Immersivity in “Virtual Antiquity”

Richard A Cole

doi:10.5040/9781350419124.ch-010

Immersivity in “Virtual Antiquity”

Richard A Cole^*

^*Corresponding author for this work

Department of Classics & Ancient History

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter in a book

1 Citation (Scopus)

117 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

What does it mean to be immersed in virtual representations of antiquity? What are the methods, affordances, and advantages offered by digital media in terms of immersion, and how do these differ from preceding media? Are video game representations dissimilar from VR reconstructions in terms of their immersive capabilities, and if so, what direction might this suggest for the future of the ‘virtual antiquity’ so many players have come to know? This chapter investigates four interrelated themes that illustrate the relationship between world building, participation, and immersivity in virtual reconstructions of antiquity. It starts with Paratexts and Expectation, before moving to consider Construction, Time and Interactivity, and finally, Embodiment, Empathy and Presence. The aim is to show how video games and virtual reality experiences encourage contributors to imagine and make use of the past, and thus demonstrate the ways in which ‘virtual antiquity’ is engaged in developing a historical literacy.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	Experiencing Immersion in Antiquity and Modernity
Subtitle of host publication	From Narrative to Virtual Reality
Editors	Emma Cole
Place of Publication	London
Publisher	Bloomsbury Academic
Chapter	10
Pages	145-158
Number of pages	14
ISBN (Electronic)	9781350419100, 9781350419117, 9781350419124
ISBN (Print)	9781350419094
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.5040/9781350419124.ch-010
Publication status	E-pub ahead of print - 28 May 2025

Publication series

Name	Classical Studies 2025

Research Groups and Themes

Institute of Greece, Rome, and the Classical Tradition
Centre for Material Texts

Keywords

Video Games
Virtual Reality
Virtual Reality Environment
Classical Reception
Immersion
Media Studies
Popular culture < Digital/media literacies
Paratexts

Access to Document

10.5040/9781350419124.ch-010

Full-text PDF (accepted manuscript)
This is the accepted author manuscript (AAM). The final published version (Version of Record) can be found on the publisher's website. The copyright of any third-party content, such as images, remains with the copyright holder.
Accepted author manuscript, 347 KB

Handle.net

Persistent link

1 Citations
2 Digital or Visual Products
1 Edited book

Digital Futures & Ancient History: Bridging Worlds Through Games: The Enterprise Sessions with Dr. Richard Cole
Cole, R. A., 18 Feb 2026
Research output: Non-textual form › Digital or Visual Products

Open Access
Ancient Office Hours Podcast: Episode 109 - Dr. Richard Cole
Cole, R. A., 5 Feb 2025
Research output: Non-textual form › Digital or Visual Products

Open Access
Experiencing Immersion in Antiquity and Modernity: From Narrative to Virtual Reality
Cole, E. K., 2023, (In preparation) Bloomsbury Academic. (Bloomsbury Studies in Classical Reception)
Research output: Book/Report › Edited book

1 Finished
1 Active

The Bristol Digital Game Lab
Cole, R. A. (Co-Principal Investigator), Samuel, M. (Co-Principal Investigator) & Zhang, X. (Co-Principal Investigator)
1/08/22 → 31/07/30
Project: Research
The Virtual Reality Oracle (VRO): An Immersive Experience of the Ancient Greek Oracle at Dodona
Eidinow, E. (Principal Investigator), Cater, K. F. (Co-Investigator), Bowden, H. (Co-Investigator), Deeley, Q. (Co-Investigator), Proulx, M. J. (Co-Investigator), Bevan, C. R. (Researcher) & Cole, R. A. (Researcher)
1/06/20 → 31/05/23
Project: Research

3 Participation in conference
1 Invited talk
1 Schools engagement

Society for Classical Studies Annual Meeting
Cole, R. A. (Speaker)
8 Jan 2026
Activity: Participating in or organising an event types › Participation in conference
Designing Virtual Antiquities
Cole, R. A. (Participant)
21 Oct 2025
Activity: Participating in or organising an event types › Invited talk
Teachers Conference talk: Classics and Extended Reality
Cole, R. A. (Speaker)
21 Jun 2024
Activity: Talk or presentation types › Schools engagement

Cite this

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title = "Immersivity in “Virtual Antiquity”",

abstract = "What does it mean to be immersed in virtual representations of antiquity? What are the methods, affordances, and advantages offered by digital media in terms of immersion, and how do these differ from preceding media? Are video game representations dissimilar from VR reconstructions in terms of their immersive capabilities, and if so, what direction might this suggest for the future of the {\textquoteleft}virtual antiquity{\textquoteright} so many players have come to know? This chapter investigates four interrelated themes that illustrate the relationship between world building, participation, and immersivity in virtual reconstructions of antiquity. It starts with Paratexts and Expectation, before moving to consider Construction, Time and Interactivity, and finally, Embodiment, Empathy and Presence. The aim is to show how video games and virtual reality experiences encourage contributors to imagine and make use of the past, and thus demonstrate the ways in which {\textquoteleft}virtual antiquity{\textquoteright} is engaged in developing a historical literacy.",

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Immersivity in “Virtual Antiquity”

Abstract

Publication series

Research Groups and Themes

Keywords

Access to Document

Handle.net

Fingerprint

Research output

Projects

Activities

Cite this