Episodes
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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.
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“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 SponsorsThank you to our sponsors Morty, Buzzshot, & COGS by Clockwork Dog:
MortyMorty 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 hereSpecial 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).
BuzzshotBuzzshot 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.
COGSCOGS 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 CreditsHosted 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
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Missing episodes?
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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.
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“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 SponsorsThank you to our sponsors Morty, Buzzshot, & COGS by Clockwork Dog:
MortyMorty 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 hereSpecial 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).
BuzzshotBuzzshot 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.
COGSCOGS 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 CreditsHosted 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
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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.
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“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 SponsorsThank you to our sponsors Morty, Buzzshot, & COGS by Clockwork Dog:
MortyMorty 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 hereSpecial 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).
BuzzshotBuzzshot 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.
COGSCOGS 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 CreditsHosted 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
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In this clip, we talk about David's adventures in solving the beautiful and tiny titanium jigsaw puzzles of Lazels. These things are incredibly cool.
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.
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“User Centric Design”
If you asked me to list some of the skills a good escape room designer should possess, it would look extremely similar to Robert ‘Fro’ Myers’ resume. With a background in theater set design, and a degree from MIT in mechanical engineering, it’s little wonder that David calls Fro’s escape room company Boxaroo “a total package company.”
Boxaroo's creations encompass a wide variety of both theme and play structure. Whether it's escape rooms, digital puzzle hunts, or massive ballroom games, they all follow the approach of designing around the player’s journey. In this episode, Fro goes into detail about their “user centric” design process, which starts with mapping out the emotional arc of the player during the escape room.
Something unique Boxaroo offers their players is their stats. After playing a game, the team receives a printout tracking their stats in the game. The nerd in me deeply appreciates the chance to see my score percentile. I really enjoyed hearing Fro talk about his design process and how much consideration they put into not only the player's experience, but also their game masters' experience, especially when it comes to simplifying the reset. Check out this episode for a look into a mechanical engineer’s approach to designing escape rooms.
Full Show Notes
Episode SponsorsThank you to our sponsors Morty, Buzzshot, & COGS by Clockwork Dog:
MortyMorty 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 hereSpecial 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).
BuzzshotBuzzshot 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.
COGSCOGS 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 CreditsHosted 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
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Escape from Godot is a wildly experimental experience that's half escape room and half theatrical show. This is an event that asks a lot of everyone involved. The multiple actors must be word-perfect. The guests must figure out when to be a passive audience and when it's time to become an active player.
In this clip, Andy and Jeff Crocker of Mr & Mischief joins us and we talk about the intentionality of their design decisions. In this clip, they talk about their onboarding process for Escape from Godot.
You can find the rest of this Spoilers Club episode by supporting us on Patreon at patreon.com/roomescapeartist.
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In this clip, we talk with magician David Kwong about social media videos that reveal the secrets behind magic tricks and the implications for the future of the art.
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.
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“Storytelling is really what sells the magic trick.”
When David Kwong was a young child, a magician performing at a pumpkin patch fooled his father with a classic magic trick. From that moment, he knew he wanted to be a magician. He has since performed worldwide as an acclaimed magician and even consulted on many movies and TV shows like Now You See Me and After Party. Fast forward to today, David Kwong has written a book for every kid who ever wanted to fool their parents.
In this episode of REPOD, David Kwong talks to us about life not only as a magician, but also as a “cruciverbalist” (crossword puzzle constructor). In fact, his signature trick involves him performing intense mental gymnastics on stage while creating a seemingly impossible crossword puzzle together with the audience.
“I realized that taking these things that I love, magic and puzzles and word games, and fusing them together could cross pollinate and synthesize into something new.”
His new book, How to Fool Your Parents, not only teaches kids how to perform the magic, but it also teaches showmanship. He tells us that “storytelling is really what sells the magic trick,” and in the book, he helps kids make the trick their own. I love escape rooms that make me feel smart, and David Kwong’s magic is designed to do exactly that.
Full Show Notes
Episode SponsorsThank you to our sponsors Morty, Buzzshot, & COGS by Clockwork Dog:
MortyMorty 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 hereSpecial 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).
BuzzshotBuzzshot 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.
COGSCOGS 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 CreditsHosted 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
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In this Bonus Show Preview, Elan Lee, CEO of Exploding Kittens, joins us again for a conversation about Taskmaster, growing as a leader, and he gives us an exclusive scoop on the Survivor card game he's developing alongside Jeff Probst. In this sneak preview, he tells us the origin story of Poetry for Neanderthals, one of my favorite games from Exploding Kittens.
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.
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“We don’t just make entertaining games. We make the people you’re playing with more entertaining.”
“Do you want to play again?” This is the only question Elan Lee asks when playtesting his games. Millions of people have answered yes, which explains why the Exploding Kittens games have dominated the best seller lists for almost a decade. Elan has now set his sights on conquering the world of entertainment beyond board games, starting with a namesake animated Netflix show.
