PENGEMBANGAN MUSEUM VIRTUAL MEGALODON SURADE BERBASIS DESKTOP MENGGUNAKAN UNITY DAN PHOTON FUSION

The development of digital technology has brought significant changes to the museum world, one of which is the emergence of virtual museums. This research aims to develop a desktop-based Megalodon Surade virtual museum using Unity and Photon Fusion. Megalodon is an extinct species of ancient shark that is an intriguing study object for paleontologists. Meanwhile, Surade in Indonesia is rich in ancient shark fossils, making it an ideal location for developing this virtual museum.
This research involves the development of a desktop-based Megalodon Surade virtual museum application using the Unity game engine, equipped with multiplayer features through the integration of Photon Fusion. The effectiveness of the application is evaluated through user trials and measurement of user satisfaction levels. The application features various elements such as 3D navigation, information about Megalodon, and multiplayer capabilities. However, the application does not include additional features like e-commerce and integration with museum information systems, and it can only be run on desktop devices.
The benefits of this research are quite diverse. For users, this application is expected to enhance accessibility and understanding of Megalodon and the potential of Surade, while providing a more engaging and innovative learning and interaction experience. For academics, this research provides references and contributions to the development of desktop-based virtual museum applications using Unity and Photon Fusion, enriching the body of research in this field. For the government and museum managers, this application can serve as a means of promoting and preserving the potential of Surade, and encouraging the development of virtual museums as an innovation in the management and digitization of museum collections.
The testing method used is user trials, with the expected result being the creation of the Megalodon Surade virtual museum application that can enhance accessibility and public understanding of Megalodon and the potential of Surade as a paleontological learning center, as well as providing a more engaging and innovative learning and interaction experience.

Keywords : virtual museum, Megalodon, Surade, Unity, Photon fusion