Game of Thrones Experience 2015: SxSWesteros

The annual music/film/interactive conference is once again in full swing in Austin, Texas. The interactive and film portion kicked off on Friday, which, as it has the last couple of years, includes a “Game of Thrones Experience,” cleverly named “SxSWesteros.” Last year the interactive was a virtual reality set up that took attendees to the top of The Wall, not unlike what is on tour with the Game of Thrones: The Exhibition over in Europe. Two years ago, it was an art gallery of portraits of the characters by renown artists.

This year combines the two. There is a an introductory part that includes a tasting of Ommegang beer and (of course) an Iron Throne to test sitting on. (According to one reviewer, when asked what it was made of the tour guide responded “Fiberglass—er, I mean, the swords of my enemies.”)

But then one gets to the heart of the game, in which you play as Arya. Check out how it works, including video, below!

It’s not just stepping up into the character as Arya, though there is a wooden Needle-like sword to grasp and swing. The point of the exercise is to make a digital collage of yourself as you do it. The collage is created with digital images of swords, crow feathers and stag antlers. Engagdet explains:

First, your photo is taken to serve as a digital canvas. Next, you proceed to a 10-foot-tall projection screen where that image is displayed, which has one of the aforementioned swords standing before it. Those swords — crafted by the show’s prop builder and identical to those used on set — have a gyro, accelerometer and Bluetooth radio embedded inside. That hardware tracks your swings and gives you all the digital destructive power you need. Once the demo starts, you’re tasked with obliterating a series of stone spheres as they appear onscreen. The resulting rock shards morph into blades, crow feathers and antlers, which accumulate to create a stylized photo.

Engadget also has a video of the experience (unembeddable) at the link. Statesmen Shot’s review, with video of how the portraits are created, is below.

There are two Game of Thrones related panel discussions later today. “A Drama Nirvana: How to Create a Multiplatform Hit” is at 12:30pm at the Four Seasons. It focuses not just on Game of Thrones, but also fellow megahits Sherlock, Downton Abbey and House of Cards. “Game of Thrones: Creating Immersive Entertainment” is scheduled for later this afternoon at 5pm, and is focused exclusively on the show and the world building that goes into it, along with how the production strives to keep fans engaged during the “long winter” between seasons.

• Published on 03/16/2015 at 8:00 AM CDT
• Last updated on 10/21/2016 at 1:06 PM CDT