They dig deep: the Russian Federation has created a game "Perekopy" about the history and culture of Crimea

In Russia, they are creating a browser game "Perekopy", in which the user will have to manage an archaeological museum, conduct excavations, restore finds and collect collections of artifacts. The developers decided to tell the story of Crimea not in a textbook format, but through game mechanics. The project was based on real archaeological research and museum materials, and the authors deliberately separated fiction from facts. Why the developers relied on archeology and how the experts evaluate the project is described in the Izvestia article.

What is known about the game "Perekopy"

The action of "Perekop" takes place in the Crimea, which the developers call the meeting space of different civilizations. Instead of the usual treasure hunt, the player goes through the full path of an archaeologist: he receives an official "Open List" for excavations, sends expeditions, finds fragments of artifacts, cleans and restores them, and then exhibits them in his own museum. As the collection develops, new territories and historical eras open up.

The project concept covers 11 cultural strata, from the Taurians and Scythians to the Russian Empire and modern times. There are seven archaeological locations for each, with a total of 77 expeditions. The full version of the game should include 231 game artifacts and 11 related historical plots.

According to Elena Skarzhinskaya, the project manager and founder of the Department of Esports, the historical part of the game had to be worked out especially carefully.

— Our task was not to make a textbook in a game shell, but to show how history is born. The player follows the same path as an archaeologist: first, he explores the place, then works with the find, restores its context, and only after that understands its value. If later a person wants to open a book on the archeology of Crimea or go to a museum, then the project has fulfilled its task," she said.

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The end-to-end plot is built around the legends of Scythian gold and the Golden Cradle, but the authors emphasize that mythology should not replace historical facts. The game separately distinguishes between confirmed archaeological data, scientific reconstructions, legends and fiction. The project was created on the basis of museum collections, archaeological excavation materials and scientific publications.

In addition to excavations, the player can play mini-games based on the work of specialists in the museum and archaeological fields. Among them are the assembly of amphorae from fragments, laboratory analysis of finds, identification of the authenticity of objects and the route of the expedition. The authors hope that this approach will make it possible to show archaeology not as a treasure hunt, but as a full-fledged research work.

Photo: the trenches.RF

The project works completely in the browser and does not require installation, and its own server infrastructure is used for its operation. The authors plan to develop "Perekops" and have already given Izvestia a chance to play the first two chapters — the Taurian and the Scythian. Each of them includes seven locations and its own final relic.

In addition, the project is planned to be linked with the literary prize for Crimean poets "On the Edge of the Surf", which has been held annually since 2020.

How did the experts evaluate the project

Arkady Smirnov, a video game expert, believes that Perekops occupies a niche that is still practically free in the Russian market. According to him, most educational games are limited to tests or simplified presentation of historical facts, while the new project is trying to integrate knowledge directly into the process.

— Interestingly, the authors do not suggest that the player simply read information about the history of Crimea. They make him a participant in the archaeological process: it is necessary to search for finds, collect artifacts, restore them, and create museum exhibitions. This approach is much more effective at engaging the audience than traditional educational presentation. If a person is interested in playing, he begins to be interested in the historical material itself," the expert noted.

Photo: IZVESTIA/Pavel Volkov

In his opinion, the strong side of the project may also be the attention to historical details and the desire to show the diversity of cultures that have left their mark on the peninsula.

— There is a noticeable demand for local plots and cultural heritage in the gaming industry. Crimea has a huge archaeological potential, and the very idea of going through different historical epochs — from the Taurians and Scythians to the present — looks unusual. If the developers manage to regularly fill the project with new content, it may interest not only history buffs, but also a wider audience," Arkady Smirnov believes.

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At the same time, IT specialist Sergey Pomortsev urges caution in assessing the prospects for such initiatives. According to him, the educational potential of the project is obvious, but success will depend primarily on the quality of the gameplay.

— The most common problem with historical and educational projects is that they turn out to be good educational products, but not good enough games. The user comes for emotions and interesting gameplay, and only then for knowledge. If this balance is not met, the audience quickly loses interest," he said.

The expert also drew attention to the high competition in the segment of browser projects. Today, developers have to compete not only with other historical games, but also with social networks, mobile services, and major online releases. Therefore, they need to constantly hold the attention of users with the help of new mechanics, events and opportunities for the development of the museum.

Photo: IZVESTIA/Tatiana Ulemskaya

The idea of introducing archaeology to the audience through an interactive format looks promising, however, according to Sergey Pomortsev, such topics rarely receive high-quality gaming. Gaming blogger Artyom Semenov added that historical value alone is not enough for a mass audience.

— A modern player is used to the fact that the first minutes should be mechanically addictive, but here the pace sometimes seems too academic and boring. Without changing the game mechanics, "Perekops" will not be able to go beyond the educational game. More importantly, the authors themselves have not yet named the time frame for the implementation of the roadmap. This means that the development may be delayed, and the project will not see the light of day at all," he said.

According to experts, a key factor in the success of "Perekops" will be the ability to combine scientific reliability with an exciting gameplay. If the developers manage to maintain this balance, the project could become one of the notable Russian examples of using video games to promote history and cultural heritage.