Their memory

Their Memory aims to explore how games design and technology can enhance documentary and storytelling techniques in engaging hard to reach audiences with wartime memories.

Their Memory is a VR (Oculus Go/Oculus Rift) experience designed to engage younger people with the poppy appeal as well as represent the memories of British Army veterans and the conflicts they have been involved in. In Their Memory, the player visits the famous Lady Haig poppy factory in Edinburgh. The environment is fully realised and recreates the character and detail of the factory in real life. Within VR, players can explore the desks of the different ex-servicemen who now work at the factory. On each desk are mementos and artefacts unique to each veteran. The player can pick up and explore each object, when the objects are interacted with, they play an audio clip. Each piece of audio is a memory that relates to the previously picked up object. Memories are recounted by the veterans who owns the picked-up object. Utilising VR technology, players can fully immerse themselves in a real-life environment and be fully engaged in the veteran’s stories. Utilising immersive technology such as virtual reality increases engagement and is a more appealing engagement tool than traditional methods.