Worldbuilding and the Nature of Reality – Student Sessions

Please note these sessions are for students of SODA only. If you aren’t a student but would like to participate, why not join us for the Morphogenic Angels playthrough or the Artist in Conversation.

During their time at SODA 22nd Apr — 7th May, Keiken will delve into themes of interconnectedness, perception, and immersion. Drawing from their expansive worldbuilding practice, Keiken will explore how relationships, energy, and sensory experience shape reality—both in digital and physical space. With a keen focus on exploring how we translate emotional and tactile perception into a virtual realm, Worldbuilding and the Nature of Reality will seek to deepen their research & development of an intimate, sensory-driven gaming experience.

This new work in development will form a key branch of their expansive worldbuilding project Morphogenic Angels, informed by their deep and ongoing connections to marginalised communities across Japan. Through an ongoing interest in sensory and perceptual understanding, Keiken will explore the creation of a gaming experience inspired by key collaborator and deaf-blind queer artist, Sakura Sky. This current inquiry seeks to bridge sensory and communication gaps with Sakura Sky whilst also fostering empathy, understanding, and direct interaction for players through innovative technology, made available through the resources provided during their residency at SODA.

How to make a game collaboratively, led by Mati, Tanny and Hana
Tuesday 22nd April

What does true collaboration look like? Keiken and digital artist/game developer Mati share their journey of making a game together for the first time, drawing from their experience of creating Morphogenic Angels: Chapter 1 — currently on show in Modal. This session opens up the behind-the-scenes of collaborative game-making: how roles were shared and shifted, how creative decisions were made collectively, and how challenges became opportunities through conversation, trust, and experimentation. Together, they’ll reflect on how they’re approaching Chapter 2 — from narrative to character design to mechanics and game feel — and what it means to build a world as a group.

Game Development in Practice, led by Mati and Tanny
Friday 25th April

Bring your questions and curiosity as we uncover new ways of understanding how the entire development pipeline shapes meaning, experience, and play. Led by Tanny from Keiken and digital artist/game developer Mati, this open Q&A session dives into the in-depth technical processes that bring game narratives to life—from coding, pipelines, mechanics, environment and character design, to player interaction. Hear how these largely self-taught creators tackle the challenges of game development, sharing mistakes, breakthroughs, and the methods that guide their creative process.

Worldbuilding and Speculative Futures, led by Hana
Tuesday 29th April

Worldbuilding allows us to explore possibilities beyond existing structures, forging new realities through collective imagination. But it is more than constructing imaginary places — it is an act of resistance, deconstruction, and reimagination, recasting dominant meanings and cultivating new social dynamics. This session, led by Hana from Keiken, will explore what actually makes a world? through the themes of collaboration and radical imagination, speculative futures, transtopia, decolonisation, transformation, and collective empathy.

If you’re interested in joining and are a SODA student please contact gemma@andfestival.org.uk