MGTI @ MAGIC represents a broad focus that explores the way in which digital and interactive media resituate the interactions between the public and the museum. The purpose of the initiative is to develop games to support museum collections and exhibits, media to engage participants with specific pieces or collections, and experiences that reframe the exploration of collections and historical artifacts. The eventual goal of our research is to develop a general model and reusable framework for games and media that will improve the accessibility, experience and public profile of museum collections. Projects are generally developed in conjunction with a museum partner (or partners) and include game and media design, supporting material design and assessment standards. Such projects are the first installment of a much larger research initiative that will evolve by individual development of component blocks.
Projects connected to the initiative have ranged in topic and specific methodology, but are generally exploring ways to: 1.) convince non-visitors to visit through interaction(s) with online tools; 2.) create game experiences within the museums to change the way that visitors interact with the museum collection; and 3.) improve visitor understanding of cultural heritage collections via digitally augmented experieces.