Playable Stories: Inside As Long As You're Here
The first Playable Stories session: a fireside conversation with Marlène Delrive of Autoscopia about As Long As You're Here, a narrative game inspired by her grandmother's experience with Alzheimer's — with a chance to play the game firsthand.
Playable Stories is a conversation series created and hosted by Into Storymode, exploring how games and interactive experiences can become a medium for personal storytelling.
This first session is presented in collaboration with Somerset House Exchange as part of their community programme, and is supported and promoted by the IGDA London Chapter.
About this session
How can a personal story become a playable experience in a video game?
For this first Playable Stories session, Into Storymode are joined by Marlène from Autoscopia for a fireside-style conversation about As Long As You're Here — a narrative game inspired by her grandmother's experience with Alzheimer's disease.
In this conversation, we look inside the creative process behind the project: how lived experience can shape interactive design, how difficult themes such as memory loss can be translated into play, and why games can offer a unique space for reflection and empathy.
A small number of computers are set up so that attendees can experience the game firsthand before the conversation begins. The evening includes a conversation with the designer followed by an open discussion with the audience.
This event is open to game designers, artists, writers, creative technologists, and anyone curious about how stories can become playable.
Schedule
6:00pm — Welcome & arrival. Doors open. A small number of computers are available for attendees to experience As Long As You're Here.
6:30pm — Conversation begins. A fireside-style conversation with Marlène from Autoscopia about the making of the game and the process of translating lived experience into an interactive form.
7:30pm — Open conversation & discussion. Audience Q&A and an open discussion with the designer.
8:30pm — Event ends.
About the speaker
Marlène Delrive is a game and narrative designer passionate about finding new stories to tell in videogames and evoking feelings through gameplay. She has worked across a wide emotional spectrum — from award-winning comedy games like WHAT THE GOLF? to more personal works such as As Long As You're Here, a game about Alzheimer's inspired by her grandmother. She is a co-founder of Autoscopia Interactive, a small studio working across three countries. As Long As You're Here is the studio's debut title.
About the moderator
Ed Sibley is a London-based Creative Director and Narrative Designer with over eight years of industry experience. Best known as the original writer and former Narrative Director for the hit mobile title Love Island The Game, he has also served as Creative Director for Sunshine Days. Ed is currently the Studio Head at Whetstone Games and serves as the co-chair of the IGDA London Chapter, where he supports the local game development community.
Event details
Date: 14 April 2026, 6:00–8:30pm
Venue: Exchange, New Wing, Somerset House, London WC2R 1LA
Format: In-person fireside conversation and open discussion
Where is the Exchange?
The Exchange is on Level -1 of the New Wing of Somerset House. If arriving via the New Wing, access is via the South Stairs.
The space has step-free access — please get in touch if required. There is an accessible toilet in Exchange.
If you would like more information or to request specific access support, please email Exchange.Team@somersethouse.org.uk ahead of the event.
About Playable Stories
Playable Stories is an independent conversation series created and hosted by Into Storymode, exploring how personal stories can be transformed into interactive, playable experiences.
Through conversations, experiments, and collaborations, Into Storymode aims to lower the barrier for storytellers — writers, artists, designers, and beyond — to engage with games as a medium. Each session invites a designer to share the thinking, creative process, and challenges behind a narrative-driven project, followed by an open conversation with the audience.
About Into Storymode
Into Storymode is an initiative exploring how games and technology can become a medium for storytelling, reflection, and meaningful human experience.
Through talks, workshops, and emerging tools, it supports new ways for people to turn stories into interactive experiences.
Event credits
Playable Stories is a conversation series created and hosted by Into Storymode.
This session is presented in collaboration with Somerset House Exchange as part of their community programme. The event is supported and promoted by the IGDA London Chapter, and the conversation is moderated by Ed Sibley from the IGDA London Chapter.