iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Kathryn Yu #OpenToWork @kathrynyu.com · 19/08/2026

Had a wonderful time playing a Jubensha with Steeped in Stories at Geeky Teas in Burbank. They ran Zed9's Demise of the Pocket Knight in a private room for our group of six. Look how cool this setup is! And the cookies and tea!

Photograph of a wooden dining table for twelve people set up in a game-themed room with a Lord of the Rings mural in the background.

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Kathryn Yu #OpenToWork @kathrynyu.com · 19/08/2026

Me, shouting at the television, in real time, as I figure out *exactly* where I know a new character from, while watching Ted Lasso

Still of actor Leonardo DiCaprio pointing from the movie Once Upon a Time in Hollywood

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Kathryn Yu #OpenToWork @kathrynyu.com · 14/08/2026

I think I have a new favorite pizza in LA: Lynx in the Arts District. The spiritual successor to Leonardo. www.thelynxla.com

Photograph of a pizza taken from above:

LUCIFER
CALIFORNIA TOMATO, SALUMFICIO GUANCIALE, BUFFALO MOZZARELLA DOP, CASOLARE SCARMOZA FUMICATA, SALVATORE SMOKED CHEESE, OREGON SEA SALT, HOT CHILI, OLIVE OIL & BASIL

Photograph of a pizza taken from above:

FILLETI
CASEIFICIO IL CASOLARE BUFFALO MOZZARELLA DOP, FERMENTED RED CHILI, FIREBIRD TOMATOES, BUTTERY OLIVE OIL, OREGON SEA SALT, BASIL

Photograph of two cocktails:

RHUBARB NEGRONI (back)

RE-MARGARITA (front)
AGAVE DISTILLATE, MEIWA KUMQUAT CURACAO,

Photograph of milk soft serve with yuzu honey and strawberries, served with two Biscoff sandwich cookies

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Kathryn Yu #OpenToWork @kathrynyu.com · 04/08/2026

To mark the third anniversary of the final performances of The Burnt City, Punchdrunk will hold exclusive screenings of Persephone, a film of the original production as it was performed. Screenings will take place on the original set. September 25-27, London. www.punchdrunk.com/work/perse...

Poster for the film Persephone, featuring a black and white graphic of a statue of the goddess

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Kathryn Yu #OpenToWork @kathrynyu.com · 31/07/2026

Featuring: Enemies of Time Linked Dance Theatre Odd Reverberations Odyssey Works PITCHBLACK Immersive Experiences and What May Come Immersive This is the first time the team is bringing the festival to NYC and we could not be more excited. events.humanitix.com/ny-immer...

Poster with a backdrop of skyscrapers. Text on top of the photo reads:

NEW YORK IMMERSIVE
INVITATIONAL
SUN, AUG 23, 1PM - 8PM
CULTURE LAB LIC

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Kathryn Yu #OpenToWork @kathrynyu.com · 19/07/2026

SYLIAN MBOOPÉ SAYS THAT WAS A GOOD MATCH

Photograph of a mini Bernedoodle holding a toy soccer ball

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Kathryn Yu #OpenToWork @kathrynyu.com · 11/07/2026

SYLIAN MBOOPÉ (Photo and name by Dan)

Photograph of a miniature Bernedoodle dog holding a soccer ball toy

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Kathryn Yu #OpenToWork @kathrynyu.com · 07/07/2026

Never has this line been more perfect

Moss from The IT Crowd saying “Did you see that ludicrous display last night?”

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Kathryn Yu #OpenToWork @kathrynyu.com · 16/06/2026

Coming next year to Vegas: The Rocky Horror Picture Show at Sphere: www.sphereentertainmentco.com... This new production is part of The Sphere Experience®, Sphere's slate of original immersive content including Postcard from Earth and The Wizard of Oz at Sphere.

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Kathryn Yu #OpenToWork @kathrynyu.com · 16/06/2026

Ghost Town Alive! at Knott's Berry Farm in Buena Park, CA opened on Friday for the summer. Immersive interactive theatre in a fully realized old western town. Dozens of actors. Hijinks. And a hoedown! I continue to encourage everyone to make the pilgrimage. $70 for 6+ hours of pure joy.

