Cultural capital analysis on Nakhonpathom’s narrative as material for educational game design

Abstract

This article synthesizes the findings from a pilot study as part of the research project titled " Board Game: Edutainment activity from Nakhonpathom’s cultural capital " The objectives of this study were: 1) to explore and compile the cultural capital categorized under narratives, legends, and local history of Nakhon Pathom Province; and 2) to examine the cultural capital embedded within the narratives, legends, and oral traditions of Nakhon Pathom Province in order to synthesize a conceptual framework for selecting and transforming data into game design. This qualitative research employed document analysis and fieldwork. A total of 40 cultural capital data samples were collected to experiment with cultural data management utilizing a pluralistic game design conceptual framework. The data were analyzed and transformed through a five-dimensional conceptual framework-comprising content, narrative potential, mechanics, communication, and ethics-in conjunction with a comparative analysis using radar charts. The findings revealed that the contents related to Phra Pathom Chedi possess the highest potential for game creation. Specifically, Cooperative Games, wherein all players must collaborate to defeat the game system rather than competing against one another, and Thematic Games, which emphasize intense storylines and immersive atmospheres such as adventure or investigative genres, offer suitable mechanical paradigms. These frameworks can serve as design materials for plot construction to seamlessly integrate learning experiences. Furthermore, to maximize the effectiveness of the creative process, further in-depth research is recommended on issues concerning the narratives of Phra Pathom Chedi, communication strategies through game illustrations, and philosophical studies related to play.