Tag: Richard Burns

RECON Boston 22: Spotlight on the Games

by Richard Burns, posted in RECON

Games are an integral part of RECON. They provide examples of other creators’ work so we can learn and be inspired. They give our community members a chance to meet each other and connect. Plus, games are fun!

Today we are shining a spotlight on the games of RECON Boston 22.

The RECON team is bringing a varied collection of game types to this event. This includes traditional escape rooms, a large-group ballroom game, two different styles of multi-million dollar challenge arcades, and whatever Brett Kuehner has in his pockets. This all adds up to more than 8 hours of gameplay, all included with your RECON ticket. 

Follow RECON on social media for the latest updates and announcements.

Get your ticket now with the early bird discount of $100 off. This discount only lasts until May 10.

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Are Escape Rooms For Adults?

by Richard Burns, posted in Room Design

Escape room companies host a variety of player types: corporate team-building outings, birthday parties, families, bachelorette parties, competitive puzzle people, and fantasy role-playing nerds, to name a few. 

Recently, however, I’ve noticed a clear trend emerging. Escape room companies across the country seem to be experiencing it. Kids are getting into escape rooms, big time.

Kids’ birthday parties, teen outings, kids urging their parents to take them to an escape room. Kids, kids, kids. They’ve become a non-trivial customer group. The reactions I am hearing from owners range from extreme gratitude for the revenue, to disappointment with an audience that doesn’t get their themes, stories, and puzzles, to mild disgust with the destructive tendencies of unsupervised younger players.

A child's hand placing blocks on a stack.
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Emergency Exit – Virtual Dr. Becker [Hivemind Review]

by REA Hivemind, posted in Emergency Exit, Hivemind

Virtual Dr. Becker is real-life escape room livestreamed and played through an avatar, created by Emergency Exit in Greater Manchester, England.

The game host looking into the camera intensely. He's wearing a headset with a microphone.

Format

Style of Play:

  • Adaptation of an in-person game (can be played IRL)
  • Avatar controlled by the players
  • Includes video segments
  • Interactive NPC(s) (other than a player-controlled avatar)

Who is it For?

  • Adventure seekers
  • Story seekers
  • Any experience level

Required Equipment: computer with internet connection, pen and paper

It also helped to have a note taking device handy.

Recommended Team Size: 2-4

Play Time: 60 minutes

Price: £80 per team

Booking: book online for a specific time slot

Description

You are invited to spend an hour with the famous Dr. Becker at Boleskine Lodge Practice… but do not dig too deep. Dr. Becker has a past which is questionable at best and not everyone agrees with his methods.

The game was livestreamed through Zoom. Emergency Exit added some amazing video sequences to transition between scenes. There were also two people running the game: our gamemaster and an additional cameraman. There was no inventory website.

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