Reality Escape Pod - Escape Rooms & Immersive Games

Move Fast & Make Things: The Escape Ventures (S8E8)

“We try to do something new every three months.”

In 2018, Curtis Ratliff and Derek Townsley were both attending college, studying business management and theater set design. Additionally, they were both working at an escape room when the horrible, terrible, no good, very bad day happened. Severely understaffed, beset with disasters, and lacking resources or appreciation from the owners, Curtis and Derek realized that if they wanted things to run more smoothly, they were going to have to do it themselves. 

And thus, The Escape Ventures was born. They started this business while they were both still in college, and now, six years later, they have three locations with twelve escape rooms, and more on the way. Not only are they incredibly prolific, their games are also critically acclaimed, with three games ranking in the top 300 games in the world. They are also featured in the Escape, Immerse, Explore tour to Orlando.

The speed at which The Escape Ventures creates and builds escape rooms is mind-boggling. Curtis and Derek join us to talk about their quick game development and production cycle. They were also early adopters of ideas like unlimited hints where every team wins. Their game design focuses on immersion, humor, characters, and quirkiness.

Not only do they design and build escape rooms, they also consult with other escape room companies, buy and sell escape rooms, and they have also just opened Geek’d, a game store with a fun and inclusive environment. I am in absolute awe at how much these two have accomplished, all before the age of thirty. I really enjoyed hearing about their process, and I especially enjoyed the conversation about the name Bros for Life, Fraternity Heist. Curtis and Derek have a passion and drive that is really inspiring. I’m really thrilled to learn what this younger generation of escape room designers is bringing to the industry.

 

Full Show Notes

Episode Sponsors

Thank you to our sponsors Morty, Buzzshot, & COGS by Clockwork Dog: 

Morty

Morty is a free app for discovering, planning, tracking, and reviewing your escape rooms and other immersive social outings. 

Morty News:

• Morty now features haunt attractions
• Morty for Android is here

Special Badge for REPOD listeners:

You can learn more at morty.app/REPOD to sign up and get a special badge for our listeners (works for existing users also).

 

Buzzshot

Buzzshot is Escape Room Software, Powering Business Growth, Player Marketing, and improving the Customer Experience. They offer an assortment of pre and post game features including robust waiver management, branded team photos, and streamlined review management for Yelp, TripAdvisor, Google Reviews, and Morty. Buzzshot now has integration with the other REPOD sponsors: Morty and COGS.

Special Offer for REPOD Listeners:

REPOD listeners get an extended 21-day free trial plus 20% off your first 3 months, with no set-up fees or hidden charges. Visit buzzshot.com/repod to learn more about this exclusive offer.

 

COGS

COGS by Clockwork Dog is an easy to use software/ hardware platform for running interactive events, including escape rooms, and other immersive experiences. They have plug & play hardware that seamlessly integrates with their software so you can create a show with lighting and sound cues without having to write a single line of code. Map all kinds of inputs to outputs by building up simple logic steps which determine what you want to happen and when.

Special Offer for REPOD Listeners:

REPOD listeners can get the COGS Starter Set for only $130 + free shipping to the USA. This bundle is usually valued at $257. You can learn more and purchase your Starter Set at cogs.show. Use code REPOD at checkout.

 

Production Credits

Hosted by David Spira & Peih-Gee Law

Produced by Theresa Piazza

Supported by Lisa Spira

Edited by Steve Ewing

Music by Ryan Elder

Logo by Janine Pracht

 

Yannick Trapman O'Brian's Risky Payment System

Yannick Trapman-O'Brien joins us again to share some valuable insights on what I think is an especially great episode of our Bonus Show. He tells us about how he accidentally got admitted to college in Abu Dhabi, and we also talk about the importance of Arts Funding and Grants, and how to leverage it. Yannick takes a very thoughtful approach to designing his intimate experiences, and he really gets deeper into how he crafts his shows. He also talks to us about his work with Temple of the Stranger, and David tells a story about a memorable incident at a San Francisco escape room tour. 

