It's Episode 27! And we have brought back Scott Nicholson to discuss his newest paper - Ask Why: Creating a Better Player Experience through. Environmental Storytelling and Consistency in Escape Room.
He also discusses the differences between 5 Wits and Boda Borg!
Mike and Ruby aren't here in our 26th episode, however, we did have Margeaux join us! She's a brand new enthusiast and purchased Thinkfun's "Escape the Room: Secret of Dr. Gravely's Retreat!" which was designed by Nicholas Cravotta and Rebecca Bleau.
Of course, we had to do a Let's Play, so again the obligatory warning:
Oh! The parody was written and sung by our very own Manpans! Huzzah!
It's episode 25, and we've taken a break from our normal format because we wanted to get this podcast up as soon as we could!
Manda and Errol interview Kellian Adams Pletcher and Carly Dwyer-Naik who are two of the organizers of Club Drosselmeyer: an escape room crossed with interactive theater in the Boston area!
They currently have a crowdfunding campaign going on and there are only a few days left! I encourage to check out the page, donate a few funds and listen to this amazing pair who have taken on a fantastic undertaking!
In our 24th episode, Mike, Ruby and Manda answer listener submitted questions such as "What makes an enthusiast" and "What is your winning rate?"
And Eric and Annie are back with a parody song! Eric Boudreau, owner of Escape Capers in Calgary, wrote the lyrics, and it was performed by Annie Pattison. Errol is pretty excited to have youtube celebs sing the opening song! Check out Annie's youtube page to hear more of her songs!)
It's the Halloween Episode! For the 23rd podcast, the Divas chat about scary escape rooms, costume ideas, and snack foods. Or at least, they snack while talking, which doesn't make for good podcast listening.
This time around, Mike wrote the lyrics for the parody! Huzzah!
In episode twenty two, we decide not to go to the experts! Lizette Tanner considers herself not an enthusiast, but also not a newbie. She also happens to be Errol's sister and the teasing is rampant.
Listen to her views as she describes stories about watching enthusiasts, how newbies feel about escape rooms, and ghosting.
The parody song was suggested by Chris Dickson of Ex Exit Games. He and Errol co-wrote the lyrics for "Close Every Door To Me".
We took a survey asking enthusiasts what they liked in a room. In the 21st podcast, we discuss the results of that survey! We've place the survey and the results on thecodex.ca website if you want to follow along.
In episode 20, we talk about customer service and our experiences, both good and bad!
Errol was away this week doing other fun stuff, like escape rooms in Calgary. He'll be back in full force next week.
No Errol also means, no epic parody. Manpans, Ruby and Mike try to fill in with "the best parody to date".
In the 19th episode, we have a wonderful chat with owner Christine Hibbard of Looking Glass Adventures, the first escape room in the GTA to be family focused.
We discuss children and escape rooms! And we discuss escape rooms. We always discuss escape rooms, it being an escape room podcast.
Sadly, Mike and Ruby couldn't join us this episode, but they will be back!
Furthermore, we have upgraded our sound! So we hope it sounds much better!
In episode 18, we talk about the board game T.I.M.E. Stories as well as Cyan's latest adventure game Obduction!
We also talk about escape room elements we have ranted about but this time we defend them! At least, we start off defending them.
And there is a lot of Manpans teasing. Errol's a jerk.
Links Talked About in Podcast
In Episode 17, we join Donald Dennis who is the host of On Board Games. We have a great discussion on escape room related board games, and other games that struck our fancy!
We are hopeful for the upcoming batches of escape room board games, but our expectations are especially high, being divas and all!
Errol is extremely pleased someone else wrote and sang the parody song! Eric Boudreau, owner of Escape Capers in Calgary wrote the lyrics to "At Least One Way To Leave This Locked Room", and it was performed by the one and only Annie Pattison, who also works there! (Seriously, check out her youtube page to hear more of her singing! She's awesome!)