A group of people standing and cheering in front of a stage outside.

A masked figure at the back of a bank attempts to stealthily transfer the items in his arms to others.

The town historian shows off the empty time capsule box.

A banner that reads “Founder’s Day!” above a group of people walking into an old western town.

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Kathryn Yu #OpenToWork @kathrynyu.com · 22/05/2026

Fifteen years ago, on May 21, 2011, I attended Sleep No More New York City for the very first time.

A screenshot of an email with the subject line: Your 5/21 visit to Sleep No More

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Kathryn Yu #OpenToWork @kathrynyu.com · 18/05/2026

The annual AAPI market at Smorgasburg is one of my favorite things about living in Los Angeles. Today we had Cambodian smash burgers, spam musubi, savory hotteok, and butter mochi tarts! aapila.org/events/aapi-la-mar...

Photograph of a butter mochi tart from Mochimas

Photograph of a spam musubi from
Randy’s Spammy

Photograph of a smash burger from Lemongrass Khmer Grill

Photograph of a spicy pork hotteok from Ho Tok

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Kathryn Yu #OpenToWork @kathrynyu.com · 11/05/2026

I liked Hawaiian Airlines’ solution for this on inter-island flights, which are around 45 minutes long. You get a choice of a small, sealed water in a cup or small, sealed POG in a cup. No carts needed.

Photograph of a four oz sealed plastic cup of passion-orange-guava drink, with Hawaiian Airlines branding.

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Kathryn Yu #OpenToWork @kathrynyu.com · 01/05/2026

You got a fast cart / I want a ticket to anywhere / Maybe we can make a deal / Maybe together we can get somewhere

Photograph of a Target shopping cart stuck on the upper level of a parking lot between a barbed wire fence and a row of hedges

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Kathryn Yu #OpenToWork @kathrynyu.com · 29/04/2026

This Cholula branded chili crisp is actually…. Pretty good? Crunchy. A bit of heat. Good amount of umami. Not quite top ten for me as I find it a bit one note on the finish. But still pretty good.

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Kathryn Yu #OpenToWork @kathrynyu.com · 11/03/2026

#WhatAGameDevLooksLike Hi, I’m Kathryn! 🚀 Senior Technical Game Designer 📍 Los Angeles 🎮 Shipped Marvel’s Deadpool VR (Twisted Pixel Games 🪦) last November 🥽 Worked on Virtual Virtual Reality 2 🎓 USC Games MFA, won the Student NMWP, BS CS 👷‍♀️ Co-founded the @immersiveexperience.org Open to work!

Self portrait of the author from the shoulders up, looking at the camera, posed against a brightly lit doorway wearing a white tee shirt

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Kathryn Yu #OpenToWork @kathrynyu.com · 08/03/2026

Lakers game we decided not to go to 😅

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Kathryn Yu #OpenToWork @kathrynyu.com · 18/02/2026

Got my author copy in the mail today! Thank you so much Rachel and Betsy!

Photograph of a paperback book with a black cover with a very subtle thistle image. The title reads:
The Psychgeist of Pop Culture: Sleep No More

Photograph of a book chapter which reads:
“Playing” Sleep No More: Unpacking the Show Through the Lens of Game Design
Kathryn Yu

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Kathryn Yu #OpenToWork @kathrynyu.com · 18/01/2026

I present to you: Herb Ertlinger

Photograph of a countertop herb garden with pods for parsley, dill, and oregano

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Kathryn Yu #OpenToWork @kathrynyu.com · 15/01/2026

roomescapeartist.com/2025/12/29/u... Based on Morty’s data, only 12% of escape rooms are public or only “sometimes private” while 78% are always private.

