The first-ever escape room was created by Takao Kato with the help of the company SCRAP in Kyoto, Japan, in 2007. Takao was influenced by video games, and he wanted to build a realistic simulation to experience the same thrill and action. The concept has grown popular since then, with escape facilities evolving drastically with the advent of new tech. In this era of the Internet and advanced innovations, the escape room industry has managed to harness them all in its utmost favor.
Let’s take a look at some of the important aspects of the escape room evolution that were spearheaded by technology:
-
Online presence
Social media platforms and online websites have become greatly efficient for marketing. The online presence of a company makes it easier for people to look up information. People can view images, read reviews and check out the different themes that the escape room has to offer. They can also easily book their slot online without much hassle. The process has been made simple and convenient for the customers.
-
Enhanced Effects
An escape room of any theme will have a plot, objects, effective lighting, and sometimes even sound effects. The lighting and sound effects are game-changers, especially to heighten the terror in the atmosphere. Dim and eerie lighting, along with spooky music, can make the audience shake in their boots.
Technology has made it possible to add such realistic effects and graphics. Smoke, vibrating floor, or 3D effects can enhance the experience to another level.
-
Accessibility
If you love escape rooms but are unable to find one nearby, then a virtual escape room is the best option. Virtual escape rooms come in a wide variety of themes, and they operate through an avatar in your stead. Technology has made it possible for us to play an escape from anywhere. Companies like Escapely even have options to host virtual escape rooms for large groups, whether it be for a conference or a team building event.
Outdoor escape game is a fairly new addition to escape rooms. They’re possible with the help of geolocation technology and VR, which allows the players to play the game on a wide scale. This escape game has no walls, but there are clues and puzzles scattered all over the allotted area. These clues are visible through the VR headset, and everything else is the same as a regular escape room.
-
Cost-effective
Technology has helped many businesses through the most difficult time of COVID. Even if physical outlets were closed due to restrictions, owners were still able to sell on their websites. Similarly, virtual escape rooms opened a source of entertainment to people. Virtual escape rooms are cost-effective for both the owners and the customers.
Good marketing is absolutely necessary for any business, and the Internet aids with advertising in an attainable amount. Owners can choose a marketing plan that suits their needs and budget. With online advertising, they have more control over the circulation of their ads.
The advancement of technology helped escape industry survive the fatal blows of the Covid pandemic and usher in a new era of the concept. While highly technological physical escape rooms already existed before the pandemic, the phenomena of virtual escape rooms really came into the mainstream due to the adverse situations created during this global crisis.
From first-generation app-based experiences to live-actor-enabled movie-styled ones- virtual escape rooms themselves evolved quite a bit in this short period of time. And now, with physical interaction restrictions getting looser everywhere, a combination of virtual and physical escape rooms are pioneering as the new face of entertainment globally.