We really hope you enjoy this episode! And Donald asked a question for the listeners, so by all means, please answer!
In our 16th episode, we do a walkthrough of Mystery at the Stargazer's Manor, an Escape the Room board game created by Nicholas Cravotta and Rebecca Bleau.
Thanks to Christine of Looking Glass Adventures for providing us with a copy to play with (since I couldn't find it anywhere to purchase on short notice!)
If you wish to just hear the review, it starts at 43:13, but it still may contain spoilers.
Music: Mozart's “Eine kleine Nachtmusik”, recorded by The Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra.
In this Episode, Manpans and Errol talk about the difference between Aha and Process puzzles. We also talk about puzzle difficulty and discuss Manpans time at ConBravo where she took a newbie crew to experience The Crux in Hamilton.
Special thanks goes to Lyndsie Scoggin, Tammy Mcleod, and Errol's daughter, Zoe Elumir. They sang the extra vocal parts in the parody song "I've Made a Plan for this Room"
“Let’s get down to business
To complete this one.
Spread our talents broader. We won’t be, outdone!
You’ll be glad we’ve come our minds are set
And you can bet, we’ll make it through!
Know that I’ve, made a plan, for this room.
Track our time and progress
Where’s the light? It’s dim!
Gather in the center
We’ll be sure to win
We will find this trail, we won’t be caught!
And we have to get the clues
Because I’ve, made a plan, for this room.
I’m never going to solve this test
Say goodbye to light I can’t see!
Boy there’s a lot of books where to begin?
It’s so dark I’m scared to death
Hope that I can find the right key
Now I really wish that I could ask for hints!
(Here’s the Plan)
We must be swift and we will deliver!
(Here’s the Plan)
But don’t use force else you’ll break the clues!
(Here’s the Plan)
Follow that length of electric wire!
We’ll seriously find the exit to this room!”
The divas got a chance to interview Rich and Elisabeth who are part of Transworld's Room Escape Conference in Chicago this August!
We were new to Transworld so we had so many questions! We learned about their history, the haunt industry, and the people behind this popular tradeshow!
Guest Info:
Transworld's 2016 Escape Room Show - Chicago Room Escape Conference
Rich Bianco - Vice President of Transworld Trade Shows
Elisabeth Garson - Seminar Coordinator/ Room Escape Conference
The divas go down to Kitchener/Waterloo to do five escape rooms with Scott Nicholson!
We also read through our "Dear Divas" mailbox! Check in to see how we answer your questions!
An intro to the puzzle hunt community by none other than Dan Egnor, who runs the Puzzle Hunt Calendar, the first Escape Room Directory in North America, and also a member of the design team for many puzzle hunts including BANG 35.
We talk about puzzle design, running a city wide puzzle hunt, as well as the local scene in the Bay area!
The parody song was suggested by Manpans and covers the intro rules to an escape room in song form!
We interview our first owner! Edwin Tsui of The Locked Room talk about his trip to Budapest, being an enthusiast/owner, and running the first escape room in Calgary, Alberta.
The divas get together and discuss a few questions they were asked on social media:
There were more topics, of course, but the first question was so interesting to talk about! Thanks to all of you who sent something in!
Thanks also goes to Eric Boudreau and Sen Lim for their help and suggestion for the escape room parody song "Solve It, Maybe".
By all means, if you have any comments or questions for us to talk about, leave them here or on our secret slack chat. :D
The divas have a skype interview with veteran reviewers Lisa and David Spira who make up Room Escape Artist! They talk about blogging, their audience, and their upcoming session at Transworld's Chicago's Room Escape Conference.
The parody was a request by Lisa and David, but the Hamilton crazy hasn't hit Canada yet. It's a catchy song though!
We get all the organizers of Canadian Caper together and discuss the intricacies of our Theatrical Live Escape Events!
Special guests:
Yuri Chumak
Jen Fehr
Will Hutcheson
Song written by Errol Elumir, performed by Zoe Elumir.
Inverse Genius Podcast