In this clip, we dig deeper into his philosophy on payment systems and other design elements and discuss how they signal and set expectations for the audience. He also tells us about the three things you need to be a great artist.

 

If you enjoy these previews, I hope you’ll consider joining our Patreon. For only $5 a month, you’ll get access to our Bonus Aftershow, where we continually release new episodes, even in our REPOD off-season.

"It was full of life!" Blackwell Manor's Spoilers Club Preview

Blackwell Manor is a magnificent horror game created by New Mexico Escape Room in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

 

In this preview we explore the extreme level of detail that was put into this game, and some of the challenges that this devotion created.

 

You can find the rest of this Spoilers Club episode by supporting us on Patreon at patreon.com/roomescapeartist

Audience of One: Yannick Trapman-O'Brien, Creator of Undersigned (REPOD S8E7)

"Bait for the Curious"

We’re no strangers to covering secretive experiences. Escape rooms continue to guard their mysteries closely, because a large part of the joy is in the discovery. And yet, because escape rooms generally follow a relatively standard structure, we have a framework when it comes to discussing them. Interviewing Yannick Trapman-O'brien was a bit of a gamble. We knew that we couldn’t explain how any of his immersive shows worked. As Yannick puts it in the episode:

“It's the quantum problem. You change the result by measuring it. By defining what the thing is, you change what the thing is, because it is responsive.  It's a Rorschach test, because it is ultimately a piece that you have to come and complete.”

And yet, even though we can’t tell you how Yannick’s shows work, we can tell you a few things. They are usually designed for an audience of one. They are deeply personal, with a strong sense of agency and co-authorship between the audience and the performer. There is an invitation to be vulnerable, all within a structure carefully designed to earn that trust. 

Solo moments and theater for one are intimate experiences fraught with both excitement and risk. I deeply enjoyed hearing Yannick explain how to craft shows in a manner that honors the vulnerability of the participant. There is something profound and inspiring about his design philosophy. I hope you enjoy this episode as much as we enjoyed recording it.

 

Full Show Notes

 

Episode Sponsors

Thank you to our sponsors Morty, Buzzshot, & COGS by Clockwork Dog: 

Morty

Morty is a free app for discovering, planning, tracking, and reviewing your escape rooms and other immersive social outings. 

Morty News:

• Morty now features haunt attractions
• Morty for Android is here

Special Badge for REPOD listeners:

You can learn more at morty.app/REPOD to sign up and get a special badge for our listeners (works for existing users also).

 

Buzzshot

Buzzshot is Escape Room Software, Powering Business Growth, Player Marketing, and improving the Customer Experience. They offer an assortment of pre and post game features including robust waiver management, branded team photos, and streamlined review management for Yelp, TripAdvisor, Google Reviews, and Morty. Buzzshot now has integration with the other REPOD sponsors: Morty and COGS.

Special Offer for REPOD Listeners:

REPOD listeners get an extended 21-day free trial plus 20% off your first 3 months, with no set-up fees or hidden charges. Visit buzzshot.com/repod to learn more about this exclusive offer.

 

COGS

COGS by Clockwork Dog is an easy to use software/ hardware platform for running interactive events, including escape rooms, and other immersive experiences. They have plug & play hardware that seamlessly integrates with their software so you can create a show with lighting and sound cues without having to write a single line of code. Map all kinds of inputs to outputs by building up simple logic steps which determine what you want to happen and when.

Special Offer for REPOD Listeners:

REPOD listeners can get the COGS Starter Set for only $130 + free shipping to the USA. This bundle is usually valued at $257. You can learn more and purchase your Starter Set at cogs.show. Use code REPOD at checkout.

 

Production Credits

Hosted by David Spira & Peih-Gee Law

Produced by Theresa Piazza

Supported by Lisa Spira

Edited by Steve Ewing

Music by Ryan Elder

Logo by Janine Pracht

 

Word Nerdery - Writing, AI, and the Importance of Past Tense

In this episode, David's wife and business partner, Lisa, joins us again in the Bonus Show to reflect on 10 years of Room Escape Artist. She paints a picture for us of the early years, when it was just David writing reviews in their living room.

