The game helps to develop player awareness of the historical significance of items, lifestyles and culture of the late 1800's as a wide range of period items are collected and traded. Many of Singapore's colourful neighbourhoods and buildings of that period are depicted in this virtual world. There are 21 communities to be explored by walking around HistoryCity, including Fort Canning, Pulau Brani, Chinatown and Commercial Square. In addition, each player can have a personal room to store objects in, and a personal theatre to decorate with items collected in HistoryCity. HistoryCity is designed to provide multimedia performance comparable to current video games for hundreds of players using existing computing and communication technology available in the home.
Players can also interact with agents such as a pawnbroker, a storyteller, and a poet.
Actual news from 1870 has been rewritten for children, and can be read by visiting the newsagent. A trial run of HistoryCity with 2000 users is presently underway in Singapore, and another with 200 users is being conducted in Canada. Check out the HistoryCity Website HistoryCity is a Singapore National Project for children sponsored by the National Science and Technology Board, the National Computer Board and the National Library Board. The TAC is an integral component of NSTB's overall effort in promoting and encouraging technological innovation and entrepreneurship development in Singapore. Individuals wishing to translate ideas into commercial products or services can apply to TAC for assistance.