Arcade machines, intricate game pieces and a plethora of digital, multimedia and board games will inhabit the Hammer Museum on Wednesday. Among them, something bigger will be at play. Read more...

Photo: UCLA alumnus Nick Crockett’s “Sneaky Cactus” for the UCLA Game Art Festival, which uses cactus controllers. The goal of the game is to get cacti to an oasis on the other side of a screen. (Courtesy of Nick Crockett)

The walls of Diana Ford’s classroom dissolve into an open field as she puts on a pair of Oculus Rift goggles. Within the artificial realm created by the Oculus Rift headset, Ford chases after a ball only to run straight into a surrounding wall in her classroom, blurring virtual reality and reality. Read more...

Photo: Computer science lecturer Diana Ford teaches game-developing as a subfield of graphics. She teaches her fall quarter class, “Advanced Game Development for Virtual Reality,” using Oculus Rift goggles and tracking devices to create immersive gaming codes and player interaction with artificial intelligence. (Kira VandenBrande/Daily Bruin)

Victor Rivera will cut his vegetarian holiday poultry, dig his spoon in vegan stuffing and treat himself to some egg and dairy-free pumpkin pie on Thanksgiving. Read more...

Photo: Fourth-year psychology student Victor Rivera published a vegan Thanksgiving menu on his blog “Vegan Power Training” to help explain the vegan lifestyle. Rivera said he got the idea for the blog after he realized that some people believe vegans can’t train for strength and do bodybuilding. (Owen Emerson/Daily Briun senior staff)

Nikita Bichitty launches into the powwow arena, her steps aligning with the rhythmic drumming and spirited chants, woven fabric flowing from her outstretched arms. Bichitty, now a third-year anthropology student, has traded in her SoCal jeans and T-shirts for colorful Navajo dresses since she was in elementary school. Read more...

Photo: Third-year anthropology student Nikita Bichitty will participate in the American Indian Students fashion show for Native Heritage Week. At the fashion show, Bichitty will feature attire for Fancy Shawl, a traditional Navajo powwow dance. (Keila Mayberry/Daily Bruin staff)