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> are explicitly about not having an easy way out Really? I've done a dozen and in every single one, you could simply exit back from the door you entered from.

> are explicitly about not having an easy way out Really? I've done a dozen and in every single one, you could simply exit back from the door you entered from. The rooms were never truly about "escaping", at least past the lore and story. They are about searching for clues and solving puzzles. I've never been in one where we were explicitly locked inside. Generally you just make your way through and exit out a different door at the end.

npunt 8y ago
True, but the genre/medium itself is broader than the conventions some have settled upon. The sense of being trapped is another sub-genre / experience that escape rooms can offer. Sounds like that's more popular in the European escape rooms, with all the negative safety implications: > One survey of escape rooms by Scott Nicholson of the Wilfrid Laurier University in Canada found that in 43% of European escape-room players, once locked in, are dependent on staff outside the room. Some venues in eastern Europe even handcuff escapees to the scenery, as part of the challenge.
- m_j_g 8y ago
  > with all the negative safety implications https://edition.cnn.com/2019/01/04/europe/teens-die-poland-escape-room-fire-koszalin/index.html https://edition.cnn.com/2019/01/04/europe/teens-die-poland-e... Currently in Poland authorities starting to look into possible regulations to make escape rooms safer
  - taspeotis 8y ago
    In Australia all the escape rooms I’ve been to have an entrance and an exit, the exit is locked (that’s your escape) but the entrance is not. So in the event of an emergency you can always get out.
    - danpalmer 8y ago
      In the U.K. all the ones I’ve been to so far have a “game” lock or code or something to “escape”, and a big, non-game safety exit button that ends the timer and gets you out. It’s all electronic/magnetic locks, no physical locks (except for cabinets/subrooms/etc that you open).
oh_sigh 8y ago
That's because due to fire code, they aren't allowed to lock you in. You should be thankful that that is the case.
- wav-part 8y ago
  What people did before there were fire code ? How did they get out ?
  - fipple 8y ago
    They died. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/312511670/figure/fig3/AS:667791115972611@1536225217411/Trends-in-per-capita-fire-deaths-in-the-US-12.png https://www.researchgate.net/publication/312511670/figure/fi...
    - wav-part 8y ago
      But how much of that is due to "fire code" ? Compare it with lawless parts of the world. You would find that horrible-ness is going down everywhere. China advanced only after having less laws. Whats common in all these instances ? Economic freedom. More economic freedom means more prosparity. "fire code" are only good at taking credit.
      - EliRivers 8y ago
        How much of people being able to get out of burning buildings is due to the fire code? Basically all of it? Is this some kind of trick question? Economic freedom doesn't cause fire-safety. China advanced only after having less laws Yet now, China's lawlessness is a drag on advancing. The cost of low-trust in a modern economy is huge.
        wav-part 8y ago
        Businesses did not make buildings safer just because someone told them to. It is naturally considered a bad idea to kill your customers. Businesses would always create an environment that generate more profit. Safer establishments are one of many ways. Businesses would _always_ stay ahead of any bureaucratic recommendations/requirements, because they have the incentives. Rather misguided/outdated laws are real problems, because gov lacks the (strong enough) incentive. > The cost of low-trust in a modern economy is huge. So you dont trust anyone unless gov tells you to ?
throwdaddy425 8y ago
Curious -- what were the puzzles like? Do you remember any specific puzzles? I'm thinking of doing one but I don't know what to expect. Edit: Not sure why downvoted, I'm genuinely curious of this person's experience. Is asking not allowed?
- baxter001 8y ago
  One I was at: A constraint solving problem where you had a map with a grid and various clues gave you constraints like 'not within 2 squares of a bomb shelter' A thermal imaging camera so you could detect which one of a set of 'sample containers' was warm and you should use the code printed on it elsewhere. Combination locks where the combinations were given by giving the element names and you had to enter the atomic number (a table was on the wall)
- nicky0 8y ago
  Generally you have to find the code to the lock, to open the cabinet, to get the key, to open another door .... A sequence of puzzles which unlock the next step. Puzzles like the code lock may be numeric, you may find a clue to the code as a sequence of colors, which you have to find the color key for (maybe it is split into parts and hidden around the room). Sometimes it's as simple as finding a key. e.g. in the pocket of a coat hanging on the wall, or a note inserted into a book on a shelf. (Tearing the room apart to find objects is usually the best strategy!) Some puzzles get a bit more clever than this but these are usually the foundation elements.
kozikow 8y ago
There are good reasons for that: https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/05/world/europe/poland-escape-room-fire.html https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/05/world/europe/poland-escap...
TomK32 8y ago
Just this month five Polish teens died in a fire in an escape room. Shutdowns are the consequence unless the companies up their game in regards to safety and monitoring. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-46781545 https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-46781545

