How Shining3D Scanners Bring Chinese Cultural Heritage to the Digital World

Black Myth: Wukong - A mastery of combining culture and technology

The game "Black Myth: Wukong", released on August 20, 2024 by the Chinese studio Game Science, is based on the classic novel "Journey to the West". Since its release, it has received enormous acclaim for its rich storytelling, challenging gameplay, and breathtaking visuals. The key to the game's success is the skillful combination of traditional elements of Chinese culture with advanced technology, creating an experience that is both innovative and deeply rooted in cultural heritage.

The role of 3D scanning technology in creating video games

The use of 3D scanning technology in the gaming industry is becoming more and more common. This technology allows creators to create extremely detailed and accurate digital models of real objects, environments and characters. Thanks to 3D scanners, game designers can import these elements into game engines, leading to the creation of realistic and immersive environments. Introducing such elements into games not only increases visual fidelity, but also enables the preservation and digital recreation of historical and cultural artifacts.

Bringing Chinese cultural heritage to digital in-game models

The creative team working on “Black Myth: Wukong” devoted a lot of effort to ensuring that the game's landscapes and architecture faithfully reflected China's rich history and cultural heritage. As the game's producer, Ji Feng, noted: "When you visit the temple in real life, whose intricate and thoughtful structure is perfectly reflected in the game, you will understand that this place was intended as a stage in the game. It is often only after seeing such places in person that creative ideas emerge.”

With the help of advanced 3D scanning equipment, the team scanned 36 places of cultural significance in China, including: the Thousand-Armed Guan Yin statue in Dazu and the Golden Dragon of Jincheng.

Thanks to 3D scanning technology, it was possible to:

• Obtain data without contact, which minimized the risk of damage to monuments.
• Collect data with high precision, which allowed us to save time in the modeling process.
• Maintain high quality of details, which translates into realistic digital models.

The 3D data collected was compatible with a wide range of design software, which allowed developers to further refine the details. For example, scan data of Buddha sculptures and statues was imported into ZBrush software for detailed processing.

These models were then integrated into Unreal Engine 5, where advanced rendering techniques were used to improve textures, lighting and overall realism. Thanks to accurate models obtained on the basis of 3D scans, the number of errors and modifications in the modeling process was reduced, which improved the accuracy and efficiency of work.

Summary

This case shows how the combination of technology and culture can lead to breakthrough achievements in the gaming industry. Using 3D scanning technology and advanced game engines, Game Science has created a digital world that respects China's cultural heritage while offering players an engaging and visually stunning experience.

Whether you're involved in game development, virtual reality, or cultural heritage preservation, now is the time to start using powerful 3D scanners. Contact us to learn how this technology can enhance your creative projects.