Menu

Inside Tips

Detective2

Total Immersion: Integrated Hint Systems

, , , , , , 0

Escape rooms have been gaining popularity in America for the past couple years. As they become more popular, they evolve to be more eye-catching, more state-of-the-art, and more immersive. One of the simplest ways to make an escape room immersive is with an integrated hint system.

I have played quite a few escape rooms and in doing so, I have encountered many different types of hint systems. From television screens to notes slipped under a door, each hint system brings its own thing to the experience. What I believe is the most important element to the hint system, is how well it fits into the room.

There are plenty of small ways to take common hint systems and make them fit into a room of any theme. Aging paper instantly makes a note slipped under the door a more interesting and impressive. A picture frame around a television screen transforms modern technology into something more believably vintage. A coat of paint and some spare clock parts suddenly turns a walkie-talkie into a steampunk communication device.

With an integrated hint system, there is no need to break the willful suspension of disbelief. The players can continue to exist in the world of the escape room for the entire game. One of the things that sets Cross Roads Escape Games apart from other escape room companies is its commitment to immersion. Our rooms employ hints systems designed to fit seamlessly into the world of the game. The Fun House utilizes a silly and mischievous enchanted painting that will offer help in exchange for compliments or amusing tricks. The Hex Room incorporates a literal game of telephone where one character must pass along help to the other characters in the game.

If you are planning on building an escape room, don’t forget to take these small details into account. Figure out a hint system that works for your story, your theme, and your staff. There are many different types of hint systems that I’ve encountered, and perhaps you can even find a new way to keep your players completely immersed in the world of the escape room.

Geoff Durham
Manager, Game Master
Cross Roads Escape Games

IMG_9632

FAQ: In Depth Answers

, , , , , , , , , , , 0

If you are reading this, then you have probably already looked over our FAQ and have a few more questions that you might want some clarification on. Here are some of the questions that we get asked on a day to day basis.

Player Limits?

The two rooms have different maximum player capacities based on the size of the rooms. For the Fun House we can accommodate 4 – 8 players at once. For the Hex Room we can accommodate up to 5 – 10 players at once. Both rooms were designed for approximately six players, but we can have up to 8 in the Fun House and 10 in the Hex.

This last statement is important to note. When people see that the maximum is 8 or 10, and the minimums are 4 and 5, they always seem to ask one of two questions. Can we have more than the maximum or can we have less than the minimum?

Can we play with more?

No, the maximum player limit is very strict. We get asked a lot if we could fit “just one more” person into the game, and the maximum listed is our cut off point. With more than the maximum number of players, the game becomes cramped and chaotic. It’s a perfect example of “too many cooks in the kitchen.”

We are dedicated to bringing you the best escape room experience and our maximums are in place to make sure you get the best experience possible.

Can we play with less?

For the Hex Room, no. Five players are needed in order for the game to be playable. Because each person is split into their own separate room in the beginning, you MUST have at least 5 players; as there are clues in each room that will be important to solving puzzles and escaping.

As for the Fun House, yes! You can play with less than four players. However, since the Fun House is a private game, you must pay for the minimum number of tickets, which is 4, in order to reserve the room. In the Fun House, everyone starts in the same room and there is A LOT of puzzles to solve, which is why we suggest you bring at least 4 people to tackle this room.

How do you accommodate groups larger than 18?

Since the maximum for the Hex Room is 10 and the maximum for the Fun House is 8… what can we do to accommodate large groups of more than 18 people? Since we cannot have more than the maximum number of players in either room we can run multiple games back to back.

For large groups up to 36 players we recommend renting out our private lounge for 18 people to wait in while the other 18 people are inside the game, and switch when the first games are over.

Do you have actors in either room?

Neither of our rooms have actors in them. You will have a game master watching you the entire time, but they will not be in the room with you.

What is the difference between Fun House and Fun House for Kids?

The difficulty levels. In the Kids version, we take out some of the more complicated puzzles and replace them with a few puzzles that are a bit more straight forward and hands on. It is a great room for children that are looking to become young escape enthusiasts!

Which room is better?

I get this question at least twice a day. My answer is always this. It is a matter of taste. Both rooms are fun and immersive experiences, but they have different themes. The Hex Room is a dark and sinister experience that is intense and thrilling. Whereas the Fun House is a very light-hearted experience that is humorous and whimsical. Do you want to try and escape a crazed killer that is obsessed with horror movies or do you want to put up with the AMAZING Zoltar and all of his silly antics as you try to prove yourselves worthy magicians? The choice is yours and, honestly, as far as I’m concerned you can’t go wrong with either one!

Jason Sakal
Game Master and Manager
Cross Roads Escape Games

Geoff_April_w1_1

Secrets of Successful Groups- Confessions Of A Game Master

, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , 0

Welcome back to Confessions of a Game Master. As game masters, we have seen many groups attempt our games and have noticed some traits that the most successful groups have in common. In this month’s edition of Confessions, our game masters explain some of the things that can help make your team more successful (as well as some examples of what not to do.)

Support each other.

Under the pressure of a ticking clock, many people can fall victim to the stress. This can lead to harsh words, hurt feelings, and not escaping. The easiest way to alleviate some of the stress is to support the rest of your team. Offering help to friends who are stuck, re-explaining a puzzle, or just offering words of encouragement can make all the difference. Keeping morale high will keep everyone engaged and having fun.

Successful groups are willing to listen to everyone in their team.

