SHOW NOTES
In this episode, Curt and Chris welcome Rob and Cecilia of Niagara Escapement who share their personal journeys, the genesis of their partnerships, and their philosophies on creating fun and accessible experiences. Topics include overcoming challenges, humor and accessibility in design, and finding success with a DIY mindset. The episode also explores supplementary ventures like Dungeons & Dragons camps and board game cafes.
LINKS
- Niagara Escapement
- Playful Technology YouTube Channel
- Omventure – Motel Betty
- Puzzlecraft book
- Escape Enthusiasts FB Group
- Escape Room Start-Ups and Owners FB Group
- 5 Wits
- Wizard Quest
- Museum of Intrigue
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- If you build difficult games for enthusiasts, it may not be fun for new players.
- It’s better to make games and puzzles more accessible so everyone can enjoy them. Just add more puzzles instead of making fewer puzzles too difficult for the average player.
- When it comes to set design, think about what will stick in a player’s mind.
- Try to focus on color palettes in the rooms, kind of like a graphic novel. So when you’re in one room, use three main colors throughout everything. And then the next room should have a whole different color feel to it.
- When designing a game start with the theme that you want to build. What kind of things do you want to explore? What kind of things would other people want to explore? And what would fit well into the physical space that you have available?
- Do not get married to any of your puzzle ideas. If it’s not working, throw it out. Because sometimes that last-minute puzzle you come up with is better than anything you plan for.
- Node Red has been a game-changer.
- It may be more cost-effective in the long run to have a prop built from scratch than to buy a prop that needs to be retrofitted and is not meant for the heavy use of an escape room.
- If you have a party room, consider creating a few pop-up escape rooms for birthday parties instead of building out a full kids’ escape room.
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