MAVERiC Studio's Night Market

Join MAVERiC Studio for the return of the Night Market, this year celebrating The Year of the Game Master in collaboration with the San Diego Table Top RPG Alliance.

The 2026 showcase features the premiere of the studio’s first original cinematic short, “Dice Goblins.” This original short and companion mixed-reality experience was developed by MAVERiC Studio and Sony Group Corporation, inviting attendees to master the game with immersive technology.

The evening also boasts a wide array of industry guests, panels, shows and activations all night long. The Alumni Arcade returns with all new experiences and for the first time ever, a community-led “Tavern of Tables,” which will transform UC San Diego Park & Market into a massive table top and immersive gaming hub.

Celebrate the studio’s third anniversary, as the STUDiO Players return to Park & Market’s Guggenheim Theater and close the evening with the studio’s signature series, the Dragon City Chronicles actual play.

Don’t just watch the game, master it. Get your FREE tickets or buy a VIP ticket to support the MAVERiC Studio Night Market this summer and follow us all year long as we celebrate The Year of the Game Master at the MAVERiC Studio Night Market!

Comic Con Badges are NOT required.

FREE GENERAL ADMISSION

The MAVERiC Studio Night Market exhibition is FREE to attend. The studio’s artists and content creators have an arcade token system, purchasable onsite, day of, or by the UC San Diego Bookstore in advance.

VIP PUB PASS

Support the show now for $75.00 and gain access to the whole show! You’ll have a priority seat for our Feature Presentations in the Guggenheim Black Box theater, AND our game master experiences in the Tavern of Tables! You’ll even get free play in our Alumni Arcade all night!

GENERAL EVENTS
Alumni Arcade & Artist Alley | 5:00 - 11:00 p.m.
Location: Main Forum, Park & Market

One part theme park, one part tech show, the MAVERiC studio Alumni Arcade is the signature feature and annual showcase of the artists, developers, and creators work in a fun, immersive environment themed to a Fantasy Noir experiences, in and out of XR technology. This evening’s Artist Alley features works from across the region, live demonstrations, and a fair featuring:

• Delta Dice Roll a critical success with custom, handcrafted dice sets from Delta Dice. Find the perfect polyhedral sets to elevate your next tabletop gaming session. Shop Delta Dice
• What Pretty Bones Glass Discover the beautiful, custom stained glass creations from What Pretty Bones. Shop unique art pieces that are perfect for any collector or as a memorable gift. View What Pretty Bones Glass
• Elder Martin Publishing Explore the unique art and clothing designs that define the Elder Martin Publishing lifestyle brand. Their distinctive merchandise lets you wear your passion for creativity and community. Visit Elder Martin Publishing

Tavern of Tables Shotguns & Sorcery TTRPG | 5:00 - 11:00 p.m.
Location: Bird Rock Brewing, Park & Market

This year’s feature collaboration invites our audience to join the game. There will be Six playable stories and adventures guests will be able to participate in, all that tie in to the fantasy noir theme and magical gangster story world of Matt Forbeck’s Shotguns & Sorcery.

FEATURE PRESENTATIONS | 5:30 - 11:30 p.m.
Location: Guggenheim Theater, Park & Market
The general audience is welcome on a first come first serve basis. Priority seating and space is reserved for VIP ‘Pub Pass’ holders.

Premiere of Dice Goblins & Director's Panel | 5:30-6:30 p.m.

New for 2026: Introducing the world premiere of MAVERIC Studio's original production: DICE GOBLINS! This live-action short film and companion Mixed Reality experience was developed in collaboration with Sony Electronics Inc. and Sony Group Corporation, and explores the fate of a Game Master, one late night in the UC San Diego bookstore.

With strategic oversight from Technology Strategy Committee of Sony Group Corporation, DICE GOBLINS utilizes the groundbreaking 3D Spatial Capture Solution powered by Sony XYN, and you get the first chance to explore these environments and interact with digital artifacts mapped from the physical world by our student creators, used in both the cinematic and the immersive projects for a truly magical moment.