Pie chart that reads:

Public vs Private Bookings
Unknown or unclear 10.2%
Sometimes private 7.4%
Public 4.8%
Private 77.7%

Room Escape Artist and Morty

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Kathryn Yu #OpenToWork @kathrynyu.com · 09/01/2026

Timeline cleanse: here's a photo of my dog being the goodest boy because he sees me refilling his treat container

Photograph of a Bernedoodle sitting on a rug and looking cute in hopes of getting a treat

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Kathryn Yu #OpenToWork @kathrynyu.com · 06/01/2026

Delivery drivers often take a blurry, low res, out-of-focus photo of a successful delivery. These images frequently capture our dog, Miles, barking at the intruder and generally looking derpy. My husband Dan has taken to calling this photo "Floof of Delivery."

Photograph of a paper bag on a doorstep with a barking dog visible through the glass door.

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Kathryn Yu #OpenToWork @kathrynyu.com · 05/01/2026

This remains the best popcorn I’ve made at home. The end.

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Kathryn Yu #OpenToWork @kathrynyu.com · 30/12/2025

🎉 Happy birthday, @noproscenium.com! Twelve years and still going strong!

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Kathryn Yu #OpenToWork @kathrynyu.com · 26/12/2025

I was recently gifted a box of small batch dried fruit from Taiwan from Yun Hai in Brooklyn. How good could it possibly be, I thought. It's just fruit. I was wrong. They're freaking amazing. Especially the Irwin mango and Golden Diamond pineapple. yunhai.shop/collections/yun-h...

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Kathryn Yu #OpenToWork @kathrynyu.com · 25/12/2025

Don't forget to leave a plate of black coffee out tonight for David Lynch. Also in the past.

Photograph of a plate of black coffee, next to a coffee carafe. The plate is on the floor, next to some presents, underneath a Christmas tree.

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Kathryn Yu #OpenToWork @kathrynyu.com · 17/12/2025

My super talented friend April is keeping her online store "Weird Side Projects" open for a few more weeks; note that some items won't ship until next year!

Sign which reads “ATTENTION: YOU ARE WONDERFUL AND DESERVE EVERY HAPPINESS.“

An original street sign designed by April Soetarman (WeirdSideProjects.com).

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Kathryn Yu #OpenToWork @kathrynyu.com · 09/12/2025

On December 15, I'll be speaking at our Immersive @ Play Salon in Pasadena featuring Dawn Barber Shah (Hasbro), Shelby Reilly (The 20-Sided Tavern), Ariel Rubin & Juliana Moreno (The Wild Optimists), and Jason Carl (White Wolf, LA By Night)! Tickets are on sale now. my.pasadenaplayhouse.org/3799

Promotional image for Time Travel Agency at Electric Forest showing an actor in costume at a hints desk interacting with players.

Promotional image for 20-Sided Tavern showing the cast on stage in dramatic poses.

Promotional image for Clue: A Walking Mystery showing a performer displaying an open box next to some players.

Promotional image for LA By Night showing off the cast next to storyteller Jason Carl.

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Kathryn Yu #OpenToWork @kathrynyu.com · 26/11/2025

This setup creates the best popcorn I've ever made at home. Fast, easy, and no unpopped kernels. Snappy White popcorn kernels Butter flavored coconut oil Flavacol Ghee Everything But The Elote Seasoning from Trader Joe's Aluminum Whirley Pop

Photograph of equipment and ingredients to make popcorn at hs

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Kathryn Yu #OpenToWork @kathrynyu.com · 19/11/2025

Marvel’s Deadpool VR launched yesterday. As my friend Noah says, games are never finished, they merely escape containment. It’s been an honor to work on this title with an iconic character and our amazing team at Twisted Pixel Games.

Graphic of Deadpool VR doing the splits next to a bunch of weaponry, captioned “Put yourself inside of me.”

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Kathryn Yu #OpenToWork @kathrynyu.com · 11/11/2025

Well, well, well. The Loud Environment alert went off on my Apple Watch while watching Make Some Noise tonight.

A photograph of a “Loud Environment” alert on an Apple Watch where the text is cut off. The alert reads:

“Loud Environment

Sound levels hit 90 decibels. Around 30 minutes at this level can cause temporary hearing loss.

Repeated long-term exposure can lead to”

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Kathryn Yu #OpenToWork @kathrynyu.com · 26/09/2025

This is my new favorite gif because of how the dog checks behind them to make sure it’s actually hell

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Kathryn Yu #OpenToWork @kathrynyu.com · 21/09/2025

Southern California: if you see these chocolate-covered Dubai-style pistachios at your Costco, buy them out.

