Experiencing Interruptions?

Never Grow UP

Do you remember your favorite games you liked to play as a kid? Never Grow Up lets you re-discover this nostalgic canon through a series of whimsical VR mini-games. You play in co-op mode with a goofy “minion”. Time is limited as slime invades the scene while you figure out the challenges. Can you beat the slime monster together? The goal is not to win, but to develop an emotional bond that will ultimately teach you compassion.

  • Karen Vanderborght
    Director
    Grey Matter AR
  • Karen Vanderborght
    Writer
  • Gillian Blekkenhorst
    Writer
  • Jean-François Clermont
    Lead Artists
  • Max Lander
    Key Collaborators
  • Mehdi Cayenne
    Key Collaborators
  • Matthew Pencer
    Key Collaborators
  • Project Type:
    Virtual Reality, Game
  • Genres:
    virtual reality, art game, brawler
  • Minimum Runtime:
    12 minutes
  • Maximum Runtime:
    25 minutes
  • Average Runtime:
    18 minutes
  • Variable Runtime Details:
    Time varies on players initiative and comprehension of the game mechanics.
  • Completion Date:
    November 30, 2022
  • Country of Origin:
    Canada
  • Language:
    English
  • Student Project:
    No
Director Biography - Karen Vanderborght

Imagefatale aka Karen Vanderborght is a new media artist, university lecturer, and freelance experience designer. She has a cross-platform career, ranging from broadcast documentaries to interactive projects for the NFB (National Film Board of Canada) and XR projects for the UN, as well as a wide variety of corporate clients. Her artwork is shown internationally in museums, at festivals, and conferences. By playfully perverting new technology and trends, she imagines a brave new world where humanity can face its original demons.

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Director Statement

Never Grow Up (NGU) is my first game in its more classic definition of the term. It is also my most up-close-and-personal work. The game unpacks my complexity as a grown up, finally coming to terms with the impact of my “adverse childhood experiences”. despite coming from a dark place, the overall arc of the interactive experience itself is whimsical and playful. My dearest wish is that Never Grow Up inspires people to share their muddled childhood stories and break the cycle of pain and hurt towards the most vulnerable part of ourselves; our inner child.