Park Products
parkworld-online.com
hours, the Safari Challenge system will pay for itself within 24 months,” says Reid.
“If bought outright, we confidently predict that the ROI for SniggleHunt operators would be 100% within nine months of starting operation,” adds Plache. With those sorts of figures it’s surely a ‘no-brainer’ – make sure you quote them when purchasing the system of your choice!
Still not sure what an interactive scavenger hunt entails? Here’s a round- up of some of the games currently entertaining guest at parks and attractions around the globe:
Safari Challenge/ Virtual Zookeeper Set to launch this spring at Longleat safari park in England as Deadly 60 Adventure, Safari Challenge is an interactive treasure hunt combining physical and mental challenges across a themed adventure course. Scanning a wristband at terminals throughout the course, players must find a variety of
wild animals and complete a series of tasks to collect points. This family-orientated attraction, installed at Longleat in a licensing deal with
BBC Worldwide, requires a minimum space of 8,000 square feet and can also be retrofitted into existing playgrounds or structures. The random game sequence is a key feature ensuring that each player will only experience up to a third of the entire arena per game, encouraging repeat play. For operators requiring a more affordable challenge-based game, 1st Attractions (
1stAttractions.com) has also developed Virtual Zookeeper, in which players seek out “animal stations” throughout the zoo and scan their wristband to be given information or a simple challenge. Other than a dedicated sales kiosk with electric supply, very little infrastructure is needed to operate Virtual Zookeeper, and installation can also be used as a chance to refresh some of a zoo’s existing signage and offer customised education programmes.
SniggleHunt A simple hand held device is all that’s needed to play this game from the British play and laser tag specialist Veqtor. Players make their way around a venue looking for Sniggle terminals. Every time they find one, they receive points and a fun message. Players must also beware of the ‘sleeping’ Sniggle
points, which deliver no points at all, unless you return when they are awake. The hunt can also be timed, creating a mad dash to find as many Sniggles as possible in the allotted time.
“SniggleHunt has been designed to strongly support redemption,” highlights
Veqtor’s Jonathan Plache. “Players will try their hardest to get a really good score, which when they finish playing, can be ‘cashed in’ for a prize or promotion such as a free milkshake, free entry next time they visit, etc. Simple to install and easy to operate, SniggleHunt (
SniggleHunt.co.uk) boasts very low running costs. The game’s engaging back story can be replaced by custom content if required. Following the first installation last winter at the Yogi Bear’s Camp Resort in Jellystone Park, California, other outlets have since come on board in the US and UK.
Treesure Game Launched last summer on a pilot basis at Linnanmäki in Helsinki, this app-based game encourages visitors to go from attraction to attraction completing tasks and unlocking challenges on their smartphones.
FEBRUARY 2013
Built around the Google Maps interface, the app was developed from the original TreesureGame (
TreesureGame.com/Apple App Store). Eventually the Finnish company that developed the game hopes to produce its own bespoke mapping for parks and attractions. The pilot at Linnanmäki was implemented as a test to see how it may affect in-park spending via marketing messages and offers delivered to guest’s phones during the game.
MagiQuest
One of the original technology-led scavenger hunts is MagiQuest by Creative Kingdoms (
MagiQuest.com). Installed at 11 Great Wolf Lodge waterpark resorts in the United States and also the Tokyo Dome in Japan, this live action role-playing game immerses players in a virtual enchanted fantasy world where real-life magic wands are used to solve mysteries.
Along the way they can befriend a pixie, learn from an ancient wizard or outwit a dragon. Each story is shaped by choices players make along the way, and each player becomes the leading character of their own story.
The experience typically takes place throughout the host resort or attraction, as players move from one themed setting to the next, each of which includes unique props and hidden treasures. The magic wand activates music, animatronics, and opens treasure chests – and the action recorded.
The wands, for which guests can buy themed ‘toppers’, are taken by players when they leave. This, together with accompanying knight and princess and dragon costumes, creates a great merchandising opportunity. Guests can then use the same wand to continue the game where they left off the next time visit any MagiQuest location. A MagiQuest Online game that allowed players to continue the adventure at home was discontinued last October.
SplashQuest Just launched at Yas Waterworld Abu Dhabi (see page 26), this new product from WhiteWater was developed in partnership with MagiQuest inventors Rick Briggs and Denise Weston. SplashQuest turns an entire park into a live action video game, where guests interact with a variety of water
effects whilst wearing a wristband or waterproof mitten. “The waterpark industry doesn’t currently take advantage of any technology products,” notes Briggs. “With the exploding growth of smartphones, handheld technology has become an integral part of everyone’s lives. SplashQuest brings that same technology to the palm of their hand in a waterpark setting.” SplashQuest is the first of what WhiteWater promises will be series of interactive experiences following its acquisition of Apptivations. Whilst SplashQuest can be offered on a pay-to-play basis, WhiteWater suggests it may actually make sense for parks and attractions to give future apps away for free in exchange for guest data or to sell upgrades. Significant marketing and merchandising opportunities are also envisaged.
LagoTrig
It would be remiss of us to not to mention the magic wand developed by the Dutch company Lagotronics (
Lagotronics.com). Licensed to Creative Kingdoms for several MagiQuest
35
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