Not all screen time is equal. Some drains kids, some distracts them— but a rare kind actually build real-life skills they’ll use for life. The difference isn’t just what kids watch or play, it’s how those experiences are designed. In Part 1 of this series, we explored the future of […]
Games
When we talk about VR and social emotional learning (SEL), the focus is usually on classrooms. But the real story is happening at home with parents shaping screen time. In our last article, we explored how SEL and VR are reshaping the future of education— and why learning life skills […]
The future of education is being rewritten. Social emotional learning (SEL) and virtual reality (VR), once seen as extras, are quickly becoming essentials. Together, they’re not just transforming classrooms; they’re reshaping how kids are learning life skills like resilience, empathy, and teamwork. Play has always been the foundation of growth. […]
Play is not downtime. Play builds real skills. Every laugh, rule negotiated, and “try again” moment shapes who kids become. Yet play is often dismissed as optional — a break from “real” learning. But research shows that play builds real skills. Play is where emotional intelligence takes root. And for […]
Emotional intelligence, not grades, predicts success. Every September, families focus on classrooms, routines, and test scores. However, research shows academic achievement alone is not enough. Emotional intelligence is the real superpower kids need — and games are the lab where they practice it. In this article, we explore why emotional […]
After nearly ten years of building games, we’re evolving Muffin Fight into something new: a VR game focused on learning through play. Muffin Fight 2.0 helps kids build real-world social-emotional skills while having fun. It turns screen time into connection time. This direction grew out of our work in the […]
As we design MRDRBRS, our goal is to create a game that connects with a wide range of players. We are doing this through thoughtful and intentional design. The future of VR gaming is about breaking barriers—between devices, platforms, and players. For us, cross-platform play isn’t just a technical feature. […]
In the evolving landscape of gaming, audience engagement in gaming has become just as crucial as gameplay itself. This shift is transforming how games are experienced by audiences worldwide. Fans watch, cheer, and interact from the “sidelines”, and they are shaping modern game design. With the rise of streaming platforms […]
Social multiplayer for VR gaming isn’t just a feature; it’s how today’s gamers connect. From Muffin Fight to MRDRBRS, we’ve seen firsthand how multiplayer design brings players together and even pulls spectators into the fun. Here’s what we’ve learned about creating engaging social experiences in VR, with insights on spectator […]
A game’s name isn’t just a label— it’s the first message players get. For us at Red Iron Labs, finding the right name for MRDRBRS turned into a journey of community engagement, brand clarity, and testing assumptions. Naming a game is no easy task, but it’s one of the most […]
As we continue refining our approach in the game development industry, we’ve learned that pitching to game publishers is a completely different game compared to pitching to investors. Last week at the Alberta Game Series, as part of Bow Valley College’s Indie Ignition Accelerator program, we—along with four other studios—had […]
You are Invited! Muffin Fight Update Release Party! School’s out on Dec 22nd and we can’t imagine a better way to spend your afternoon than playing Muffin Fight and eating treats– no baking or cleaning required! We’ll be at VRCORE (NE Location) on Dec 22nd celebrating the latest release of […]