Elan Lee was the very first guest on REPOD, way back on Season 1, Episode 1. Then, he shared his philosophy on game design and all the cool projects he’s worked on. In this follow up episode, we dig a little deeper into his design process. I especially enjoyed hearing about how he playtests games, as well as his philosophy when it comes to writing game instructions. He also talks about creating a new line of games for younger children with his daughter, and this segment is really delightful, with insight into how to design for little ones.
Elan creates party games that make the players entertaining. Escape rooms essentially do the same thing by casting their players into the hero role. Elan was really generous in sharing all the elements of his design process with us. Give this episode a listen if you’re interested in applying the Exploding Kittens game philosophy to your experience design of any kind.
Show Notes
Episode SponsorsThank you to our sponsors Morty, Buzzshot, & COGS by Clockwork Dog:
MortyMorty 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 hereSpecial 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).
BuzzshotBuzzshot 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.
COGSCOGS 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 CreditsHosted 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
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"Incredible from the minute you walk in."
While we’re in off-season for the podcast, we still continue to produce episodes of our Bonus Aftershow for Patreon Supporters. This summer, we decided to go all-in reporting on our escape room adventures abroad. Nothing excites me more than journeying to far off places in search of delicious foods, wondrous sights, and of course, renowned escape rooms. David and I separately made trips to Spain, Belgium, and London to play as many escape rooms as we could cram in.
We cover David’s escape room trip to Spain with a breakdown of all the escape rooms he played. In the July episode, I take a deep dive into my experience at Neotropolis. For the August episode, we compare notes on our separate trips to Belgium and the games we played, and I report back on immersive experiences in London, including Phantom Peak and Viola's Room, the new production from Punchdrunk.
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.
How to ListenWhen you support Room Escape Artist on Patreon at $5 per month (or above), you get access to the Bonus Show.
https://www.patreon.com/roomescapeartist
Episode SponsorsThank you to our sponsors Morty, Buzzshot, COGS by Clockwork Dog, & RECON, the Reality Escape Convention:
MortyMorty 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 hereSpecial 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).
BuzzshotBuzzshot 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.
COGSCOGS 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 CreditsHosted by David Spira & Peih-Gee Law
Produced by Theresa Piazza
Supported by Lisa Spira
Edited by Peih-Gee Law
Music by Ryan Elder
Logo by Janine Pracht
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Season 8 is coming very soon. In the meantime, Peih-Gee was recently interviewed for episode 100 of Brentfast with Brent Pope:
"Brent sits down with the delightful and witty Peih-Gee Law, best known for appearing on Survivor (two different times!) and co-hosting the Reality Escape Pod! They discuss: Growing up Asian in the 90's, being on 2 different seasons of Survivor, the allure of escape rooms, and their Brentfast meal from Bamboo Bistro!"
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In this clip, Brian Corbitt - game designer of Treasure Island at Brain Games in San Pedro, California - talks about the original, unused plan for the finale puzzle and why he decided against it. Brian is most well known for the raunchy, actor driven game Miss Jezebel, and he also talks about how that game completely changed his design philosophy. He also gives us a preview of the new game he's working on.
How to ListenWhen you support Room Escape Artist on Patreon at $15 per month (or above), you get access to the Spoilers Club, our exclusive podcast where hosts David Spira and Peih-Gee Law chat in depth with creators about iconic escape rooms... spoilers and all!
https://www.patreon.com/roomescapeartist
Episode SponsorsThank you to our sponsors Morty, Buzzshot, COGS by Clockwork Dog, & RECON, the Reality Escape Convention:
MortyMorty 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 hereSpecial 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).
BuzzshotBuzzshot 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.
COGSCOGS 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 CreditsHosted by David Spira & Peih-Gee Law
Produced by Theresa Piazza
Supported by Lisa Spira
Edited by Peih-Gee Law
Music by Ryan Elder
Logo by Janine Pracht
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In celebration of RECON LA, we are releasing our Bonus Show with Michael Borys. We hope that you enjoy and consider subscribing.
https://www.patreon.com/roomescapeartist
In this episode, David & Peih-Gee were joined by guest Michael Borys, creator of The 49 Boxes. David share stories about his own pool hustling days and educates everyone on how to not be "a jerk." They also talk about the inspiration behind The 49 Boxes, and the dilemma of using authentic, valuable props in experiences combining magic and puzzles.
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"Why is there blacklight from the killer helping me?"
We groggily wake up in a dingy bathroom. It's creepy and dark with an ominous sense of dread. Our kidnapper comes on the screen and explains what will happen to us.
"I am also an escape room enthusiast and a horror fanatic. Therefore, I built a horror themed escape room. You are about to experience my masterpiece."
While these words are uttered by an actor playing the part of a psycho killer, the sentiment is straight from the heart of creator Christine Barger-Lutes. After reviewing escape rooms and haunts for almost a decade, blogger and influencer Christine finally opened up her very own escape room with husband and partner Jeremiah Lutes. 13th Basement is both a parody and homage to horror escape rooms.
Christine joins us on the Spoilers Club to talk all about 13th Basement, including designs borne out of frustrations and her own pet peeves with escape rooms. While discussing a key that falls with a purposefully loud clang onto a metal tray, David notes , "Christine was reviewing escape rooms for a long time before making this. She knows that one of the most annoying things to happen in the escape room is: a cool thing happens, you earned something, and no one knows it happened." I really enjoyed hearing Christine talk about her design decisions, especially when it comes to making sure her room is accessible. We dissect all these influences and more in this month's Spoilers Club of 13th Basement.