In escape rooms, you cannot do everything on your own. Even the most brilliant puzzle-solvers will occasionally over-think a puzzle or find themselves stumped on something. The most successful groups are the ones that will listen to an idea from anyone in their group and give it a try. From first-timers to seasoned veterans, everyone has input on the game, which leads to more ideas, which leads to the right idea.

Successful groups pay attention.

From the very beginning to the very end of the game, it pays to pay attention. If someone mentions that they’ve noticed something that could be important, then the group will remember when it becomes important later on in the game. Listening to the instructions before the game can often times be the difference between escape and certain death.

Successful groups will accept help.

Even though it feels great to solve a room on your own, sometimes the group just cannot make heads-or-tails of a certain puzzle. The most successful groups will know when it’s time to accept that help is needed so they can move on to the next puzzle. Whether it’s asking another player for help, or using the game’s hint system, sometimes all you need is a little push to get right back on track. This is a great thing to keep in mind for The Hex Room, where players are separated into different rooms. It’s not always easy to know when someone is stuck when you are physically separated. If a player is stuck on a puzzle in their room, I find they often get to the solution after they ask other players for help. If everyone on your team is stumped, there’s no shame in asking for a hint. At Cross Roads Escape Games, we have integrated hint systems that provide a seamless and immersive way to receive help within the games.

What are some things that make a successful escape room team? Let us know your tips in the comments, or tell us on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram! Make sure you stay up to date on our Confessions Of A Game Master by subscribing on YouTube!

Geoff Durham
Manager, Game Master
Cross Roads Escape Games

Tips on how to escape

What Is An Escape Room? – A Game Master’s Guide

, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , 6

Happy New Year, everybody! It’s that time again; Time for resolutions, new outlooks, new plans, and of course new adventures. If you are looking for something new to shake up your everyday routine, perhaps you should join the hundreds of thousands of people who are turning to escape rooms as their number one choice for interactive fun.

If you’ve never played before, you probably have some questions about what an escape room is. If you have played before, then you already know how difficult it is to explain an escape room without giving away any spoilers. Well don’t worry, I’m here to help. In this blog, I will be explaining what an escape room is as well as providing hints to help beginners approach their first escape game.

So… what is an escape room? An escape room is an interactive adventure where you must find clues and solve puzzles to escape a room within a set time limit.

Of course, this is a very broad description of an escape room. As all enthusiasts discover, each escape room is a little different; with different themes, puzzles, requirements, or strategies. For example, here at Cross Roads we currently have two different games with two very different themes. The Fun House is a kooky, zany circus-themed non-linear room, while The Hex Room is an intense horror-themed room where you are separated into individual rooms and must work together to escape. No matter the theme, each escape room is designed around the same ideas: the players are going to need to find clues, connect them (sometimes physically, sometimes not), and use them to solve a series of puzzles.

Why would I choose to play an escape room? An escape room is a way to get out of the house and have fun with your family and friends of all ages.

Instead of being stuck in a movie theatre for a few hours, unable to interact with the rest of your group, escape rooms provide the opportunity to talk, joke, interact, and socialize with your team mates. If you have kids with you, no problem! Some rooms, like Fun House for KIDS, are designed to provide fun for the whole family! If you want to read a more in-depth post on how to choose the best escape room for your family, check our earlier blog post.

And finally, in a special edition of Confessions of a Game Master, our game masters provide some tips on how to optimize your game while playing an escape room. These tips come directly from watching many players struggle in our rooms and make the same mistakes over and over.

I hope this blog has helped you to understand escape rooms a little better. If you’ve been thinking about trying an escape room, want help convincing someone to join you on your next escape room adventure, or are looking for tips on how to improve your games, I hope this has been a good start.

And of course, if you like our Confessions of a Game Master video, you can find them all on our YouTube Page. Have a question for our Game Master? Leave a comment on our blog below or on our Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or YouTube pages and you may see the answer in a future video.

Wishing you all a great and exciting New Year. Have fun escaping!

Geoff Durham
Manager, Game Master
Cross Roads Escape Games

Confessions of a Game Master

Confessions of a Game Master

, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , 3

Have you ever wanted to get a peek into the life of an Escape Room Game Master? Wondered what goes on in the mind of that person locking you in a room? Thought about becoming a Game Master yourself? Get prepared for Confessions of a Game Master!

An exclusive look at what goes on in the minds of the people who run and reset the games you love playing, we want to give you some insight in to what it takes to be a game master and perhaps even get some tips from people who live and breathe puzzles.

Our game masters at Cross Roads Escape Games are skilled actors who immerse you in the world of the escape room, which is just one of the reasons The Hex Room and The Fun House are a couple of the most unique and exciting escape games available today. We pride ourselves on keeping you in the story from the moment you enter the room until the timer finally runs out.

For our first installment of Confessions of a Game Master, we ask our team to describe what being a Game Master means in just 7 words, the most important skill for a game master to have, and finally, one piece of advice they want to give players. Our Game Masters Jessica, Mack, Bradley, Tom and Zach share their opinions.

And of course, stay tuned for future episodes of Confessions of a Game Master, where we will reveal even more secrets from the minds of game masters, plus some tips to help you improve while playing your own games.

We want to know what you want to know! If you have any burning questions for our game masters, feel free to let us know in the comments below, on Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, Instagram or YouTube! We will be releasing a new Confessions of a Game Master at the beginning of every month.

Geoff D.
Manager & Game Master
Cross Roads Escape Games