“Our love language is building together.”

“High on fun” is how David introduces the games at Steal and Escape, and that’s exactly how I felt after playing their creative and unique games. From popsicles to hilarious assessment tests, and challenges that gave me Survivor PTSD, the games created by husband-and-wife team Jason and Marketa Richard are maximizing the fun factor.

Steal and Escape is an escape room company that pulls out all the stops. Indeed, Jason told us he thought The Missing Season might be the last game he’d design. That’s why he threw in all the toys and tricks that he’d always wanted to see in an escape room. 

You can feel when designers of a game are truly passionate about their craft. And I’m not just saying this because I found an article written by David pinned to the wall of their gamemaster office. But it told me that these owners truly care about the player experience. You can clearly see that they design from the heart.

Thank You to Our Sponsors

We are immensely grateful to our sponsors this season: Morty App, Buzzshot, COGS, and RECON Los Angeles. We truly appreciate your support of our mission to promote and improve the immersive gaming community.

Topics Discussed in this Episode

• 00:00 Welcome to the Reality Escape Pod! 
• 00:10 Sponsor Break: COGS by Clockwork Dog, Interactive Show Controls
• 02:09 Introducing Jason and Marketa: Husband and Wife Owners at Steal and Escape
• 02:34 The Budapest Adventure: How It All Began
• 06:47 The Early Struggles and Breakthroughs of Starting an Escape Room
• 11:15 Marketing Magic: How Word of Mouth Changed Everything
• 11:45 Designing the Ultimate Hint System
• 14:19 The Making of The Missing Season: A Creative Journey
• 16:50: Sponsor Break: Morty App, Discover and Track Escape Rooms
• 18:06 Physicality in Escape Rooms: How Much Is Too Much?
• 23:15 Communicating About Escape Room Expectations
• 25:08 Sponsor Break: Buzzshot, Escape Room Marketing Software
• 26:40 Voiceover Collaboration with Escape Room Podcaster Cager Ky of Escape Break
• 29:00 Inspiration from a Blog Post: Mission Statement Born Out of Frustration
• 33:30 Self-Taught Tech & Design Mastery in Escape Rooms 
• 38:30 From the Navy to Escape Rooms to Security Penetration Testing
• 40:50 The Dynamics of Working with Your Spouse
• 43:00  Exciting New Ventures: Beyond Escape Rooms
• 49:54 Bonus Story: The Gas Can Incident

Leave us a voicemail

Got a question or thought for the podcast? You can submit a voice recording by calling the Room Escape Artist not-so-hotline that always goes straight to voicemail (551-227-7273).

Resources Mentioned in this Episode

• Steal & Escape Website
• REA Reviews:
  • The Neighbor
  • The Lost Expedition
  • The Missing Season
• Spoilers Club: The Missing Season
• REA Post on the wall at Steal & Escape “Escape Room Design: Step One, Research”

About Jason and Marketa Richard

Instagram: @stealandescape

Marketa and I embarked on our escape room journey during a memorable vacation in Budapest. As we wandered the bustling streets, we couldn’t help but notice the abundance of flyers advertising escape games. Intrigued, we decided to try one out, and it only took 20 minutes into our inaugural game for me to realize that this was more than just a passing interest – it was a passion waiting to be explored.

Approaching our remarkable 10-year milestone, our journey has been nothing short of exhilarating. Over the years, we’ve poured our hearts and souls into crafting nine distinct scenarios, each one a testament to our shared creativity and dedication. Notably, one of our projects took us to Comic-Con, where we collaborated on an escape room experience inspired by the acclaimed TV show, “The Expanse.”

In our dynamic partnership, Marketa’s boundless imagination breathes life into our rooms through her meticulous design work, while I channel my passion for storytelling and puzzle creation into crafting captivating narratives and challenges.

Our latest venture pushes the boundaries of traditional escape room experiences by blending immersive decor with the adrenaline-fueled excitement of video game-style challenges. With the goal of achieving the highest score, players are transported into a world where every decision counts.

The opportunity to collaborate with two esteemed escape room owners was a dream come true, one we simply couldn’t pass up. It’s with great anticipation and enthusiasm that we announce the upcoming launch of “It’s A Blast,” set to open its doors in the vibrant city of Las Vegas in the spring of 2024.

As we embark on this new chapter, we’re filled with excitement and determination to create an unparalleled escape room experience that will leave players exhilarated and eager for more. Join us on this thrilling adventure, where every twist and turn brings us closer to unlocking the ultimate adventure.

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