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Post by Beckett on Nov 1, 2016 5:56:43 GMT -5
I bought this recently to play with the family - we have been to a few actual Escape Rooms during the past year, and since we quite liked the Experience, I thought that this game might be a fun way to do on a rainy sunday afternoon too.
Of course, this game cannot hold a candle to a properly furnished and outfitted Escape Room, but it can be enjoyed on ist own merits. We have so far played the first of the included four cases - which is also the easiest - and we completed it with 20 minutes left on the clock. The goal of the game is to figure out a sequence of four out of sixteen plastic keys; the keys are inscribed with numbers, letters and symbols, of which the required codes wil
The plastic device seen in the pictures serves as a timer and provides (very rudimentary) ambient sounds. It is also used to check if the codes have been figured out correctly. There is a free mobile app available that provides ambient audio tracks tailored to each of the scenarios and thematically fitting frames for victory photographs.
Each scenario consists of a number of envelopes containing a small number of paper items to serve as clues; visual representations of the rooms are also sometimes included.
Much like an actual Escape Room, the game cannot be replayed with the same group, but the paper items that need to be written on, folded or cut apart are marked and available for download, so the game can at least be passed on to others. Two additional scenarios are in the making and due to be released some time in early 2017.
I got the game at a discount from Amazon, and I consider it 37 Euros well spent.
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Post by craigrj on Nov 1, 2016 6:56:32 GMT -5
I have this on my wish list, am I right in thinking it's only available (in Europe) in German at the moment?
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Post by Beckett on Nov 1, 2016 7:18:03 GMT -5
I have this on my wish list, am I right in thinking it's only available (in Europe) in German at the moment? Weirdly enough, it seems that way - the english version is apparently limited to the US and Australia. Any specialised game shops nearby that might carry it? The only offer on eBay right now is horribly overpriced...
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Post by k80 on Nov 1, 2016 9:29:39 GMT -5
Much like an actual Escape Room, the game cannot be replayed with the same group, but the paper items that need to be written on, folded or cut apart are marked and available for download, so the game can at least be passed on to others. Two additional scenarios are in the making and due to be released some time in early 2017.
I got the game at a discount from Amazon, and I consider it 37 Euros well spent. You know, this is the reason I've often thought a board game/ jigsaw puzzle lending library would be the greatest idea since National Parks.
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Post by Beckett on Nov 1, 2016 9:36:31 GMT -5
You know, this is the reason I've often thought a board game/ jigsaw puzzle lending library would be the greatest idea since National Parks. For something like this, I agree, but with most boardgame afficionados I know, you would have to be willing to break some fingers to make them part with the more elaborate titles...
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Post by jackoat on Nov 1, 2016 11:28:51 GMT -5
There is a Cafe in my city called Games on Tap. They have walls filled with board games and you sit on comfy chairs, order your food and drinks, and sign out a game to play.
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Post by k80 on Nov 1, 2016 12:43:19 GMT -5
There is a Cafe in my city called Games on Tap. They have walls filled with board games and you sit on comfy chairs, order your food and drinks, and sign out a game to play. I'm k8 and I approve this message.
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Post by nickcharles on Nov 24, 2016 20:27:43 GMT -5
I almost backed Escape Room in a Box the Werewolf Experiment on Kickstarter. It looked interesting but I had to put a limit on my out of control Kickstarter spending.
Nora and I have done one escape room. I mostly enjoyed it but I think it was a first attempt by new business people because some of the puzzles were definitely "you needed to be in my head when I thought this up" and by the end the creator was just pushing us along with unasked for hints and giving us answers straight out. I'd love to do another as my city has had a handful of these companies pop up but I think convincing Nora may take some doing. Or martinis.
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Post by centaurofattn on Jan 12, 2017 13:44:30 GMT -5
I bought this on Amazon the other day and it's pretty cool. I hope to play the first "room" tonight to try it out and then we are using it with friends on Sunday for a birthday party. The app and the website claim there are two expansions already (murder mystery and funhouse) though I can't find evidence that they actually exist yet.
