Author: David Spira

Co-founder of RoomEscapeArtist.com. Creative technologist, guitarist, puzzle junkie, and turner of phrases. I fight for the user.

Clock Escape Rooms – Rebellion [Review]

by David Spira, posted in Athens, Reviews

Arrested Rebellion

Location:  Athens, Greece

Date Played: March 3, 2020

Team size: 2-5; we recommend 2-4

Duration: 90 minutes

Price: from €48 per team of 2 to €75 per team of 5

Ticketing: Private

Emergency Exit Rating:  We’re unsure what fire escape measures there were, if any. More Info.

Physical Restraints: [A+] No Physical Restraints

REA Reaction

Rebellion was a good, puzzley escape room. It was generally more puzzle-focused than the rest of the games that we played in Athens.

In-game: A metal door within a dungeon with runes inscribed in the stone above.
Image via Clock Escape Rooms

I legitimately enjoyed this game. It would stand out a lot more in other parts of the world. In Athens, it didn’t have the drama, intensity, or heavy storytelling that etched other games into my brain. When I went back and looked at my notes I remembered how much fun I had playing, but those moments weren’t persistent memories.

For locals, Rebellion would be a fantastic game. For travelers, it was good, and I’m happy that I played it, but I didn’t need to play it.

Who is this for?

  • Puzzle lovers
  • Scenery snobs
  • Fantasy fans
  • Players with at least some experience

Why play?

  • Amusing opportunities for character interactions
  • Puzzle heavy (for Athens)
  • A couple of cool set pieces

Story

We needed to infiltrate the king’s keep and the easiest way in was through the dungeon.

So… we got ourselves captured…

In-game: a map of a fantasy land surrounded by gold, and weapons.
Image via Clock Escape Rooms
Continue reading “Clock Escape Rooms – Rebellion [Review]” →

Ask Anything to Escape This Podcast!

by David Spira, posted in Uncategorized

We’re entering the final phase of our evil plans to take over Escape This Podcast… well… for one episode.

We’ll be taking over hosting duties for a unique bonus episode of Escape This Podcast where we all learn a bit more about the genius Australian duo behind this podcast: Dani and Bill.

The Escape This Podcast labyrinth microphone logo

Now in its 6th season, Escape This Podcast has given escape room players tons of audio escape rooms that they can play alongside entertaining guests.

We enjoyed guest starring on the Season 2 Finale and the Season 6 Premier. Escape this Podcast has hosted The Room Escape Divas, The Wild Optimists (Escape Room in a Box), REA Hivemind Reviewer and Survivor legend Peih-Gee Law, and even Neil Patrick Harris.

Ask Your Questions

We’re planning to cover a lot of ground with the duo, and we’re looking for your help to dig deep into their process, hopes, dreams, and aspirations for their growing podcasting business.

We will absolutely be covering:

  • Designing story arcs across episodes and guests
  • Creating puzzles to be presented entirely over audio
  • Giving guidance without feeding guests answers
  • Talking to famous people
  • Australian escape rooms
  • And Neil Patrick Harris

This is a great opportunity to learn more about Dani and Bill. Please send us your questions.

Submitting your Question

We’re making this super easy by providing 4 simple options for you:

  • Write your question in the comments on this post.
  • Drop it in our Facebook post.
  • Reply to our Tweet.
  • Email it to contact@roomescapeartist.com

You’ll get your question in the queue through whichever option floats your boat.

How’s This Q&A Gonna Work?

In a unique episode of Escape This Podcast, David and Lisa will ask Dani and Bill your questions, and we’ll all find out the answers together. You’ll be able to find the episode on any channel where you listen to Escape This Podcast.

We will share the piece too.

You’re invited to the RECON Virtual Escape Jam

by David Spira, posted in Events, RECON

RECON has many secret plans. The Virtual Escape Jam is the latest one that we’re declassifying.

This is the only paid, ticketed RECON event ($35 early bird). It offers players, creators, owners – anyone – to virtually spend a day with a small group of folks designing a digital escape game.

Attend the Virtual Game Jam

We’ve teamed up with Jeb Havens, who has been running real life escape game jams for years, to produce this event.

RECON Virtual Escape Jam ad

The Virtual Escape Jam is happening on Tuesday, August 25th, the day after RECON.

This is a chance to collaborate with interesting and passionate people and apply your knowledge – both what you had going into RECON, and what you learned at the event.

Tickets are limited and selling fast. We hope that you can join us. What else is there to spend your vacation days on in 2020 anyway?

Attend the Virtual Game Jam

Join us at RECON

RECON ’20 is a free digital event with curated talks covering aspects of experience design in physical and digital media. RECON is about sharing knowledge and building community. We hope you’ll join in strengthening a sustainable escape room industry that recognizes creators, players, and the challenges of 2020.

Even if you don’t attend the Virtual Game Jam, we hope you’ll still join us at RECON this August 23-24. You can pre-register today.

Attend RECON

Room 54 – Swamp of Sorrows [Review]

by David Spira, posted in Athens, Reviews

D&D&Escape

Location:  Athens, Greece

Date Played: February 29, 2020

Team size: 1-5; we recommend 3-4

Duration: 2.5 hours for insanity mode (reviewed here), 1.5 hours for horror mode, 1.5 hours for mystery mode

Price: from €54 per team of 1 to €140 per team of 5 for insanity mode (reviewed here)

Ticketing: Private

Emergency Exit Rating:  We’re unsure what fire escape measures there were, if any. More Info.

Physical Restraints: [A+] No Physical Restraints

REA Reaction

Few things excite me as much as seeing an escape room company put a completely new spin on the format. Room 54 did just that with Swamp of Sorrows by mixing escape rooms with fantasy role-playing.

Now, I’ve played games that have role-play components and character cards. None of them committed the way Room 54 did. It was novel to explore an escape room loaded with actor interactions, a rich story, and a battle system that sounded silly at first… but we got really into it.

Post game photo - the team looking into a candle in a dungeon.

Whenever we find a company pushing boundaries, some things inevitably don’t quite work. Room 54 combined a lot of game mechanics in Swamp of Sorrows and they didn’t all mesh together as cleanly as intended. There was too much lore and mechanics at the outset of the experience, the set felt cobbled together, and the puzzles frequently seemed tacked on.

When this game was at its best, however, the story, setting, and gameplay merged to create magic… and that was what we were there for.

Swamp of Sorrow had its flaws, but it was fabulously interesting. Personally, I’d rather play a bold game with flaws than an unremarkable one that doesn’t make any mistakes. If you’re looking for a novel experience and you’re willing to lean into the role-playing elements, Room 54’s imaginative playground is waiting for you.

Who is this for?

  • Dungeons & Dragons fans (or fans of other RPG systems)
  • Adventure seekers
  • Story seekers
  • Players with at least some experience

Why play?

  • Novel role-playing & combat mechanics
  • Some strong and unusual interactions
  • An interesting approach to escape room storytelling

Story

After selecting a character (warrior, bard, mage, thief, priest), and learning our individual backstories, we adventured into the ominous Swamp of Sorrows. Our mission was to free the imprisoned embodiment of nature… and fulfill our own individual quests.

In-game: A water well.
Continue reading “Room 54 – Swamp of Sorrows [Review]” →