Page 83 - All About History - Issue 38-16

Interview

VIRTUAL REALITY

BRINGING HISTORY TO LIFE

Dan Snow tells us about how introducing modern technology

to heritage sites can benefit the study of history Written by Jack Griffiths

aking history appealing to a worldwide even staved off German air attacks off the Isle of
audience is a constant battle. Hollywood Wight. It dealt with an Indian mutiny in Bombay HISTORY
and the gaming industry help bring (Mumbai) and is an incredible ship in epic turning
history to life for all generations but points of history.”
Mwhat’s available for those who want to & GAMING
see the past exactly as it was without paying VR in the HMS Cavalier
for the cinema, investing in a games console or Descending to the depths of HMS Cavalier’s How Wargaming is playing
visiting a distant historical site armed with a vivid engine room, the great history of the ship comes
imagination? Enter broadcaster and historian Dan to light, especially the bravery of the crew. To its part in deepening our
Snow and his new 360-degree VR video series. defend effectively from both the Luftwaffe and understanding
History is all around us, but for the sites that the Kriegsmarine, those in the engine room were
are too far out of reach, this is an innovative way expected to sacrifice themselves for the ship. From Wolfenstein
of reaching out to the past. Snow has advocated When at battle stations, all portholes were closed to Assassin’s
virtual reality as a new yet to make the hull watertight, Creed, history
simple way of bringing “I am passionate about which would help prevent has long proved
history to the fore. His Cavalier from sinking when fertile ground for
mission is to bring incredible new ways of using it was struck by shells. The videogames. Many of the releases were
objects to the widest possible technology to reach air locked inside would help generous with their use of artistic licence
audience and allow them keep the ship afloat but at the but War Thunder by Gaijin Entertainment
to walk through in virtual hitherto unreachable cost of the engine crew’s lives. is a proud exception. As the screenshots
reality. The interactive nature The silver lining to this fateful below illustrate, games are becoming more
of the VR video series has the history audiences. Too situation was that in the historically accurate than ever, helping
ability to transport audiences many people think Arctic Circle, the engine room gamers connect with the events behind their
from the comfort of their was by far the warmest place favourite titles.
own home and allow them to they don’t like history. on the vessel, so at least they
experience history in a way They’re wrong because wouldn’t feel the chill. This
they may have not been able is another reason why VR is
to before. With VR, people can history is awesome so innovative; anyone can
see history from across the and is everything that’s witness all this and see every
globe, whether it’s an artefact, dial and lever without actually
a memorial or the scene of a ever happened on being there. The 360-degree
pivotal battle. We caught up this planet. Everyone’s view helps viewers get in the
with Snow to talk about this mindset of what it was like to
exciting new project. interested in how their be deep down in the belly of
Today, Snow’s 360-degree past affects the present” a destroyer in wartime.
VR video series has made Everything in the room Above: A Soviet factory as it looked like during the
Battle of Stalingrad in World War II
its way to Chatham Historic Dan Snow is mechanical, not digital,
Dockyard. The home of HMS and it would have taken an
Cavalier, HMS Ocelot and HMS Gannet, the site is immense amount of elbow grease to keep the ship
an important centre of naval history. All three ships working effectively and consistently. The men
have a rich history of war service, which meant would have run a two-shift system of 12 hours,
Snow was keen to add them to the VR video series. making it essential to have 15-minute naps when
Talking about Cavalier, he said: “It’s a very special they weren’t at battle stations.
ship and one of the very few destroyers left from As well as Cavalier, Ocelot and Gannet
World War II. Destroyers played such a critical role represent two distinct yet equally fascinating
in the war and 50 from one class alone were lost. parts of British history. Ocelot is an OšClass diesel
The Cavalier has had a very interesting career. It’s electric submarine that saw service during the Above: War Thunder’s take on the same factory is
frighteningly lifelike
been in both the Arctic and the North Atlantic and Cold War while Gannet is a living representation

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