npunt 8y ago

True, but the genre/medium itself is broader than the conventions some have settled upon. The sense of being trapped is another sub-genre / experience that escape rooms can offer. Sounds like that's more popular in the European escape rooms, with all the negative safety implications: > One survey of escape rooms by Scott Nicholson of the Wilfrid Laurier University in Canada found that in 43% of European escape-room players, once locked in, are dependent on staff outside the room. Some venues in eastern Europe even handcuff escapees to the scenery, as part of the challenge.

m_j_g 8y ago
> with all the negative safety implications https://edition.cnn.com/2019/01/04/europe/teens-die-poland-escape-room-fire-koszalin/index.html https://edition.cnn.com/2019/01/04/europe/teens-die-poland-e... Currently in Poland authorities starting to look into possible regulations to make escape rooms safer
- taspeotis 8y ago
  In Australia all the escape rooms I’ve been to have an entrance and an exit, the exit is locked (that’s your escape) but the entrance is not. So in the event of an emergency you can always get out.
  - danpalmer 8y ago
    In the U.K. all the ones I’ve been to so far have a “game” lock or code or something to “escape”, and a big, non-game safety exit button that ends the timer and gets you out. It’s all electronic/magnetic locks, no physical locks (except for cabinets/subrooms/etc that you open).

oh_sigh 8y ago

That's because due to fire code, they aren't allowed to lock you in. You should be thankful that that is the case.

wav-part 8y ago
What people did before there were fire code ? How did they get out ?
- fipple 8y ago
  They died. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/312511670/figure/fig3/AS:667791115972611@1536225217411/Trends-in-per-capita-fire-deaths-in-the-US-12.png https://www.researchgate.net/publication/312511670/figure/fi...
  - wav-part 8y ago
    But how much of that is due to "fire code" ? Compare it with lawless parts of the world. You would find that horrible-ness is going down everywhere. China advanced only after having less laws. Whats common in all these instances ? Economic freedom. More economic freedom means more prosparity. "fire code" are only good at taking credit.
    - EliRivers 8y ago
      How much of people being able to get out of burning buildings is due to the fire code? Basically all of it? Is this some kind of trick question? Economic freedom doesn't cause fire-safety. China advanced only after having less laws Yet now, China's lawlessness is a drag on advancing. The cost of low-trust in a modern economy is huge.
      - wav-part 8y ago
        Businesses did not make buildings safer just because someone told them to. It is naturally considered a bad idea to kill your customers. Businesses would always create an environment that generate more profit. Safer establishments are one of many ways. Businesses would _always_ stay ahead of any bureaucratic recommendations/requirements, because they have the incentives. Rather misguided/outdated laws are real problems, because gov lacks the (strong enough) incentive. > The cost of low-trust in a modern economy is huge. So you dont trust anyone unless gov tells you to ?

throwdaddy425 8y ago

Curious -- what were the puzzles like? Do you remember any specific puzzles? I'm thinking of doing one but I don't know what to expect. Edit: Not sure why downvoted, I'm genuinely curious of this person's experience. Is asking not allowed?

baxter001 8y ago
One I was at: A constraint solving problem where you had a map with a grid and various clues gave you constraints like 'not within 2 squares of a bomb shelter' A thermal imaging camera so you could detect which one of a set of 'sample containers' was warm and you should use the code printed on it elsewhere. Combination locks where the combinations were given by giving the element names and you had to enter the atomic number (a table was on the wall)
nicky0 8y ago
Generally you have to find the code to the lock, to open the cabinet, to get the key, to open another door .... A sequence of puzzles which unlock the next step. Puzzles like the code lock may be numeric, you may find a clue to the code as a sequence of colors, which you have to find the color key for (maybe it is split into parts and hidden around the room). Sometimes it's as simple as finding a key. e.g. in the pocket of a coat hanging on the wall, or a note inserted into a book on a shelf. (Tearing the room apart to find objects is usually the best strategy!) Some puzzles get a bit more clever than this but these are usually the foundation elements.

kozikow 8y ago

There are good reasons for that: https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/05/world/europe/poland-escape-room-fire.html https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/05/world/europe/poland-escap...

TomK32 8y ago

Just this month five Polish teens died in a fire in an escape room. Shutdowns are the consequence unless the companies up their game in regards to safety and monitoring. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-46781545 https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-46781545