Heroes of Planica (interactive game)

Heroes of Planica is a game played on a smartphone while walking around the Nordic Centre Planica, the large sports complex at the foot of the ski-flying hills in the far north-west of Slovenia. Visitors buy a ticket at the Centre, receive a code to unlock the app, and then follow a route that takes them to a series of locations in the valley. At each place, the phone shows scenes, animated figures and stories that bring Planica's history to life, using augmented reality to place them in the real landscape. The route takes roughly an hour and is on level paths that suit people of all ages, so it works well for families and mixed groups.

The game is designed to teach as well as entertain. Planica has played a central role in the history of ski jumping and ski flying since the 1930s, when the first giant hill was built here and distances that seemed impossible were achieved. The app tells the stories of these pioneers and of the jumpers who followed, including the record-breakers who pushed the limits of human flight, among them Peter Prevc, the Slovenian jumper who won the World Cup overall and flew 250 metres here in 2015. Quizzes and small challenges along the way test what you have learned, and the app uses location technology, so that the content unlocks as you reach each stop.

What makes the experience effective is the setting. Standing at the foot of the huge hill, with the in-run towering above, it is easy to imagine the speed and courage of the jumpers, and the game encourages visitors to look at details they might otherwise miss, such as the judges' towers, the outrun and the orientation of the valley. It is a good way to engage children who might be bored by static displays, and it gives adults a framework for understanding the sport. A smartphone with a data connection or downloaded content is needed, and it is wise to charge the battery beforehand.

The game complements a visit to the Planica Museum in the Nordic Centre, where exhibits, simulators and memorabilia present the same story in a different form. Nearby are the Gorišek Brothers' hill, the Large Rožman/Bloudek hill, the Planica Zipline, the Ski Jumping Simulators, the Judging Stations and the Disc golf park, so a day in Planica can be filled with activities. The Planica wind tunnel is another attraction. Ticket details, opening times and the availability of the app change with the season, so check the information at the Nordic Centre before your visit.