PLAY: An Introduction to Creating Virtual Worlds (16+)

Monday 3 August 2026

A two-part workshop that introduces teens to the process of crafting a virtual world. The sessions will focus on narrative-driven walking simulators and immersive worlds like What Remains of Edith Finch. After exploring a range of similar games, attendees will break into small teams, choose/ define a story, and choose a focal scene for the sessions. The group will will discuss planning and asset sourcing, narrative construction, music libraries and curation, and explore Scenebrook, an introductory engine for immersive project development.

It will be a busy two days, so come prepared to create. Bring your laptops and please sign up for the free demo of Scenebrook.

The sessions are taking place in Showroom's private cafe on:

• Monday 3 August 6pm - 8.30pm

• Tuesday 4 August 6pm - 8.30pm

This workshop is for participants 16 and up. Participants need to bring their own laptops and download the free trial of SceneBrook beforehand.

The workshops will be led by Dr Maisha Wester. Dr Wester is a leading scholar in Gothic Literature and Horror Film Studies and a university educator with over 20 years of teaching experience. Her game Coded Black, is a bold, narrative-driven experience that immerses players in the hidden and haunting histories of anti-Blackness in the US and UK. It was an Official Selection International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam (IDFA) 2025 - Digital Storytelling Competition