WHO SHOULD PLAY THIS GAME?
- people who like professional escape rooms and want to try an amateur version at a fraction of the price--Awesome!
- people who want to help raise funds for Joy International. This organization works around the globe to rescue and restore trafficked children. (They do so much more than that--check out their website if you want to know more) Thank you!
- people who are aware that the collaborative experiences that Escape Rooms provide are great for developing teams, communication, creativity and problem solving
- people looking for a fun and unique way to make memories with friends while contributing to a meaningful cause
What is the premise of the game? Is it scary?
You play as interns who are starting your internships at the world-famous candy research and development facility, Winka Labs. (Yes, it's a nod to Willy Wonka's chocolate factory). The security system is hacked and the facility goes into total lockdown. You have an hour to save the company and get out!
It's not scary.
Are there any physical challenges in the game?
No. The game doesn't require any crawling, climbing, trapdoors etc.
What are the age limits?
The game is designed for people 15 and up. Because we don't have back-ups of the puzzles and props, we feel like this is the youngest age we can hold accountable for the care of the room, understand the multiple layers of the puzzles, and enjoy the game with contributions and ah-ha! moments of their own.
Can we bring our kids into the room with us if they are not playing?
Unfortunately, no. The youngest age to play the game is 15. No non-playing participants will be in the rooms.
We don't see a time slot that works for us. Can we schedule something else?
Most likely. We didn't put every availability on the sign-up sheet. Call me and I'll see what we can schedule in!
What if we want to play with more than 4 people?
We won't say no. If you are experienced Escape Room Players, your optimum experience is with 4. If you are new to this entertainment genre, 5 can work great. We really want each participant to have opportunity to contribute in meaningful ways, and not just observe. It's the most fun when everyone gets to have their own "ah-ha!" moments.
As a side note, this game is played in the walk-out basement of my pet/smoke free home.
For Super Game Room Enthusiasts:
This game is first a fundraiser for a cause that we care about. Secondly, it is a headfirst dive into a wildly interesting subculture filled with fascinating, thoughtful people. I have loved putting myself through "Game Design 101" to make this game. I've "attended" online lectures from Game Designers (video and Escape Games), listened to podcasts, watched video, read (from) books and articles in scholarly journals, talked game design in forums, and read blogs. I've scrapped as many puzzle ideas as I've kept, and spent hours wandering around thrift store stuff contemplating how/if any of it could be incorporated into the game.
What I haven't done is invested the time and money into playing a ton of Escape Rooms myself. If I was going into business, that would be the first advice I'd follow. But because this is a fundraiser first, I had to consider that spending all my capital on playing expensive games (instead of making one) might make for an awesome hobby for me, but not a very exciting donation to Joy International.
So if this game falls way outside of what you have come to expect from professional Escape Rooms, feel free to tell me (gently), and then remember that the genre is my inspiration, not necessarily my aspiration. I humbly offer people a unique entertainment option and an opportunity to make a charitable donation to a meaningful cause in one venue. The whole experience has reminded me how much easier it is to be a consumer than a producer. Of anything. But especially creative stuff. If I ever do get to play more Escape Rooms, I'll go gently on them, now knowing how much heart, and time and risk it takes to create one. Actually, I'll go more gently on all creatives everywhere. Even after all that Game Design exposure, I'm still just a novice who hopes that this game will make you smile.
