International Journal of Engineering Trends and Technology (IJETT) – Editor’s Issues - 2020 Interactive Virtual Museum for Malaysian Traditional Games Iznora Aini Zolkifly, Nur Fatin Juwaini Zakaria Faculty of Business Technology, UNITAR International University, Kelana Jaya, Selangor ABSTRACT makes users feels being presence in the virtual Virtual Reality Malaysia Traditional Games Museum environment as if the users in the real-life museum. It (VRMTG) has been developed to produce a virtual provides knowledge about traditional games equipment museum about Malaysian traditional game objects in three different categories based on ethnics such as through Virtual Reality technology. Most traditional Malays, Chinese and Indian. VRMTG allow its users to games museum is not available globally through the explore the new ways of historical information to the Internet, and quite rare for stand-alone museums. Only public. a few websites describe about historical traditional The existences of historical traditional games games but in still image and 2-Dimensional museums are quite rare around the world. But, if a presentation. Historical artifacts can only be display as traditional games museum is built, the museum can only the way the artifacts are placed. Visitors cannot explore be visited by community around the area. There are three and view closely these artifacts from different sides and problems statements which leads to the idea of angles. VRMTG comes with the objectives to use virtual developing these traditional games museum. Most reality technology as a new method of delivering traditional games museum is not available globally information about traditional games, to allow users to through the Internet, and quite rare for stand-alone see multi sides of the equipment needed in the museums. Therefore, historical artifacts can only be traditional games and users can manipulate any 3D display as the way the artifacts are placed without objects which might be too fragile to be touched in the allowing its visitors to explore and view closely these real world. VRMTG allow its users to explore the new artifacts from different sides and angles. There are ways of historical information to the public. VRMTG several websites about historical traditional games but consists of 3D artificial Malaysian games artifacts, only in pictorial representation and 2-Dimensional for interaction, manipulation capabilities, walkthrough and users to gain information. valuable information. It provides knowledge about VRMTMG comes with the objectives to use virtual traditional games equipment in three different reality technology as a new method of delivering categories based on ethnics such as Malays, Chinese information about traditional games, to allow users to and Indian. VRMTG is hoped to achieve the objective of see multi sides of the equipment needed in the being successful system in promoting virtual heritage, traditional games and users can manipulate any 3D interactive education and information delivery through objects which might be too fragile to be touched in the the virtual reality technology. real world. This Internet based VR system allows users can walk through the museums and gaining information Keywords: virtual reality, museum, Malaysian about traditional games historical values from their traditional games. homes. It also provides people with the educational knowledge to preserve the values of these traditional I. INTRODUCTION games based on their own uniqueness in terms of their Virtual Reality technology is used as a new way of history and their characteristics from being forgotten in delivering information about musical artifacts through the coming future. the concept of virtual museum. It is believed that virtual The scope is divided into five sub-sections. First, museums provide new architectural space for museology information such as the description of traditional games because “virtual reality” can enhance the “conventional artifacts and the navigation instruction. Second, museum space” with numerous innovative aspects. multimedia elements such as still text, dynamic text, Virtual reality museum for Malaysian Traditional graphics and animation to give some attraction to the Games (VRMTG) has been developed to produce virtual system. Third, Virtual environment and 3-Dimensional museum about Malaysian traditional games through (3D) objects, in order to increase the reality values of Virtual reality technology. It delivers presentation that each historical objects modelled. Forth, Interaction ISSN: 2231-5381 doi : 10.14445/22315381/CATI2P218 Page 114 International Journal of Engineering Trends and Technology (IJETT) – Editor’s Issues - 2020 Capabilities such as the user’s camera movement and such as 'Tossing the stones' (Batu Seremban),‘Galah menus that consist an interactive button. Lastly, Panjang’, ‘Marbles’ (Guli),‘Kicking the feathers ‘ traditional games equipment in three different (Sepak Bulu Ayam), ‘Kicking the rattan ball’ (Sepak categories based on ethnics such as Malays, Chinese and Raga Bulatan), ‘Kite Flying’ (Wau), ‘Filling the wooden Indian. board’ (Congkak) and ‘Top Spinning’ (Gasing). There are video and still images in the website. II. RELATED WORKS Most of the virtual museums use web and incorporate According to [1], “Museums have a substantial role in VR to present the artifacts. Virtual reality museum for the growth possibilities of cultural travel. They are Malaysian Traditional Games (VRMTG) presents the important destinations for many travelers and create combination of web, VR and Virtual gallery using possibilities for the growth of the tourist industry itself”. “Artsteps” application A virtual museum is a collection of digitally recorded images, sound files, text documents, and other data of III. ELEMENTS IN VR MUSEUM historical, scientific, or cultural interest that are Virtual reality museum focuses on traditional games accessed through electronic media [2]. The ideas to equipment in delivering the application. Virtual reality these virtual reality museums are to allow users to museum 3D objects are modeled according to Malaysian explore and virtually walkthrough museums and Traditional Games Equipment in three different exhibition centers virtually with computational devices. categories based on ethnics, which are: For example, VR Headset, without physically being a) Malay (3 types): Top spinning, Congkak and Batu present on the real museums ground. Users can make Seremban choices during their virtual travel enabling them to feel a b) Chinese (3 types): Mahjong, Go and Yoyo sense of exploration, triggering curiosity and the desire c) Indian (2 types): Pallanguli and Gilli Danda to learn about historical information without needing users to go all the way to a specific museum. At the same The design framework is based on Warneka museum time, users can interact with the Virtual reality museums template [6] and web presentation. Blender is used as the user interfaces to control their movements in the virtual development tool. world and manipulate with virtual objects exist in the virtual world. A. Warneka design According to the survey carried out by Axiell in 2016 There are three types of framework such as Warneka for the Museums and the Web’s Conference, the use of design, blue-yellow design and grand entry design. integrated ICT applications had a significant impact on Warneka design will be used in this project as a design the public which is 48% of the museums has had an framework. Warneka is a template that can be used as an increase in physical visits, 50% saw an increase in the alternative method for creating virtual museum interior number of visits to their website and 82.3% of the such as exhibit rooms, museum halls and any other museums has recorded an increase of social media sites museum elements. visitor.[3] There are few advantages by using Warneka template Museum exhibits using virtual reality method has as a framework for the system. Firstly, the process in been researched and done by some museums to allow its developing the system will be smooth as the picture of users to explore the new ways of historical information the future system has been shown. Secondly, the to the public. For example, The Louvre Museum, Warneka template is simple and easy to be understand. Okyeonjungsa VR Museum, The British Museum. The Thirdly, the design of the museum is simple as the British Museum became one of the first museums in the elements on the template does not overflow the screen. world to incorporate VR technology into a learning The template has different kind of shapes and colours. programme. All these existing systems exist with 3D Warneka template easy to navigate. Visiting another objects, user interaction capabilities and educational rooms or part of the museum also will be easy as the exploration 3D application. Only a few virtual museums template has arranged it with different page. The show traditional games such as Chinese Historical and elements have been arranged with plenty spaces in Cultural Project (CHCP) and Malaysian National between other elements. Even though the design of the Department for culture and arts website. CHCP virtual template is simple, but the elements are complete. museum consists of music, traditional Chinese games, Labels for each room, artifacts and any other elements Chinese custom, festival and celebrations and decorative has been stated. The separation of rooms has been arts.[4] created in order to arrange the traditional games in their Malaysian National