 

They talk about how their writing style has changed as they've added more writers to the team, and we discuss some escape room industry trends. There's also a trivia game I crafted based on the number 10.

 

In this preview, Peih-Gee tells a story about how AI changed her writing style, and Lisa and David talk about why it's important that reviews are written in the past tense.

 

If you enjoy these previews, I hope you’ll consider joining our Patreon. For only $5 a month, you’ll get access to our Bonus Aftershow, where we continually release new episodes, even in our REPOD off-season.

Celebrating Ten Years of Room Escape Artist (REPOD S8E6)

“Room Escape Artist has built a community within this industry.”

The year is 2014. Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie just got married. Facebook is the largest social media platform. Celebrities everywhere are doing the Ice Bucket Challenge, and somewhere in New York City, Lisa and David Spira have just written their first review about a new activity called escape rooms.

It’s hard to believe that it’s already been ten years since Room Escape Artist started covering escape rooms. A decade is a long time to be doing anything, especially when it comes to writing about something many considered a fad. In this episode, I sit down with David and Lisa Spira, who are partners in both life and business, to take a look back over ten years of Room Escape Artist and talk about how it has grown up alongside the escape room industry.

I especially enjoyed hearing about the “inflection points,” including a key event that changed how they perceived and ran Room Escape Artist. Lisa talks about the sobering realization that people were making business decisions based on their reviews. This was one of the first turning points where they realized that they needed to take this fun blog of escape room reviews a whole lot more seriously. 

For me personally, one of the greatest things to arise is the wonderful community that sprung up around Room Escape Artist and all their productions. From the lovely people who participate in the Escape Room Tours, the interesting discussions in the Patreon Discord, and the joyous learning opportunities of RECON, David and Lisa have brought together a community of like-minded people who all love the same thing. There is magic here for everyone involved, and I’m really looking forward to seeing ten more years of Room Escape Artist. 

 

Full Show Notes

 

Episode Sponsors

Thank you to our sponsors Morty, Buzzshot, & COGS by Clockwork Dog: 

Morty

Morty is a free app for discovering, planning, tracking, and reviewing your escape rooms and other immersive social outings. 

Morty News:

• Morty now features haunt attractions
• Morty for Android is here

Special Badge for REPOD listeners:

You can learn more at morty.app/REPOD to sign up and get a special badge for our listeners (works for existing users also).

 

Buzzshot

Buzzshot is Escape Room Software, Powering Business Growth, Player Marketing, and improving the Customer Experience. They offer an assortment of pre and post game features including robust waiver management, branded team photos, and streamlined review management for Yelp, TripAdvisor, Google Reviews, and Morty. Buzzshot now has integration with the other REPOD sponsors: Morty and COGS.

Special Offer for REPOD Listeners:

REPOD listeners get an extended 21-day free trial plus 20% off your first 3 months, with no set-up fees or hidden charges. Visit buzzshot.com/repod to learn more about this exclusive offer.

 

COGS

COGS by Clockwork Dog is an easy to use software/ hardware platform for running interactive events, including escape rooms, and other immersive experiences. They have plug & play hardware that seamlessly integrates with their software so you can create a show with lighting and sound cues without having to write a single line of code. Map all kinds of inputs to outputs by building up simple logic steps which determine what you want to happen and when.

Special Offer for REPOD Listeners:

REPOD listeners can get the COGS Starter Set for only $130 + free shipping to the USA. This bundle is usually valued at $257. You can learn more and purchase your Starter Set at cogs.show. Use code REPOD at checkout.

