Escape Review: Escape from AT&T Park 2016

Wow!! Just finished Escape from AT&T Park (1/23/16), during the last run of the night, at 7pm. All three, massive events were sold out, 11am, 3pm, and 7pm, of which the 7pm one was the only one that was dry the entire time. These were 2000+ people escape games, creating a crazy / unique puzzle solving experience. Despite being sold out, the amazing people at Scrap, running the event, invited me in for free to document the experience. The group Scrap also runs several games in San Jose / San Francisco. Despite our team not surviving (in game, irl we couldn't be better), this was one of the most exciting, different, and challenging escape games I've played. Our team was great and we had phenomenal synergy, unfortunately I think a much larger team with stronger pre-established communications (like walkie-talkies), would dominate an event like this.

While the game itself took place on and around the stadium field, the majority of the game revolved around a game sheet we were all given when we entered. The game sheet served as our scratch pad for ideas and a treasure map for plotting our clues. Throughout the game there were several announcements on the billboard and over the speakers. The speakers also projected disturbing kaiju screams, increasing in frequency and volume towards the end. With the added effect of individuals running across the grass in all different directions, sprinting to different goal locations, the full moon, and the night time air, it created a pretty surreal atmosphere. The game itself was separated into stages, with the stages physically being represented by gates you had to get a password to progress through. The passwords were derived from clues gathered from the previous stage and your game sheet. Hints were also provided throughout the game, such as a collection of hints for the first stage being put on the jumbo billboard around the 30 minute mark, and the hints for the second stage going up around the 45 minute mark. I also heard there was a hint booth in the middle of the field, but I never made it there due to the madness.

Playing a massive event like this invokes a different strategy than a typical real escape event. For starters, the larger the group the better. Have a pre-established form of communication (such as a texting group) and a way to easily identify each other in crowds (matching colors, hats, tall people), this really helps, especially when you inevitably split up. We spent a good amount of time setting up communications between our group at the start, rather than before hand. Further, you should use your numbers to your advantage, and split up to cover as much space as possible. Take pictures and send them around the group, so everyone gets the same evidence. Don't be afraid to separate from your group, pick a common meeting place before hand and give it a code word. Competitive intelligence is also huge at an event like this, because you are so closely packed in with so many other people. For example, it can be really easy to just stand still and look around, and easily pick up answers from other player's game sheets. Similarly, you can get caught up in the excitement and start screaming answers, unknowingly spoiling the game for everyone around you. So keep this in mind and keep your game sheet covered!

When the time had finally run out, our main game master gathered us all in the center of the field and went through the challenge walkthrough with a clicker and jumbo billboard screen. He excellent explained each puzzle, and it was really nice hearing just how close we got! At the very end they had the survivors (those who solved all of the challenges before the time ran out), run a victory lap, it was pretty cool :)