How to ListenWhen you support Room Escape Artist on Patreon at $15 per month (or above), you get access to the Spoilers Club, our exclusive podcast where hosts David Spira and Peih-Gee Law chat in depth with creators about iconic escape rooms... spoilers and all!
https://www.patreon.com/roomescapeartist
Episode SponsorsThank you to our sponsors Morty, Buzzshot, COGS by Clockwork Dog, & RECON, the Reality Escape Convention:
MortyMorty 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 hereSpecial 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).
BuzzshotBuzzshot 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.
COGSCOGS 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.
RECON - The Reality Escape ConventionOur convention, RECON, will be in Universal City, California on August 18th & 19th, 2024.
RECON offers a curated collection of talks and experiences exploring the business and art of escape room and immersive game creation. All are welcome at this event that is crafted around professionals and aspiring professionals.
Tickets are on sale now at RealityEscapeCon.com
Production CreditsHosted by David Spira & Peih-Gee Law
Produced by Theresa Piazza
Supported by Lisa Spira
Edited by Peih-Gee Law
Music by Ryan Elder
Logo by Janine Pracht
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To sleep, perchance to dream…
Sleep No More, the seminal immersive theater piece from Punchdrunk, has inspired countless immersive creators, including Haley and Cameron Cooper of Strange Bird Immersive. Haley and Cameron make no secret that it has heavily influenced their acclaimed escape room The Man From Beyond. When we heard that Punchdrunk would close Sleep No More’s New York location, we decided to pay homage to this influential work with a feature on our Spoilers Club. Haley and Cameron are historians of Punchdrunk; they joined us to break down everything you need to know about this innovative show.
In this two-part series, we delve into the background of this unique theater company. Then we do a deep dive into Sleep No More, discussing storylines, plot points, and solo moments. If you’ve never seen the show, you can experience it vicariously through this episode, and even if you’re a seasoned attendee, you’ll walk away with a deeper understanding.
Episode SponsorsThank you to our sponsors Morty, Buzzshot, COGS by Clockwork Dog, & RECON, the Reality Escape Convention:
MortyMorty 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 hereSpecial 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).
BuzzshotBuzzshot 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.
COGSCOGS 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.
RECON - The Reality Escape ConventionOur convention, RECON, will be in Universal City, California on August 18th & 19th, 2024.
RECON offers a curated collection of talks and experiences exploring the business and art of escape room and immersive game creation. All are welcome at this event that is crafted around professionals and aspiring professionals.
Tickets are on sale now at RealityEscapeCon.com
Production CreditsHosted by David Spira & Peih-Gee Law
Produced by Theresa Piazza
Supported by Lisa Spira, Richard Burns, and Tommy Honton
Edited by Peih-Gee Law
Music by Ryan Elder
Logo by Janine Pracht
-
There's a reason Los Angeles is known as the City of Dreams. It's a town populated with dreamers and makers. They concoct fantasy worlds filled with quirky characters, dashing heroes, and tormented villains. Oftentimes, the backdrop of Southern California serves as inspiration itself, with its wide sandy beaches, snowy mountaintops, and the desolate wilds of the Mojave desert.
In honor of RECON Los Angeles, Season 7 of REPOD is filled with creative luminaries all hailing from Southern California. We curated a select cross-section of the different types of immersive games you'll find locally, and there is an impressive variety of experiences. They range from escape rooms and magic shows to networking games, large scale festivals, and theme parks. There's even an escape room in a vacation home where the Joshua Tree landscape itself is part of the set.
Our editor, Steve Ewing, put together some memorable clips from each episode of Season 7. It’s perfect for new listeners of this podcast or fans who want to relive their favorite moments. I hope this episode inspires you to visit my hometown of SoCal, and if you're coming for RECON Los Angeles in August, make sure to check out these featured experiences.
If you want even more podcast episodes, consider joining our Patreon. For only $5 a month, you’ll get access to our Bonus Aftershow, which is a more casual conversation with each guest.
Timestamps & Full Show Notes
Episode SponsorsThank you to our sponsors Morty, Buzzshot, COGS by Clockwork Dog, & RECON, the Reality Escape Convention:
MortyMorty 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 hereSpecial 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).
BuzzshotBuzzshot 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.
COGSCOGS 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.
RECON - The Reality Escape ConventionOur convention, RECON, will be in Universal City, California on August 18th & 19th, 2024.
RECON offers a curated collection of talks and experiences exploring the business and art of escape room and immersive game creation. All are welcome at this event that is crafted around professionals and aspiring professionals.
Tickets are on sale now at RealityEscapeCon.com
Production CreditsHosted by David Spira, Peih-Gee Law, & Steve Ewing
Produced by Theresa Piazza
Supported by Lisa Spira, Richard Burns, and Tommy Honton
Edited by Steve Ewing of Stand Inside Media
Music by Ryan Elder
Logo by Janine Pracht
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