Falcon Edutainment Zone: Where Culture Meets Code in the Art of Falconry

Falconry, one of the most revered traditions in Arabian culture, embodies patience, skill, and the deep bond between humans and nature. At the Saudi Falcon Club’s Falcon Heritage Exhibition (FHE), this legacy took on a new digital life through the Falcon Edutainment Zone — a visionary initiative conceptualized and developed by NXT Interactive.

The goal was simple yet ambitious: to transform learning about falcons into a multisensory, interactive adventure that inspires curiosity, celebrates heritage, and merges the wisdom of the past with the innovations of today.

A Vision of Edutainment

In designing the Falcon Edutainment Zone, NXT Interactive sought to redefine how cultural stories are told. Instead of static exhibits, visitors would embark on a hands-on digital journey, where they could play, explore, and learn through technology-driven experiences.

The space featured six fully interactive games, each designed with education, engagement, and inclusivity in mind. Every module catered to different age groups and learning styles — ensuring that children, youth, and adults could all experience falconry at their own pace.

The Six Interactive Experiences

1. Falcon Vet – Heal and Learn
In this touchscreen-based simulation, visitors stepped into the role of a falcon veterinarian. Presented with one of three disease scenarios, they diagnosed symptoms, selected tools, and administered treatments through guided prompts.
The experience concluded with a short quiz, reinforcing learning on falcon care, health management, and compassion for animals.

2. Falcon Assembly – Build the Bird
This game turned anatomy into an interactive puzzle. Players chose a falcon species, then dragged and placed feathers, organs, and bones into the correct spots on a silhouette. With each correct placement, short video clips explained biological functions. Once complete, users could explore “hotspots” on the falcon’s body to dive deeper into each part’s importance.

3. Falcon Training VR – Master the Art of Falconry
Set in a serene desert environment, this virtual reality experience placed users in the shoes of a traditional falcon trainer. From equipping hoods and gloves to practicing recall training, the VR simulation immersed users in the time-honored rituals of falconry, preserving heritage through experiential technology.

4. Falcon Lifecycle – Grow with the Falcon
Using Leap Motion gesture control, participants navigated through a falcon’s life stages — from egg to adulthood. Natural hand gestures replaced clicks, allowing users to feel part of the journey. The experience concluded with a drag-and-match mini-game and a QR code download for a personalized participation certificate.

5. Falcon Prey Hunt – Fly Like a Falcon
One of the most dynamic installations, this full-body experience used motion-tracking sensors to let users control a virtual falcon mid-flight. By leaning and gliding, players hunted prey, avoided obstacles, and experienced the thrill of the chase. Educational segments after gameplay explained falcons’ ecological role and hunting instincts.

6. Falcon Knowledge Quiz – The Final Challenge
After completing all five experiences, participants unlocked a final quiz. Questions drawn randomly from a curated database tested knowledge gained throughout the journey. Scores were synced automatically to a real-time leaderboard, adding a sense of friendly competition and community.

Seamless Integration through Smart Systems

The Falcon Edutainment Zone was more than a set of games — it was a connected digital ecosystem. A custom registration app allowed visitors to sign up via tablets, generating unique play codes. Their scores and progress were then tracked across all experiences through a unified system.

An admin dashboard gave event organizers real-time control, enabling them to view player analytics, trigger lucky draws, schedule sessions, and display live leaderboards.

Technology with a Cultural Heart

While the technologies behind the experience — Unity 3D, Unreal Engine, Orbecc Sensors, Leap Motion, and cloud-based gamification — powered the interactivity, the true magic lay in how they supported storytelling and learning.

Each game not only entertained but educated. Visitors learned about falcon health, biology, ecology, and conservation — all while interacting naturally and intuitively. The tactile, visual, and immersive elements ensured the learning stuck long after the event ended.

Impact and Legacy

Over 3,000+ visitors engaged with the Falcon Edutainment Zone during the exhibition, achieving an impressive 90% completion rate across all experiences. The project not only captivated audiences but also set a new benchmark for cultural edutainment in Saudi Arabia.

Families learned together, children discovered science through play, and adults reconnected with their heritage through modern tools.

In merging technology with tradition, NXT Interactive demonstrated how innovation can preserve and promote heritage, transforming a centuries-old art into an immersive learning destination.

The Falcon Edutainment Zone proved that when culture and code unite, education takes flight.