9 October 1989: Anyone who took to the streets in Leipzig on that day to demonstrate for freedom and reforms risked a lot \u2013 perhaps even their life. The crowd of demonstrators faced a massive build-up of security guards. The fear of a \u201cChinese solution\u201d filled the air. The GDR government had endorsed the crushing of the protests on the Square of Heavenly Peace in the summer of that year and left no doubt in anyone\u2019s mind that they were ready to take drastic measures in their own country. No one could have imagined on this day that a month later, on 9 November 1989, the Berlin Wall would come down.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In its current exhibition \u201cRoads not Taken \u2013 Oder: Es h\u00e4tte auch anders kommen k\u00f6nnen\u201d, the DHM demonstrates that history is an open process. History is marked by decisions and actions, but also by accidents of fate. DHM visitors can re-enact this experience in a very special way in the exhibition\u2019s game station: they go through the day of 9 October 1989 by means of an interactive graphic novel and can determine what occurs and how it ends. Can they bring this day to a peaceful conclusion?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Players can choose to play one of seven different figures, including, for example, the civil rights activist Sabine or the policeman Thomas, who face each other on this day, and can experience the events from their respective perspectives. But there are also two historical figures who are ready to begin the day: Egon Krenz as a representative of the GDR government and Kurt Masur, the famous conductor who exerted his influence on this day by signing an appeal of the \u201cLeipzig Six\u201d for non-violence and dialogue. In the course of this history, the seven protagonists of the game have to make many decisions that will help to determine the outcome of the day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The game station in the DHM is set in a special scene. The room contains two house facades in Leipzig, drawn by Alexander Roncaldier, who also illustrated the figures and the story of the interactive graphic novel. Visitors can sit in one of the five audio niches, follow the stories on tablets, and experience the acoustic background of the day by means of a specially designed sound track.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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The earlier version of \u201cAutumn 89 \u2013 On the streets of Leipzig\u201d, which was developed together with the developer team \u201cplaying history\u201d was first previewed for four weeks in March 2022 in the DHM\u2019s Pei Building within the framework of the cooperative project \u201cmuseum4punkto\u201d under the title \u201cLeipzig \u201989 \u2013 Revolution reloaded\u201d. The audience was invited to test this prototype extensively. More than 2,500 guests took up the invitation and gave the project team valuable tips for the further development of the graphic novel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
With the benefit of these results, the DHM project team worked together with \u201cplaying history\u201d to expand the prototype into the full version that was then integrated into the exhibition \u201cRoads not Taken\u201d. The current version of the game represents a considerably more complex and interactive design. All of the storylines were extended and deepened. There are now not only more chapters and illustrations, but the drama of the historical moments of decision was intensified and concentrated. Completely new features were also added, such as animated sequences, mini-games, and the option of collecting historical finds, and the sound design was further integrated into the stories.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As the results show, it is a good idea to involve the public actively in the development of games and digital projects and to present the interim results that are then tested in order to offer the users a more attractive and lasting application.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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