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Post by Geodus on Jan 12, 2017 17:53:07 GMT -5
Have any of you tried either of the Think Fun "Escape the Room..." games, and if so, how do they compare with this game from Spin Master?
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Post by centaurofattn on Jan 12, 2017 20:58:03 GMT -5
I've seen those at the store, but went for the Spin Master version because you get 4 experiences for the price of the one. It sounds like from Amazon reviews that they have similar formats though. You solve a puzzle or set of puzzles that cues you to open another envelope with more puzzle in it. One thing I like about Spin Master is the electronic component. You have to figure out a code and put keys into it. If you are right, it makes a sound for you to move on to the next puzzle/envelope, and if you are wrong, it takes a minute off of the timer! Gah! Intense! With the Think Fun version, you time yourself I imagine and the puzzles are a little less tangible. It does appear that both games can be played more than once, though the Spin Master has components that you need to write on so you go to the website to print replacements if you want to observe others play or loan the game out. Think Fun you just have to be careful with the envelopes and put things back when you're done. The reviews also seem to imply that the Think Fun games are great for younger audiences. One review said a small group of 10 year old girls loved it so... maybe not too tough? I'm about to do the Prison Break of Spin Master in a short while so I can do a small review of the first puzzle later tonight or in the morning
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Post by craigrj on Jan 13, 2017 7:01:55 GMT -5
We did the first Think Fun one the other day with the kids, and they loved it - nothing complicated there, lots of bits and pieces across the envelopes to keep people playing but a very linear process throughout - about 13 quid for one of these, works well as a family games night story but yeah, no replayability with this group (fairly easy to put back into the envelopes too).
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Post by centaurofattn on Jan 13, 2017 13:52:10 GMT -5
So my first review is mixed. The easy part to review are the puzzles. I think they are great. We did Virus, which isn't really an "escape" so much as a "get the antidote from the vault" scenario. The puzzles were clever, often encouraged using another person, and eventually led you to a 4-something code (the keys have dots, arrows, numbers, shapes, etc so it could be anything. This time it was numbers though). When you start, you read a story out loud to set the mood before pushing a button on the machine and also a button on your phone (if you want the mood music - it was fun) and it starts the timer. You then open the first envelope. It has a set of puzzles that lead you to a code. You enter it to the machine and if you are right it makes a sound that confirms and you move to the next envelope which furthers the story line (so you can't skip right to the end). If you get it wrong, it takes a minute off of the clock! There are hint cards along the way that help to move you along if you get stuck at different time intervals. When the machine chimes, you can check the appropriate hint card. Usually it referenced something we had already moved past. In all, it was a challenge and we enjoyed it.
The downside is that we couldn't get the keys to work haha. The main excitement of the game and we couldn't get it to function right. We checked after the fact and we DID get all of the codes correct, but the machine kept saying we were wrong, so we wrote to the company and we are hoping that when we play with friends on Sunday that it works better. The tactile pieces were fun too. And perhaps I'm just a jerk, but I think replacing the materials with new materials and then serving as a "watcher" at a party while other play the scenarios would be equally as fun so I don't think we will be done with the box once we do all 4 scenarios.
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Post by Beckett on Jan 17, 2017 15:38:18 GMT -5
A broken decoder can ruin quite a bit of the fun, I reckon - luckily, it worked fine for us. We have so far completed three out of the four included rooms, and I hope that the add-ons will soon be released. Apparently two new rooms are now available in dutch and will be released this month in english, but they have not even been announced on the german website yet.
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Post by Geodus on Jan 17, 2017 16:26:56 GMT -5
I've read several negative reviews where the reviewers stated that they had problems with the device functioning properly and not accepting the correct codes.
I'm surprised they ship with the device at all. It adds significantly to their production costs, and could easily be replaced by a smartphone app. The app could be updated with fixes, support for new content/games, and could play theme music / ambiance.
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