 

Production Credits

Hosted by David Spira & Peih-Gee Law

Produced by Theresa Piazza

Supported by Lisa Spira

Edited by Steve Ewing

Music by Ryan Elder

Logo by Janine Pracht

 

Developing Mastery in Play (Bonus Show Preview)

In this episode, Jeroen van Hasselt, co-creator of Demise of the Grisers, joins us again, and we talk about escape room waivers in the USA versus Europe, discuss some of the clever design choices in Demise of the Grisers, and David talks about trying to balance mystery versus consent, and what it means for game design and safety.

In this preview of our Patreon exclusive Bonus Aftershow. We talk about designing games that optimize for mastery of a skill versus offering a wide range of interactions. We also discuss letting go of the desire to see every single aspect of an escape room.

 

If you enjoy these previews, I hope you’ll consider joining our Patreon. For only $5 a month, you’ll get access to our Bonus Aftershow, where we continually release new episodes, even in our REPOD off-season.

Epic & Engrossing: Jeroen van Hasselt, Co-Creator of Demise of the Gricers (REPOD S8E5)

“It’s entertainment to experience the emotion of fear.”

I creep out from the relative safety of the control center. Keeping to the shadows, I stealthily make the journey through an abandoned train yard. Somewhere in the sprawling tangle of train cars, a gricer is hunting me and my team. I complete my mission, and immediately I hear the clang of footsteps approaching. Before I even register what my feet are doing, I’m on the move, weaving through the debris. Reunited with my team, I’m whooping in celebration and feeling the heady rush of success. My heart is pounding, and I’ve never felt more alive. 

Demise of the Gricers is a massively ambitious game created by Entered, located in Belgium. The worldbuilding is engrossing, and the physical mechanics make you feel like a hero in a real life video game. There's a reason this game won a Golden Lock Award in 2024, with David Spira calling it "one of my personal favorite experiences to date." (It's mine too.) Jeroen van Hasselt, Creative Director & Game Designer at Entered, joins us to talk about his career creating unique game mechanics.

I enjoyed hearing him talk about his design pillars, and his motivations behind crafting the horror aspect of his games. He talks about designing for “apprehension” in Demise of the Gricers instead of terror, and the need to balance tension in horror games. We also discuss safety issues and the steps that his team have taken to address safety.

What really stood out to me during this interview was how much thought Jeroen puts into crafting mechanics that fit the narrative. He explains that thinking about trains in the abstract, he realized they are limited in freedom because they are on rails. He took this concept and used it to create the very unique game mechanics for Demise of the Gricers. While this game might not be for everyone, it is certainly different and exciting. I’m looking forward to seeing what comes next for this talented designer. 

Full Show Notes

 

Episode Sponsors

Thank you to our sponsors Morty, Buzzshot, & COGS by Clockwork Dog: 

Morty

Morty is a free app for discovering, planning, tracking, and reviewing your escape rooms and other immersive social outings. 

Morty News:

• Morty now features haunt attractions
• Morty for Android is here

Special Badge for REPOD listeners:

You can learn more at morty.app/REPOD to sign up and get a special badge for our listeners (works for existing users also).

 

Buzzshot

Buzzshot is Escape Room Software, Powering Business Growth, Player Marketing, and improving the Customer Experience. They offer an assortment of pre and post game features including robust waiver management, branded team photos, and streamlined review management for Yelp, TripAdvisor, Google Reviews, and Morty. Buzzshot now has integration with the other REPOD sponsors: Morty and COGS.

Special Offer for REPOD Listeners:

REPOD listeners get an extended 21-day free trial plus 20% off your first 3 months, with no set-up fees or hidden charges. Visit buzzshot.com/repod to learn more about this exclusive offer.

 

COGS

COGS by Clockwork Dog is an easy to use software/ hardware platform for running interactive events, including escape rooms, and other immersive experiences. They have plug & play hardware that seamlessly integrates with their software so you can create a show with lighting and sound cues without having to write a single line of code. Map all kinds of inputs to outputs by building up simple logic steps which determine what you want to happen and when.

