III. Research Questions and Hypotheses

includes several technical components as part of the state of arts: 3D graphic adapters / Real-time rendering /Artificial intelligence AI / Networking technologies / Physics simulation/ Human Interaction

Devices.

The covid-19 pandemic not only has drawn attention to the virtual environment but has accelerated the

virtualization of architecture, acting as a driver for increased use of virtual reality and game design

technologies in architectural practices. As result of covid-19, experiments in digital space are becoming

cultural practices of being digitally involved into virtual worlds. Virtual reality is gaining ground in

architecture and is being used to improve user experience and collaboration among professionals and

clients. Architects during the pandemic turned to virtual worlds not only for project design and

visualization, but also for collaborating, socializing, and actively participating in shaping their

environment. Furthermore, the lockdown period has led to the creation of resilient virtual space largely

available to public use, pushing a natural shift towards virtual environments that will never exist in the

actual world, such as VR art galleries, museums, collaborative design platforms, and so on. When the

pandemic will come to an end, experiences of virtual space will continue to thrive alongside the physical,

removing physical barriers to accessing certain spaces and bringing us closer together with different

forms of involvements, embodiment, interaction, and social collaboration. As a result, understanding the

design process of video games, with its dimension of virtual and playful space, may become an asset

value for architecture, historical heritage, and urbanism in the virtual world but also reflected in actual

space.

III. Research Questions and Hypotheses

Considering the problem statement, the main research questions are formulated:

 How do video game design aspects like storytelling, ludic, and spatial visualization work in video

games? Which are the game tools that can be applied to improve the architectural design

process, visualization, and experience in the virtual world? How might video games help

architects in improving their design skills?

When aiming to answer the main research question, it is necessary to comprehend how the play space

might be designed as well as to investigate the main features and key qualities of video game space,

including its morphology, narrative structure, rules, challenges, and the type of interactions offered to

the player. What makes the virtual space in video games interactive and what offers more freedom to

explore, manipulate and engage the player in the virtual world? Which are the elements that shape or 13