September 27, 2018

Drexel University’s Westphal College of Media Arts & Design welcomed incoming freshmen to campus through a ‘Virtual Reality Block Party’ on Friday, September 21, 2018. Coinciding with the launch of the new major in Virtual Reality & Immersive Media, the party was publicized on CBS Philly’s 10 o’ clock news. 

Organized by Westphal faculty members Nick Jushchyshyn, Program Director for Virtual Reality & Immersive Media and Animation & Visual Effects, and Rob Lloyd, Program Director for Game Design & Production, the VR Block Party made use of five of the College’s cutting-edge Digital Media Labs. Over 150 new freshmen from academic units across the university attended the event and participated in as many as nine unique virtual reality, augmented reality, and immersive media experiences. Some literally hopped into the cockpit of an X-Wing Starfighter, while others tested their skills at the VR rhythm game BeatSaber or stepped into the worlds of various blockbuster movies. Upperclassmen from the Digital Media Department staffed the event, which showcased Westphal’s URBN Center through a mix of commercially available and Drexel student-developed experiences.