Special Offer for REPOD Listeners:

REPOD listeners can get the COGS Starter Set for only $130 + free shipping to the USA. This bundle is usually valued at $257. You can learn more and purchase your Starter Set at cogs.show. Use code REPOD at checkout.

 

Production Credits

Hosted by David Spira & Peih-Gee Law

Produced by Theresa Piazza

Supported by Lisa Spira

Edited by Steve Ewing

Music by Ryan Elder

Logo by Janine Pracht

 

Defector Mechanics in Escape Rooms with Brooke Breit (Bonus Show Preview)

In this Patreon exclusive Bonus Show, Brooke Breit joins us again to talk more Jackbox Games. We talk about takeaways from party games that escape room designers should consider and she also gives us some recommendations for her favorite puzzley video games.

In this preview, we talk about why defective mechanics are difficult to incorporate in escape rooms. 

 

If you enjoy these previews, I hope you’ll consider joining our Patreon. For only $5 a month, you’ll get access to our Bonus Aftershow, where we continually release new episodes, even in our REPOD off-season.

Comedy & Collaboration: Brooke Breit, Creative Director at Jackbox Games (S8E4)

“We set players up to be the stars of the show.”

We’ve gathered a group of 4-6 players to try some collaborative games with mechanics that appeal to a wide variety of skills. These games are hilarious and we emerge feeling smart and witty. No, I’m not talking about the latest escape rooms. We have just finished a session of Jackbox Games.

Jackbox Games are games for large groups of people who can participate via personal devices, no controllers needed. They offer a wide variety of gaming styles, including drawing games, trivia, presentation style games, and other types that encourage creativity and humor. 

Brook Breit is a creative director at Jackbox Games, and she joins us to talk about their game development cycle, including theme selection, prototyping, the importance of humor, and prioritizing player engagement. She is also a veteran improv performer with stints at Second City and Hello From the Magic Tavern. Jackbox Games tend to reward creative brainstorming, and Brooke talks to us about how improv training has helped with both creating and playing party games.

Brooke shares insights into Jackbox Games' philosophy of creating social, humor-filled party games that facilitate connection and engagement. I would love to see more escape rooms embrace the party game philosophy that winning is secondary to having a good time.

 

Full Show Notes

 

Episode Sponsors

Thank you to our sponsors Morty, Buzzshot, & COGS by Clockwork Dog: 

Morty

Morty is a free app for discovering, planning, tracking, and reviewing your escape rooms and other immersive social outings. 

Morty News:

• Morty now features haunt attractions
• Morty for Android is here

Special Badge for REPOD listeners:

You can learn more at morty.app/REPOD to sign up and get a special badge for our listeners (works for existing users also).

 

Buzzshot

Buzzshot is Escape Room Software, Powering Business Growth, Player Marketing, and improving the Customer Experience. They offer an assortment of pre and post game features including robust waiver management, branded team photos, and streamlined review management for Yelp, TripAdvisor, Google Reviews, and Morty. Buzzshot now has integration with the other REPOD sponsors: Morty and COGS.

Special Offer for REPOD Listeners:

REPOD listeners get an extended 21-day free trial plus 20% off your first 3 months, with no set-up fees or hidden charges. Visit buzzshot.com/repod to learn more about this exclusive offer.

 

COGS

COGS by Clockwork Dog is an easy to use software/ hardware platform for running interactive events, including escape rooms, and other immersive experiences. They have plug & play hardware that seamlessly integrates with their software so you can create a show with lighting and sound cues without having to write a single line of code. Map all kinds of inputs to outputs by building up simple logic steps which determine what you want to happen and when.

Special Offer for REPOD Listeners:

REPOD listeners can get the COGS Starter Set for only $130 + free shipping to the USA. This bundle is usually valued at $257. You can learn more and purchase your Starter Set at cogs.show. Use code REPOD at checkout.

 

Production Credits

Hosted by David Spira & Peih-Gee Law

Produced by Theresa Piazza

Supported by Lisa Spira

Edited by Steve Ewing

Music by Ryan Elder

Logo by Janine Pracht