A photograph of a bag of Pocket’s Chocolates dark covered Dubai-style pistachio nuts.

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Kathryn Yu #OpenToWork @kathrynyu.com · 13/09/2025

It's Decorative Gourd Season, Motherfuckers

A photograph of a colorful grocery store display showcasing decorative pumpkins of various sizes

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Kathryn Yu #OpenToWork @kathrynyu.com · 01/09/2025

This might be the best pie in Los Angeles. (Passion fruit pie from Doubting Thomas: macadamia graham crust, passion fruit custard, house whipped cream, fresh passion fruit.)

Photograph of a brightly colored passion fruit pie topped with whipped cream and fresh passion fruit.

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Kathryn Yu #OpenToWork @kathrynyu.com · 12/08/2025

Yes, my Apple Watch's loud environment alert went off during this week's Game Changer. (AGAIN.) What an amazing season finale.

A photograph of an Apple Watch alert which is cut off and reads:

“Loud Environment

Sound levels hit 95 decibels. Just 10 minutes at this level can cause temporary hearing loss.

Repeated long-term…”

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Kathryn Yu #OpenToWork @kathrynyu.com · 25/07/2025

In ONE WEEK, we'll be gathering 70+ leaders in the immersive entertainment industry at the Next Stage Immersive Summit. Folks from Disney, Gensler, Meow Wolf, Netflix, Niantic Spatial, Secret Cinema, Wasteland Weekend, and more. 2- and 3-Day badges on sale now:

Graphic of companies including Albany Park Theater Project, Cosm, Denver Center for the Performing Arts, Disney Live Entertainment, Gensler, Little Cinema, Mighty Coconut, Meow Wolf, Netflix, Niantic Spatial, Phantom Peak, PHI, Secret Cinema, Third Rail Projects, and Wasteland Weekend

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Kathryn Yu #OpenToWork @kathrynyu.com · 20/07/2025

The best damn California roll in all of Los Angeles (Yama Sushi Marketplace)

A photograph of a tray of California rolls from Yama Sushi Marketplace

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Kathryn Yu #OpenToWork @kathrynyu.com · 17/07/2025

Happy 70th birthday, Disneyland! Anybody else always take a photo of this plaque when entering? "Here you leave today and enter the world of yesterday, tomorrow, and fantasy"

A photograph of a plaque that reads:

Here you leave today and enter the world of yesterday, tomorrow, and fantasy

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Kathryn Yu #OpenToWork @kathrynyu.com · 12/07/2025

Just added to the Next Stage Immersive Summit: a session with Stephen Smith of Meow Wolf and Mike Stein of Niantic Spatial to talk about the newly announced collab between the two companies! It's happening August 1-3 in Pasadena & badges are on sale now: www.immersiveexperience.org/the-next-sta...

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Kathryn Yu #OpenToWork @kathrynyu.com · 03/07/2025

In a world full of Marios, be a Luigi

Photograph of a plushie store display where all the plushies are Mario except for one Luigi

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Kathryn Yu #OpenToWork @kathrynyu.com · 02/07/2025

We've added Alexis Scalice, VP of Business Development & Entertainment at Cosm, and Jay Rinsky, Founder & Creative Director of Little Cinema, to the Next Stage Immersive Summit lineup!

Photograph of Alexis Scalice of Cosm, with text around it that reads:
The Next Stage 2025
Aug 1-3
Pasadena, CA
immersiveexperience.org

Photograph of Jay Rinsky of Little Cinema, with text around it that reads:
The Next Stage 2025
Aug 1-3
Pasadena, CA
immersiveexperience.org

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Kathryn Yu #OpenToWork @kathrynyu.com · 27/06/2025

Just announced: Mallory Gracenin (John Wick Experience, The Burnt City, Sleep No More) & Jack Aldisert (The Manikins) will join the speaker lineup at the 2025 Next Stage Immersive Summit taking place August 1-3 in Pasadena, CA. 2- and 3-Day badges are on sale now.

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