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Little Explorer – Immersive Archaeology Experience for Kids

Client: Heritage Commission, Saudi Arabia
Location: Bab Jadeed, Historic Jeddah
Dates: May 6–10, 2025
Languages: English & Arabic
Audience: Children aged 6–14, Families, Schools
Deliverables: 6 Interactive Applications, Hardware Deployment, VR Integration

Project Overview

The Little Explorer event was a ground-breaking cultural initiative curated by the Heritage Commission of Saudi Arabia to ignite young minds with a passion for archaeology and heritage preservation. Held in the iconic district of Bab Jadeed in Historic Jeddah, the event welcomed children aged 6–14, along with families and schools, for a unique, hands-on learning experience.

NXT Interactive was commissioned to bring this educational vision to life by crafting an engaging blend of digital storytelling, interactive applications, and immersive experiences. The objective was to make archaeological education fun and accessible through gamification, creativity, and bilingual content delivery in both Arabic and English.

Project Overview

Demo

The Experience Journey

The event was structured around five themed pavilions, each designed as a mini-laboratory for discovery. NXT Interactive designed and deployed a suite of interactive solutions for each pavilion, blending cutting-edge hardware with intuitive, child-friendly software to foster exploration, creativity, and critical thinking.

Play & Learn Arcade Zone

The Experience Journey

Play & Learn Arcade Zone

Game 1: Excavation Quest (2D Platformer)

In Excavation Quest, children took on the role of young archaeologists navigating a 2D side-scrolling environment. As they dug through various soil layers, they encountered obstacles like boulders and collapsed tunnels while unearthing ancient artifacts. Each discovery triggered a trivia pop-up that challenged players to match the artifact to the correct historical civilization. This game fostered both cognitive association and excitement, delivering fast-paced learning through fun.

Technology Stack:

Game Engine: Unity 2D
Language Support: Bilingual toggle (English/Arabic)
Animation: Spine 2D & Unity Animator
Input Method: Multi-touch via 55” touchscreen
Audio: Layered ambient & interactive SFX
Backend: Local score tracking with child-safe ID system
Deployment Hardware:
- 1 × 55” Touchscreen Display
- 2 × Gaming pads
- 1 × High end processing laptop

Game 2: Maze Runner – Temple Trails

This adventure-based game invited players to traverse ancient temples and labyrinths in search of hidden relics and sacred scrolls. Timed gameplay and cleverly placed traps added an element of urgency and strategic planning. The faster players completed the maze, the higher their score—rewarding agility, memory, and problem-solving. It was a favorite among older children who thrived on adrenaline-pumping challenges.

Game Engine: Unity 3D (Top-down Perspective)
UI/UX Design: Speed-run timer overlay, trap animations
Language Support: Bilingual interface with visual prompts
Audio: Trigger-based SFX and background music loop
Input Method: Touchscreen navigation (drag or tap)
Scoring System: Time-based leaderboards synced via server
Deployment Hardware:
- 1 × 55” Touchscreen Display
- 2 × Gaming pads
- 1 × High end processing laptop
- Multiplayer Game Server + Local Wi-Fi Hub

Game 3: Memory Match Challenge

Memory Match Challenge was a brain-teasing game that helped children identify archaeological tools and artifacts by matching them to their proper use or corresponding historical period. The game featured multiple levels of increasing difficulty, challenging players' memory and pattern recognition skills. It served as an excellent cognitive warm-up while subtly reinforcing important educational content.

Game 1: Excavation Quest (2D Platformer)

Technology Stack:

Game Engine: Unity 2D
Language Support: Bilingual toggle (English/Arabic)
Animation: Spine 2D & Unity Animator
Input Method: Multi-touch via 55” touchscreen
Audio: Layered ambient & interactive SFX
Backend: Local score tracking with child-safe ID system
Deployment Hardware:
- 1 × 55” Touchscreen Display
- 2 × Gaming pads
- 1 × High end processing laptop

Game 2: Maze Runner – Temple Trails

Game Engine: Unity 3D (Top-down Perspective)
UI/UX Design: Speed-run timer overlay, trap animations
Language Support: Bilingual interface with visual prompts
Audio: Trigger-based SFX and background music loop
Input Method: Touchscreen navigation (drag or tap)
Scoring System: Time-based leaderboards synced via server
Deployment Hardware:
- 1 × 55” Touchscreen Display
- 2 × Gaming pads
- 1 × High end processing laptop
- Multiplayer Game Server + Local Wi-Fi Hub

Game 3: Memory Match Challenge

Key Features of the Interactive Touch Table App:

Intuitive User Interface:
- A user-friendly interface enables visitors to effortlessly navigate through the app, exploring different cities and their attractions.
- Simple gestures, such as swiping and tapping, facilitate seamless interaction with the content.
High-Resolution Visuals:
- High-quality images and videos showcase the beauty and diversity of the island cities.
- Detailed maps highlight key locations and points of interest, providing a comprehensive overview of each destination.
Interactive Elements:
- Touching specific areas on the screen triggers interactive elements, such as pop-up information, videos, or 360-degree panoramas.
- This dynamic approach keeps visitors engaged and encourages exploration, creating a truly immersive experience.
Customizable Content:
- The app can be tailored to showcase specific aspects of the island cities, such as culture, history, or cuisine.
- Content can be easily updated to reflect the latest information and trends, ensuring that the interactive table always provides the most current and relevant information.

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Technology Stack:

Game Engine: Unity 2D
Logic Engine: Object-pair matching logic with randomized sequences
UX Enhancements: Progressive difficulty levels, audio cues
Language Support: Text and voice prompts in English/Arabic
Input Method: Tap-to-select
Leaderboard: Score increments per round, server-synced
Deployment Hardware:
- 1 × 55” Touchscreen Display
- 2 × Gaming pads
- 1 × High end processing laptop

Game 4: Monument Puzzle Builder

This game allowed participants to piece together digital jigsaw puzzles of famous Saudi landmarks such as Madain Saleh and Diriyah. Each completed puzzle triggered a short narrated story about the significance and history of the monument. With a soothing pace and informative voiceovers, this game blended visual-spatial learning with cultural storytelling.

Hardware Used:

1 × 55” Touchscreen Display
2 × Gaming pads
1 × High end processing laptop

Software Highlights:

Unity-based development with dual-language toggle
Custom scoring, audio cues, animations
Child-safe live leaderboards for friendly competition

Archaeological Workshop – Create & Display Your Own Artifact

In this pavilion, children were invited to become creators of history. Using iPads with styluses, participants traced ancient designs using an intuitive "connect-the-dots" interface and then added their own colors, symbols, and decorations to personalize each piece. Once completed, their digital artifacts were instantly projected onto a large 3-meter LED screen for public viewing—turning young visitors into artists and curators of their own mini-museum. Each drawing was tagged with the child's name, giving them ownership and pride.

Technology Stack:

Platform: iOS App (Swift + Metal graphics)
Drawing Interface: Join-the-dots templates with free-draw layer
Custom Tools: Color picker, symbol stamps, undo/redo
Tagging System: Auto-generated child-safe username tagging
Deployment Hardware:
- 4 × iPads with Styluses
- 1 × LED Wall (3m) with Display Receiver Unit

Bonus Experience: VR Artifact Hunt – Step Into a 3D Archaeological Dig

For older children and tech-savvy visitors, this VR zone offered a fully immersive experience. Wearing Meta Quest headsets, participants were transported to a 3D dig site where they could interact with lifelike environments, identify hidden artifacts, and engage in guided storytelling. Virtual archaeologists offered real-time narration in both Arabic and English, walking users through excavation zones, historical clues, and artifact classifications. This deeply immersive journey made children feel like true explorers of Saudi’s past.

Technology Stack:

Platform: Meta Quest Native App (Unity XR Plugin)
3D Environment: Custom-built dig site using Blender + Quixel assets
Interaction Design: Gaze + hand controller input
Narration System: Branching storytelling with interactive voice prompts
Language Support: English/Arabic narration switch
Safety Features: Seated + standing mode, guardian boundaries
Deployment Hardware:
- 2-4 × Meta Quest VR Headsets
- 1 × Cleaning & Safety Station (with sanitation and storage)

Software Experience:

Realistic 3D environments of local heritage sites
Voice-guided walkthroughs and object interactions
Multilingual narration options

Outcomes & Impact

Over 1,000+ children engaged over five days
All content delivered in Arabic & English
Average engagement time: 18–22 minutes per pavilion
3,000+ game sessions played across the arcade
500+ original artifacts created by children in the workshop

The Little Explorer event proved to be more than just an educational outing. It was a transformative, future-forward initiative that used digital innovation to reconnect the next generation with Saudi Arabia’s extraordinary cultural and archaeological heritage. By turning touchscreens into storytelling devices and virtual digs into living history, NXT Interactive successfully created a rich, memorable journey—where every child became a little explorer.

“We didn’t just teach archaeology—we made it unforgettable.”