Final Reflection
For the final of the escape room, we have posed our Treasury Hunt Escape Room on the Eventbrite and have run about 10 games. We have received lots of positive feedback as well as constructive advice on how to improve the gaming experience.
During the second half of the semester, we have mainly focused on the fabrication part and how to let the game master be actively involved in the whole experience.
The first puzzle is about a 4-digit password, which is Professor Maggie and her husband Dave’s wedding date. We use the IPad to replace the old camera so that everyone knows how to use it. And we carefully design a notebook that gives players hints as well as the story background.
The second puzzle is about using the flashlight and the mirror to look for the information in the mouth of the truth and then combine it with another half of the information on the box to solve the word lock to get the blood.
Improvements: Players reflect that they need more hints to use the flashlight and the mirror. Some of them also say that perhaps the mouth could be bigger and taller so that it’s easier for them to use both hands to look for hidden information.
The third puzzle is to pour the blood onto the altar to trigger the weight sensor hidden under it and then unlock the mechanic box to get the UV light.
Improvements: Most of the players say this is the most fun part of the whole gaming experience. But they also are hesitating on whether to pour down the blood since they are afraid of breaking anything and water is dangerous for electric components. To encourage them to do so, we might need to put blood-related posters on the wall to give them hints, or to design an automatic mechanism where they put the blood bottle on the top of it and it will automatically let the blood follow the shape on the riverbed.
The third puzzle is to open the box near the constellation and then find the hints on the back of the paper. The second step is to use UV light to search for the right constellation. At last, move the sticks to the right position and draw the shape down and send the drawing to the mouth of the truth in exchange for the last piece of the final puzzle.
Improvements: This one is done in a manual way because we have some technical issues with the Arduino Nano. Our code is right, but our computer just cannot find the board. If everything is going well, the magnetic locks will automatically unlock the poetry for the last puzzle.
The last puzzle is to utilize the first letter of each sentence of the poetry, the number that appeared in that sentence, and then press the buttons following the alphabetical way to unlock the final prize — the gold coins.
Improvements: We originally want to make the ACEG and BDFH parts far away from each other, let’s say on the two ends of the room. And there is a timing gap issue forcing two and more players to get involved in solving the puzzle. But due to the limited physical surroundings, we are not able to do it this time.
The timing system at the entrance doesn’t break the whole dark atmosphere but makes the players easier when they are reading the diary.
The BGM is suitable for a tomb setting.
The role of the game master. We have made clear instructions on the diary so that everyone knows that if they put the questions in the mouth of the truth. They will get a piece hints. We pre-record all the answers to the possible questions and then make it sound like a stone. So whatever they ask, we will always be able to give a clear hint. This makes the whole experience more immersive and avoids the cliched interphones. Meanwhile, the whole pace control is perfect. Almost every group reaches the final puzzle and even if they succeed in the game, there are only a few seconds left. The right pace helps to shape the tension of the whole gaming experience. The best thing I have heard from players’ feedback is that they will actually pay for this interesting escape room experience. This makes all our effort worthwhile.