Preliminary Study on Integrating 3D Audio with 2D Game Engines for Immersive Storytelling

This paper investigates the integration of 3D audio rendering with a 2D game engine to enable immersive digital storytelling experiences. The approach offers a cost-effective and simpler alternative to VR for presenting cultural heritage, creating a sense of space by combining acoustic and visual cues in a novel way. The technical challenges of maintaining a contiguous acoustic environment and deriving plausible 3D coordinates from 2D graphics are addressed. Using the Safavid era bazaar of Isfahan as an example, this paper demonstrates the potential of combining 3D audio and 2D graphics for immersive digital storytelling, providing insights for future applications in cultural heritage and beyond.