A virtual tour through horrors of the BLITZ
VR ‘NEWS GAME’ AIMS TO TEACH YOUNGSTERS ABOUT THAT DREADFUL NIGHT IN NOVEMBER 1940 WHEN COVENTRY BURNED
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As the player progresses through the experience they receive headlines that are relevant to their particular stage in the narrative. These headlines are based on stories reported by the Coventry Telegraph, which are available to read at the end of the experience.
The Telegraph wants readers to share in the experience so there will be an open event at the paper’s former office, the CET Building in Corporation Blitz. Street, on the 77th Lasting hours, the Coventry Blitz was a period of sustained attack which would have ramifications on our city for decades as Coventry changed beyond all recognition. 500 German bombers took part in the events of that dark November night. Nicknamed Operation Mondscheinsonate (‘Moonlight Sonata’), the Luftwaffe flew over Coventry with the sole intention of crippling the city’s utilities, factories and infrastructure. It was the biggest test of British resolve for centuries, if not ever. Hundreds of people died in the raid and much of the city centre was left in ruins, with harrowing images documenting the night serving as a stark reminder of all that was given and lost for this city in the war effort.
The money came from the Google Digital News Initiative, which aims to help innovators find fresh ways of bringing news to a new audience.
The university and the Telegraph chose the Coventry Blitz as it is one of the defining episodes in the city’s history and an important story that needs to be kept alive for future generations. The finished product will be available to download on Google Play and can be viewed in full using a smartphone and VR headsets. The project team plans to take the VR news game to as wide an audience as possible by visiting schools with headsets around the anniversary of the Coventry Blitz. To experience the VR game yourself, come along to open event between 11am-4pm on Thursday, November 14. University staff and students will be on hand to help you with the headsets and game, and will want to ask you a few questions afterwards.
The CET Building was chosen to hold the open event as it has been reborn as an arts venue helping to tell the story of Coventry, last month hosting the inaugural ‘Coventry Biennial of Contemporary Art.’
The 1950s building is to be converted into a boutique hotel at the end of 2018 but until then it is being is operated as a community venue by The Historic Coventry Trust (HCT) – and has been created entirely by local Coventry volunteers, with the help of a small donation from Historic England/ Coventry Heritage Action Zone.
It is open for self-guided tours every day from noon to 6pm, with lots of memorabilia from the half a century that it was home to the Telegraph. Admission is free with a suggested donation of £3 for the tour, with free parking in the rear service yard on Chapel Street.
It is now has its own cafe, ‘Urban Cafe,’ serving hot food made freshly in the refurbished third floor 1950s kitchen.
A ramp has been added in the rear display area so that wheelchair users can see the upper ground floor foundry and old press hall areas as well as the front entrance gallery.
It is one of the defining episodes in the city’s history and an important story that needs to be kept alive for future generations.