The presentation of an interactive educational project of the university’s scientists – a new computer game-quiz “Andersen unites hearts” – took place at the Vasyl Stefanyk Carpathian National University. It is worth noting that this is the fifth computer game created by the university’s scientists, but the first dedicated to foreign literature. Students from the Ivano-Frankivsk Lyceum No. 23 named after Roman Huryk and the Ivano-Frankivsk Lyceum named after Vyacheslav Chornovil took part in the event.
The Vice-Rector for Scientific and Pedagogical Work Serhiy Sharyn addressed the audience with words of greeting, noting that the creation of such innovative projects contributes not only to the development of the educational process, but also increases the prestige of the university as a center of modern humanities. He emphasized that the combination of literature, art and digital technologies opens up new opportunities for the popularization of world cultural heritage among young people. The students were also congratulated by the Director of the Educational and Scientific Institute of Arts Volodymyr Fedorak and the Dean of the Faculty of Mathematics and Informatics Volodymyr Pylypiv.
The intellectual game is designed to popularize the work of the outstanding Danish writer Hans Christian Andersen, promote the development of reading culture among pupils, students and everyone interested in world literature, as well as to strengthen the bridge of friendship between the Vasyl Stefanyk Carpathian National University and the University of Southern Denmark SDU (Odense, Denmark), created by the Department of World Literature and Comparative Literature of the Faculty of Philology.
Director of the Educational and Scientific Center for Professional Career and Education, Candidate of Philological Sciences, Associate Professor of the Department of Philology of the Kolomyia Educational and Scientific Institute, Halyna Voloshchuk, noted:
“This game is intended for high school students, because it goes beyond the school curriculum, where Andersen’s work is usually studied. At the same time, it is also interesting for everyone who wants to get to know the artist’s world more deeply – his travels, philosophy, and depth of life. The game is also designed for teachers and adults who are interested in the writer’s work. In November, online tournaments for the quiz game “Andersen Unites Hearts” will start – one of the first in its format. And later, a solemn awarding ceremony for the best participants will be held at the university.”
The game is designed for different age groups – schoolchildren, students, teachers, lecturers and all fans of Andersen’s work. It combines learning and entertainment: during the game, participants complete tasks, solve questions, recognize characters and quotes from famous fairy tales, and explore the writer’s biography and his cultural heritage.
Candidate of Pedagogical Sciences, Associate Professor of the Department of World Literature and Comparative Literature of the Faculty of Philology Alla Martynets said:
“We organized a powerful competition of student essays “219 Words about Andersen”. The Danes came to us for the final stage — during the war! At a time when Ukraine was in the “red zone”, they came anyway.
It was during our conversation with them that the rector Igor Yevgenovich expressed the idea: what if we created a game about Andersen? We immediately picked up on this idea. This is how the idea of the game was born, which we worked on for over a year. As a result, it became bilingual — Ukrainian and English. So not only Ukrainians can join it, but also everyone who is interested in Andersen’s work — in Europe and beyond, young and old.
What kind of game is this? It is truly special — not reproducible, not just cognitive, but exciting. We wanted people to become interested while playing. Even if you don’t know something, there is a desire to search, to learn, to discover. This was the main goal that we sought to realize. The questions in the game are very different – they go beyond the school and university curriculum. It is for a smart reader who wants to know more and discover the world for himself. The game is very romantic. Do you hear the music? This is the music that accompanies the whole action. And it’s really cool.
The game presents five thematic categories:
• “On the Paths of Life”;
• “The Restless Traveler”;
• “In the Author’s Creative Workshop”;
• “The Writer’s Fairytale World”;
• “Andersen and Other Forms of Art.”
Participants will answer biographical questions related to the writer’s stay outside Denmark; will be able to outline the author’s creative features and immerse themselves in the fairy-tale world created by the writer; recall where, when, and how the Danish author’s work inspired representatives of related arts to create.
The game has two unique features:
— created in Ukrainian and English, so it can be used by representatives of different nationalities;
— has a unique visual map — a route map inspired by biographical events, places, and plots of Andersen’s fairy tales.
The map design uses original graphic works from the specially created series “Journey through the Land of Fairy Tales” (seven works) by artist Oleg Chuyko, which convey the emotional flavor of Denmark through symbolic architectural images associated with the writer’s life. Each of the compositions visualizes iconic architectural monuments – ancient buildings, bridges, embankments that Andersen saw or mentioned in his works. These images are organically integrated into the game structure through the use of 3D modeling, which creates a fascinating evening atmosphere with three-dimensional details of nature and the cityscape.
“The map serves not only as a reference point in the game, but also acts as an emotional means of immersion in the world of Andersen’s fairy tales. It allows players to literally follow the writer’s path, discovering new knowledge through answers to questions, thematic tasks, and illustrative inserts,” said Oleg Chuyko, head of the Department of Design and Art Theory.
“The game promotes the development of imaginative thinking, and also expands the understanding of Denmark’s cultural heritage through the prism of interactive art and the latest technologies,” said Viktor Rovinsky, associate professor of the Department of Computer Science and Information Systems, Faculty of Mathematics and Informatics.
Students were the first to play the game today, and the most active participants received prizes.
The author team of the computer game-quiz “Andersen unites hearts”:
— project coordinators — Alla Martynets, Candidate of Pedagogical Sciences, Associate Professor of the Department of World Literature and Comparative Literature of the Faculty of Philology, and Halyna Voloshchuk, Director of the Educational and Scientific Center for Professional Career and Education, Candidate of Philological Sciences, Associate Professor of the Department of Philology of the Kolomyia Educational and Scientific Institute;
— programming and musical design — Viktor Rovinsky, Candidate of Technical Sciences, Associate Professor of the Department of Computer Sciences and Information Systems of the Faculty of Mathematics and Informatics;
— artistic design of the game map, intro and characters — Oleh Chuyko, Doctor of Art History, Professor, Head of the Department of Design and Theory of Art of the Educational and Scientific Institute of Arts, and Roman Petriv, Assistant Professor of the Department of Design and Theory of Art of the Educational and Scientific Institute of Arts, postgraduate student;
— creation of questions — Alla Martynets, Candidate of Pedagogical Sciences, Associate Professor of the Department of World Literature and Comparative Literary Studies, Faculty of Philology;
— translation into English — Danylo Reha, Candidate of Philological Sciences, Associate Professor of the Department of World Literature and Comparative Literary Studies, Faculty of Philology;
— literary editor — Olga Rusakova, Candidate of Philological Sciences, Associate Professor of the Department of Philology, Kolomyia Educational and Scientific Institute.