Dragon City Chronicles Actual Play in Guggenheim | 7:00-9:00 p.m.

The dark and gritty world of Dragon City is once again brought to life by the STUDiO Players! Featuring Game Master Kyle Pugh, and our cast of players from across the region. Alfonso Cruze,

Dragon City Dancehall | 9:00-11:30 p.m.

The world of Dragon City comes alive at 9:30 with an immersive, cosplay dance! Ripped from the pages of the Tavern of Tables, DJ Filth Wizard takes the transdimensional stage and transforms the Gugenhime into a Night Ending dance floor!

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FEATURED SAN DIEGO COMMUNITY PARTNERS:

About Tavern Tales:

Tavern Tales Events is a San Diego-based company that provides public programming for the Tabletop Roleplaying community in Southern California. All of our events focus on inclusivity, connection, and accessibility for new players and veterans alike. Attending a Tavern Tales event is just the start as each provides a further introduction to many local gaming organizations and businesses already in existence. We do a number of events ranging from our flagship Find Your Party series, Learn-to-Play opportunities, and custom Non-Profit programming.

Discover Tavern Tales.

About LDDSD:
Ladies of D&D San Diego is a welcoming, femme‑centered TTRPG community creating safe, inclusive spaces for players to learn, connect, and tell stories together. Through supportive tables, workshops, and an active Discord hub, the group empowers new and experienced adventurers to build confidence, friendships, and joyful collaborative play.

Learn more about the Ladies of D&D San Diego.

About The San Diego Tabletop Alliance:

The San Diego Tabletop Alliance connects the region’s tabletop gaming communities, creators, stores, and events through a unified discovery hub. By aggregating local groups, actual‑play shows, meetups, and resources, the Alliance strengthens San Diego’s tabletop ecosystem and makes it easier for players to find their community.

Discoer the San Diego Tabletop Alliance.

FEATURED PARTNERS

About the Science of Story

Back for a third year, The Science of Story returns to UC San Diego as a signature experience. Hosted with partners across UC San Diego, this immersive six-day event series explores the art, craft, and cultural power of storytelling from speculative fiction to science communication, graphic novels to groundbreaking social commentary. The Science of Story invites writers, readers, fans, and thinkers to come together and dive into the many dimensions of narrative.

Learn more about the Science of Story Experience - ArtPower

About the UC San Diego Office of Innovation and Commercialization

The Office of Innovation and Commercialization (OIC) accelerates the commercialization of research discoveries created by UC San Diego faculty, staff, students, and alumni. OIC offers patent and copyright support, market assessments, business development services, and mentorship through campus‑wide entrepreneurship programs such as the IDEAS Council, the Institute for the Global Entrepreneur, and the StartBlue Ocean Enterprise Accelerator.

Learn more about the Office of Innovation & Commercialization

About Sony XYN™:

XYN™ (/zin/) is an integrated software and hardware solution that supports the creation of spatial content. By using Sony’s unique technology, it accurately captures the real world and combines the content with a wide range of third-party tools to enable flexible workflow construction.

Learn more about Sony XYN™.

Watch another immersive experience by MAVERiC Studio using Sony’s XYN solutions (mocopi and Spatial Reality Display).

About the Technology Strategy Committee of Sony Group Corporation

The Technology Strategy Committee is a technology based activity body across the Sony Group. It strengthens the Group's technological capabilities to support Sony's future leap forward through cross-organizational exchanges, and serves as a forum for sharing the most advanced technology information and enhancing technological capabilities across business units. It also focuses on the development of the early career engineers, supporting their growth and journey toward achieving their goals.

About MAVERIC Studio:

The Mixed Augmented Virtual Extended Reality Innovation Center Studio is UC San Diego’s production-based studio for immersive storytelling and innovation and a public-private training ground where students and alumni earn real-world credit by designing stories, worlds, and experiences that blend physical and digital reality. This is not a lab. It’s a working studio. We offer a diverse range of opportunities designed to empower seekers with essential XR skills.

Find out more about MAVERiC Studio, a UC San Diego Office of Innovation partnership with Origami Air Co. LLC.