Development of an Evaluation Indicator System for the Application of Cultural Heritage in Video Games: A Delphi Method Study

This study addresses critical issues in the gaming industry's application of cultural heritage, such as the misappropriation of cultural elements and inadequate restoration of cultural heritage. Based on the Delphi method, an evaluation index system for the application of cultural heritage in electronic games is constructed. Through a literature review, five primary indicators and twenty secondary indicators were initially proposed. After two rounds of expert opinion solicitation (with the participation of 16 cross-disciplinary experts), the indicators were systematically adjusted and optimized. Finally, an evaluation framework consisting of five primary indicators and twenty-two secondary indicators was formed. These five primary indicators cover the presentation and integration of cultural heritage in games, as well as the educational value and social/cultural impact generated thereby. They also include technical implementation requirements. In the third round, a five-level Likert scale was used to collect experts' ratings of the importance of the indicators. The weights of each indicator were calculated through normalization and coefficient of variation correction. This system provides an assessment framework for game development that takes into account cultural authenticity, game playability, and educational functions, and has practical guiding significance for standardizing the digital dissemination path of cultural heritage. This study focuses on the development of an evaluation system. Future research can combine the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) and user experience quantification methods (such as eye-tracking and satisfaction surveys) to further optimize the scientific nature of indicator weights and evaluation dimensions.