Cara Mandel Archives - Room Escape Artist

clueQuest – Print + Cut + Escape: Operation E.G.G. [Hivemind Review]

20 April 202123 April 2021 by REA Hivemind, posted in clueQuest, Hivemind

Print + Cut + Escape: Operation E.G.G. is a print-and-play escape game created by clueQuest in London, England.

Incredibly adorable puppy with a paper puzzle piece in her mouth. — Ginger The Goblin Pup is all in on chewable puzzles

Format

Style of Play:

Online native experience (can NOT be played IRL)
Play on demand
Print-and-play

Required Equipment: computer with internet connection, printer, scissors, pen, and paper

Recommended Team Size: 2-4

Play Time: ~90 minutes

Price: £15

Booking: purchase and play at your leisure

Description

First you download and print a PDF. Then you play along with a step-by-step web-based interface. The online interface accompanies the printed and cut pieces, and both work in tandem to advance the story.

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Escape Room Geeks – Saving the Beauty of Winter [Hivemind Review]

19 April 202123 April 2021 by REA Hivemind, posted in Escape Room Geeks, Hivemind

Saving the Beauty of Winter is a print-and-play game for kids, created by Escape Room Geeks.

Fingers holding a game piece for a "Donut World" storefront.

Format

Style of Play:

Play on demand
Print-and-play

Required Equipment: Computer with internet connection, printer, scissors, glue or tape

Recommended Team Size: 3-4 kids per group

Play Time: 45-60 minutes (for kids; 10 minutes for adults)

Note that the cutting and printing is time substantial.

Price: $29

Booking: purchase and play at your leisure

Description

The evil inventor Swen Hemerson has created a machine to destroy snow, so you must track him to his secret lab, find the machine, and destroy it. These three challenges are presented via a 26-page PDF to be printed and played in order. Each challenge consists of connecting several pieces of information to produce a numerical code.

This is a game for kids, so the primary play mode assumes that an adult is acting as the gamemaster and gating progress through the challenges. However, the How-to-Play guide includes a “Play Along Webpage” that can be used to validate the codes and provide hints.

This game advertises its use for multiple groups of 2-5 kids racing against each other.

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Mystery Mansion Regina – Seen [Hivemind Review]

18 April 202123 April 2021 by REA Hivemind, posted in Hivemind, Mystery Mansion Regina

Seen is a livestreamed adaptation of an in-person game created by Mystery Mansion Regina in Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada.

In game, a person against a wall casting shadow puppets over zoom.

Format

Style of Play:

Adaptation of an in-person game (can be played IRL)
Avatar controlled by the players
Web-based inventory system
Interactive NPC + aspects of immersive theater

Required Equipment: computer with internet connection

Recommended Team Size: 3-6

Play Time: 75 minutes

Price: $25 CA per person

Booking: book online for a specific time slot

Description

This is an avatar-led game with interactive Telescape inventory system. It is a livestreamed version of a real escape room, modified to be a raunchy parody of the format.

You are dropped into the scenario about as diegetically as you can be with an online game.

Not family-friendly! Make sure your entire team is ok with adult language. It will also help if at least one of your teammates is outgoing and willing to interact with an improv actor.

Even though it is a play on the Saw movies, it was not scary at all.

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66 Minuten – Showdown [Hivemind Review]

12 April 202123 April 2021 by REA Hivemind, posted in Hivemind

Showdown is an avatar-led, livestreamed adaptation of an in-person game, created by 66 Minuten in Neuwied, Germany.

Format

Style of Play:

Adaptation of an in-person game (can be played IRL)
Avatar controlled by the players
Web-based inventory system
Immersive theater elements

Required Equipment: computer with internet connection, mobile device

At one point, you need to call a German phone number.

Recommended Team Size: 3-4

Play Time: about 90 minutes

Price: 120€ per team of 3, plus 15€ for each additional connection

Booking: book online for a specific time slot

Description

This was an avatar-led adaption of a real-life escape room, played in Zoom. The differentiator in Showdown was its high level of production and clever combination of video content with immersive theater elements.

You are agents helping a member of the “Anti Schlabbeck Force.”

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Seize the Show – Rubix Control [Hivemind Review]

4 April 20217 April 2021 by REA Hivemind, posted in Hivemind

Rubix Control is an interactive audio-visual experience created by Seize the Show.

A science lab interface. The Doctor is on the Zoom call.

Format

Style of Play: audio-visual experience, designed for digital play through Zoom + webapp voting

Required Equipment: computer with internet connection, mobile device

You needed both a computer and a mobile device at the same time to play this game.

Recommended Team Size: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ This is a public-ticketed experience. Because you are part of an interactive audience, you can experience this solo, or with a large group of people all booking into the same showing. We recommend only 1 person per connection.

Play Time: 60 minutes

Price: $16.99 per person

Booking: book online for a specific time slot

Description

Rubix Control was an online show with puzzles. When we were presented with a puzzle or a narrative decision, we had to vote on the solution/ decision via a mobile website.

Results of an audience poll, the audience strongly preferred honey-roasted peanuts. — Our audience collectively had good taste.

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