escape room idea, or supervising the day’s teams trying to flee the escape room. “We’re concentrating 100 per cent on
our groups while they’re in there,” says Megan. “We help them out – redirect them if anyone is stuck for too long.” A screen plays the entirety of the
room’s activities in real-time, which allows Megan and Adam to track the teams as they progress through the challenge. Competing teams can sit and watch their opponents as they race against the clock to escape. “It’s a fun job,” says Megan. “It’s inter- esting to see how people’s minds work. You kind of make assumptions on how far they’re going to get based on how they’re doing, and then they might sur- prise you.” Without giving up too much, the
Schmidts describe the escape room as a test that involves words, colours – all of the senses – and thinking outside of the box. A series of puzzles have to be com- pleted to unlock the next clue, which will eventually lead to a key to exit – and each group has an hour to get through the challenge. “All puzzles are completely different
from each other, so it’s designed to in- clude all kinds of thinkers,” says Adam. “Everybody always contributes. “Something that has surprised us
is how well the kids do. We’ve seen 10-year-olds contribute significantly.” Before you think about sneaking your
iPhone in to help trump all the codes, know that technology really can’t save you in there. “Google won’t help you,” says Adam. “It’s not like a trivia thing. We have to design it so the answers are all in the room.” Currently, the theme of the escape
room is “Escape from Death Row,” ac- companied by appropriate set decora- tions and special effects while you press on orchestrating your escape. Te Real Escape plans to switch its
room theme every six months to allow people to return to play a new challenge. Since opening in Nov. 2014, the own- ers have seen no shortage of demand for the experience. “So far the group has al- ways asked, ‘When can we come back?’” says Megan. Spots are typically filled up two weeks in advance, or longer. Te Real Escape has also seen the
thehubwinnipeg.com
Props augment the nuclear meltdown theme in Winnipeg’s debut escape room experience.
A successful group poses after their escape.
business landscape shift, with two new escape room businesses opening with a similar concept: Enigma Escapes (off Sterling Lyon Parkway) and Epic Es- cape (on Market Avenue). “I think there’s room (for all of us),”
says Megan, of the competition. “I think expansion would be a good idea for us,” adds Adam, “but we like that
it’s very personal. Some escape
rooms have four rooms. We have one.” Corporate team building and windups
have all taken place at Te Real Es- cape, along with groups of friends and families trying their luck. “It’s rewarding to see people bond-
ing over something that we’ve built,” says Adam. “It’s fun accomplishing something so awesome together.” Te Real Escape is located at Unit B-2003 Portage Ave. Spots fill up quick, so booking a few weeks in advance is recommended. Visit
therealescape.ca for more information.
Summer 2015 • 33
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100 |
Page 101 |
Page 102