Screen School collaboration makes prizes a reality

I have always been fascinated with how people interact with technology and our relationships with digital media, and that's why I like to experiment with new equipment and tech - which is what originally drew me to virtual reality.

While I think that single player experiences are great in their own way, playing or experiencing a story with someone else in a virtual space has so much potential for immersion. It’s this sharing of a fictional world with others that is the focus I want to put on my career.

The more I delved into the subject, the more I realised the incredible possibilities it offers for creating immersive experiences and pushing the boundaries of what's possible in various fields - from gaming and entertainment to education and healthcare.

This fascination, and the belief in the transformative power of VR, ultimately led me to choosing to study it at LCC.

Callum: While I was studying my undergraduate degree in Interactive Design at the University of Lincoln, I was first introduced to virtual and augmented reality - and from then on, I knew that it was something I wanted to keep trying.

Margarida: The genesis of Hypnagogia stemmed from our deep admiration for escape rooms - and an admittedly mischievous desire to witness our peers in absolute terror.

Moreover, we recognised the potential for creating an impactful experience by tapping into one of the most fundamental and primal emotions within human nature: fear.

We decided to create a somewhat psychological experience - one that uses some of the most common phobias, and adapts them with escape room-like levels that the player has to beat in order to overcome their worst nightmares.

It, Slenderman and Richie’s Plank Experience were some of the works that we used as reference to design Hypnagogia’s overall flow and gameplay.

Callum: When I was first using virtual reality headsets, I wanted there to be more story-driven experiences that could be shared with others.

I was also responsible for incorporating and producing sound in the experience and overseeing the project, as well as writing the game scripts and video editing.

Callum: Inside a Looking Glass was built and designed entirely by myself - from writing and designing to programming and building the final product.

Furthermore, it reassured me that the creative path I have followed up until now has been productive, and that my work has evolved greatly since I first started.

Callum: I felt really honoured and thankful to be even included in the list of finalists, especially when looking at the amazing projects and designers that had also entered.

One notable aspect yet to be fully developed is the establishment of technical and moral standards. The freedom to innovate is both a privilege and a profound responsibility.

However, by demonstrating our commitment to this task, we hope to inspire others to join us on this transformative journey. If we can do it, so can you.

Callum: I think that the biggest tip I can give is to not be afraid to experiment and try out all your ideas, no matter how strange or crazy they seem.