areas across the city and prompted to place objects and buildings into the world that will unlock stories, puzzles and wonder. In the experience we are encouraging the act of play and discovery, which we feel is at the heart of learning. By giving each act a distinct subject and action, we provide the user with a complete immersive dive into the past from all angles.

Fig. 21.1: Assassin’s Creed: Valhalla

Through the power of AR technology we can bring a long lost city of the past to life, and resurrect crumbling buildings to their former glory. Imagine seeing a once lost cathedral spring up in front of you, to scale. In this, we are showcasing the inspiring craftsmanship of the age.

The systems that we are using not only place the object or building into the world but allow you to walk around it and explore it in detail. Through prompts, users will hear stories of the past from those that lived and worked there. By working closely with a team of historians we were able to uncover the stories that would weave through our experience. We chose King Alfred as our main pillar, and we looked at the amazing legacy of his reign, pulling these stories together.

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Fig. 21.2: Assassin’s Creed: Valhalla

As we tell our story of Winchester through GPS & mapping tools, we can accurately track user location and provide content in response, meaning users can engage at their own pace and in any order, as well as in real world locations- adding multiple layers to the immersive experience. These tools not only have the power to understand space in real time but also have the ability to react to changes in weather and light. This is more than an app experience now, but a piece of digital theatre with all elements coming together.

We have an audience that can move and explore any space, but they will also have varying prior knowledge of the history and varying familiarity with immersive experiences, so it is our job to guide them - onboarding and clear instructions are key!

Vital to the enjoyment of the app is the togetherness that it brings. You are sharing this experience with many others at the same time, exploring a city together, finding clues & unlocking the past; a true partnership between technology and history.

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