Programs & Workshops 

Actual Play at the Night Markets

The Night Market is MAVERiC Studio’s signature public showcase series where digital storytelling steps into the real world. Hosted both online and in-person, these immersive pop-up events blend XR worldbuilding, fashion, performance, and interactive design.

Whether inside the UC San Diego Bookstore or center stage at Comic-Con, each Night Market is built by students, for a public audience, and serves as both proof-of-work and real credit from real products. All available for you in the Night Market through our pop-up partners.

MAVERiC Night Markets are where popular culture becomes real. Our students don’t just study storytelling; they build it, stage it, and invite you to step inside. The Dragon City Chronicles is our original live actual play series, performed by alumni in front of a public audience. It’s fantasy noir with dragons, detectives, and magic-powered tech, told through performance, improv, and interactive design.

These shows are a celebration of everything we love about comics, games, animation, and live fandom culture brought to life by the next generation of creators. Thanks to our Franchise IP Partner and Award Winning Author, Mattew Forbeck, everyone can explore the world of Magitek and innovation that is, Shotguns & Sorcery™.

Just Start, At Our Garage Startup

No matter your industry or background, this comprehensive program offers a unique opportunity to delve deep into the process of virtual world creation, from inception to implementation and beyond. The garage Startup will equip you with the skills needed to build captivating metaverse experiences, while also providing invaluable insights into audience acquisition, maintenance, live operations, and eCommerce. You'll gain a solid foundation in the rapidly evolving metaverse landscape and learn how to use AI tools, ensuring you're well-prepared to make a lasting impact in your chosen field.

Accelerated World Building

This intensive Science Fiction Prototyping workshop is where imagination meets infrastructure. Co-hosted with Studio Futurist Ari Popper and speculative design professionals from MAVERiC Studio and across the industry, this program trains participants in rapid, scenario-based world creation. You’ll learn to use fiction as a foresight tool, prototyping futures through storytelling, narrative design, and performance.

Ideal for teams, studios, and startups exploring what’s next in culture, technology, or society, this experience combines interactive lectures, live writing sessions, and artifact development.