Immersive Experience Network Podcast

Eric Spring in 't Veld, the CEO and creative director of Mama Bazooka, is interviewed by Sarah Dodd (Co-Founder, Escape Room Industry Conference), one of the world's most renowned escape enthusiasts. In this interview, Eric will share his insights on escape room design, the journey of creating The Dome, and much more.Founded in 2013 by Eric Spring in 't Veld (CEO and Creative Director), Mama Bazooka pioneered real-life escape experiences in the Netherlands. Their 2018 creation, THE DOME, has garnered international acclaim, achieving a top ranking on Terpeca's prestigious list. This talk was recorded at the Immersive Experience Network Summit in October 2024 and is supported by Arts Council England and our industry partners Illusion Design & Construct, Mance Communications, White Light, Deterministic, Immersif, d&b audiotechnik, Scene2, Little Lion Entertainment, Entourage, and Vista Insurance.Discover more content from IEN: https://immersiveexperience.network/articles/

Gijs Geers, founder of DarkPark, is a pioneering force in the escape room industry. In an inspiring presentation, he unveils the secret ingredient behind DarkPark's unforgettable experiences, revealing for the first time how an invisible layer leaves a lasting impact on players.This talk was recorded at the Immersive Experience Network Summit in October 2024 and is supported by Arts Council England and our industry partners Illusion Design & Construct, Mance Communications, White Light, Deterministic, Immersif, d&b audiotechnik, Scene2, Little Lion Entertainment, Entourage, and Vista Insurance.Discover more content from IEN: https://immersiveexperience.network/articles/

Take a deep dive with Jeroen van Hasselt (Co-Founder, Entered), into the trials and triumphs of producing a unique, 200-minute-long game experience such as Demise of the Gricers, that pushes the boundaries of conventional escape game design. Explore the intricacies of world-building, next-level player equipment, narrative & system design, player engagement and training your actors to deliver upon a seamless, organic real-life immersive experience.This talk was recorded at the Immersive Experience Network Summit in October 2024 and is supported by Arts Council England and our industry partners Illusion Design & Construct, Mance Communications, White Light, Deterministic, Immersif, d&b audiotechnik, Scene2, Little Lion Entertainment, Entourage, and Vista Insurance.Discover more content from IEN: https://immersiveexperience.network/articles/

Join Lukas Rancher (Crime Runners), Dan Wiseman (The Detective Society), Bob & Nikki Kimber (Hysteria Escape Rooms), and Andrew Preble (Escape My Room) as they explore the advantages of episodic storytelling and how each approaches it differently. The panel will discuss why they choose this format, how it fosters player engagement, and the unique challenges it presents from both creative and business perspectives. Gain valuable insights and advice for crafting your own episodic stories in immersive experiences.This talk was recorded at the Immersive Experience Network Summit in October 2024 and is supported by Arts Council England and our industry partners Illusion Design & Construct, Mance Communications, White Light, Deterministic, Immersif, d&b audiotechnik, Scene2, Little Lion Entertainment, Entourage, and Vista Insurance.Discover more content from IEN: https://immersiveexperience.network/articles/

Join Creative Director Ivan Carić and performer Emily Carding as they share the challenges and lessons from running a 24-hour interactive experience set in the eerie world of horror and weird fiction. Discover how they blended immersive theatre, deconstructed storytelling, puzzles, and hospitality within the atmospheric setting of a 17th-century historic house to create a truly unforgettable experience.This talk was recorded at the Immersive Experience Network Summit in October 2024 and is supported by Arts Council England and our industry partners Illusion Design & Construct, Mance Communications, White Light, Deterministic, Immersif, d&b audiotechnik, Scene2, Little Lion Entertainment, Entourage, and Vista Insurance.Discover more content from IEN: https://immersiveexperience.network/articles/

Adrian Hon (Game Designer and Author) is a prolific maker, writer and fan within the Immersive Entertainment space who has spent the past two years attending, assessing and discussing dozens of experiences around the world. He will be sharing key trends that are resonating well with audiences within the sector, common pitfalls and traps that he has identified across immersive strands and areas of learning and opportunities that could be adopted to offer more relevant, resonant and sustainable experiences for a spectrum of emerging to seasoned immersive experience goers. The talk also draws upon his recent interviews with founders and leaders of the biggest immersive experience organisations in the world.This talk was recorded at the Immersive Experience Network Summit in October 2024 and is supported by Arts Council England and our industry partners Illusion Design & Construct, Mance Communications, White Light, Deterministic, Immersif, d&b audiotechnik, Scene2, Little Lion Entertainment, Entourage, and Vista Insurance.Discover more content from IEN: https://immersiveexperience.network/articles/

Sami Hamid from Glitch Studios pulls back the curtain and reveals how wearable XR headsets can be implemented into live staged theatre performances, bringing virtual characters and set pieces to life alongside real actors. This talk touches upon the technical implementation of AR, how it works with your AV setup, how real actors can act alongside virtual actors, and how to achieve all this without blowing up your budget.This talk was recorded at the Immersive Experience Network Summit in October 2024 and is supported by Arts Council England and our industry partners Illusion Design & Construct, Mance Communications, White Light, Deterministic, Immersif, d&b audiotechnik, Scene2, Little Lion Entertainment, Entourage, and Vista Insurance.

Andy Barnes (Director, Entourage), Mairi Nolan (Puzzle Game Designer), Tom Lionetti-Maguire (Founder of Little Lion Entertainment), Farouk Dean (Co-Founder of NEXUS and Cellar Door) and Mark Sarfo Kantanka (Co-Founder of NEXUS and Cellar Door) in an open Q&A session, for our panelists and the audience to wrestle with the problems associated with developing your creative idea into a sustainable business. In this open discussion we're led by the audience and attempt to answer questions, offer advice and guidance and share our experiences developing live immersive work.This talk was recorded at the Immersive Experience Network Summit in October 2024 and is supported by Arts Council England and our industry partners Illusion Design & Construct, Mance Communications, White Light, Deterministic, Immersif, d&b audiotechnik, Scene2, Little Lion Entertainment, Entourage, and Vista Insurance.Discover more content from IEN: https://immersiveexperience.network/articles/