Hold the door and defend the Wall at interactive Game of Thrones fan events, coming soon

The complete sixth season of Game of Thrones will be released on DVD and Blu-ray tomorrow, on Tuesday, November 15. (Check out our review.) To celebrate the occasion, HBO has announced that three US cities will host interactive fan events, virtual reality simulations, and photo and video opportunities, all of them modeled on special features from the box set. Here’s what attendees are in for:

• Vaes Dothrak. This one is based off the “Recreating the Dothraki World” featurette, found on both the DVD and Blu-ray releases. Using green screen technology, fans can get themselves inserted into the scene where the Temple of the Dosh Khaleen burns down. IGN debuted a clip from this special feature:

• North of the Wall. Based on the “Bran’s Journey” featurette available on the Digital HD release of the season, this experience will allow you to step into Hodor’s shoes and “hold the door” while Bran and Meera escape the Three-Eyed Raven’s cave. Then it produces a shareable video. That’s nice and creepy.
• Battle of the Bastards. “The Battle of the Bastards: An In-Depth Look” is one of the more elaborate special features found on the DVD and Blu-ray box sets. Modeled after Jon Snow’s command tent in that landmark episode, visitors to this event can move pieces around on “the battle table” and insert themselves into a photo of Jon emerging from under a pile of bodies. Again, cheery.

This could be you.

• The Workshop. Based on the “18 Hours at the Paint Hall” featurette, this one lets fans look at props and costumes from the show, as well as sit on the Iron Throne.
• Defend the Wall Virtual Reality Experience. This is what it sounds like. Strap on a VR helmet, and defend the Wall from invaders (IGN doesn’t mention what kind) with a crossbow, arrows, and shield. This one isn’t based off something on the Season 6 box set—it was made just for the fan events.

The Game of Thrones Season 6 Behind the Scenes Tour will make its first stop at Astor Place in New York City on Friday, November 18 and Saturday, November 19. It’ll then head to Grant Park in Chicago on Saturday, November 26 and Sunday, November 27. Finally, it’ll stop by Hollywood & Highland in Los Angeles on December 9 and Saturday, December 10. The event will be open from 12:30 pm to 8:00 pm every day.

Also, the first 20 fans who buy Game of Thrones Season 6 on Blu-ray before the event and bring their box sets with them will get to enter the experience early. Fans can also pre-register for events now by visiting GotBehindtheScenes.com.