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Playing The Escape

erich666 writes "Wired reports on 'La Fuga' (The Escape), a real-world game. You overcome physical and mental challenges to escape a prison. Not just any live-action role playing game, this one is run in a $20 million facility in Madrid. A networked PDA and RFID tag keep you in touch while you play. The company is now building a 30,000-square-foot game center at 49th and Broadway in New York City." From the article: "The screen goes static and then switches to a view of a sweaty prisoner with a 5 o'clock shadow who tells me that I can liberate myself and all the other drones stuck in the prison. Those who have escaped before me will contact me to assist in my quest. The door opens, and I enter a sort of closet before another door opens to reveal a metal air duct. I try to step in, but I slip, fall hard on my ass, and slide down the chute into a room containing a baggage carousel surrounded by screens."

16 of 154 comments (clear)

  1. With the state of gaming hacks by Foo2rama · · Score: 5, Funny

    I wonder how fast someone will hack this! Does padding on your rear count?

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    ---In a time of Chimpanzees I was a Monkey.
    1. Re:With the state of gaming hacks by sharkey · · Score: 5, Funny
      Does padding on your rear count?

      It HAS to, when you're in prison.




      More cushion, less pushin'!!

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  2. Any allusions to the Prisoner? by Quirk · · Score: 4, Interesting
    There's been chatter off and on about a game based on the TV show The Prisoner. Patrick McGoohan's portrayal of prisoner six of one is great in a British understated way. The idea of a prisoner incarcerated because he knows too much sensitive government information may not be too fictional today. Maybe Guantanamo Bay is soon to be a "retirement" centre.

    The Escape sounds like it has the Kafkaesque, byzantine plot lines reminescent of the Prisoner.

    --
    "Academicians are more likely to share each other's toothbrush than each other's nomenclature."
    Cohen
  3. So then Version 2.0 is... by Chuqmystr · · Score: 4, Funny
    Running man - the real deal?

    My bad, couldn't resist

  4. A good idea if... by sumdeus · · Score: 4, Interesting

    This sounds like a reasonably fun concept given they keep the price down. I think that a team atmosphere in this type of game would be great as well. If you could show up with a group of friends and have a task to complete as a group. Perhaps that's version 2!

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  5. dreampark by headonfire · · Score: 5, Interesting

    sounds like a step closer to 'Dreampark', as in the novels by Steven Barnes and Larry Niven. Immersive real-life roleplaying games. If you haven't read the series yet, go do it. A neat idea, well-executed on paper.

    1. Re:dreampark by TrappedByMyself · · Score: 4, Funny

      sounds like a step closer to 'Dreampark', as in the novels by Steven Barnes and Larry Niven.

      Wow, futuristic sci-fi AND there's a dragon on the cover! That's some hardcore geekerature there.

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  6. Woo! by electrichamster · · Score: 4, Interesting

    I've been wanting something like this for YEARS!

    In my imaginary version I wanted a real-life CTF situation based on paintball or similar that took place in a massive area full of buildings and the like - similar to normal paintball, but over a number of days and a much much larger playing field.

    If you took the tech from this game and combined it with a much larger playing field, teams, a much longer game time (in the order of a weekend) and some form of decent forfeit for losing (say, a deposit), you'd have my perfect game!

    1. Re:Woo! by soibudca · · Score: 4, Funny

      You should seriously consider an exiting and rewarding career in the US armed forces.

    2. Re:Woo! by adimiron · · Score: 5, Informative

      You should look into Airsoft then. It's military simulation with pellet guns, and some games run entire weekends. There are different goals (depending on the organizers - some are just basic CTF) and all are encouraged to make the game as realistic as possible (i.e. smoke bombs, uniforms, unit-style tactics/movement). It's also based on honor, so if you get hit, you call yourself out. There is usually a regeneration period of some length and then you're back in the game. Check www.airsoftplayers.com or www.cimmerians.com for more information.

  7. This sounds really familiar... by ROMRIX · · Score: 5, Funny

    It reminds me of trying to find my way out of the club the other night after six boilermakers five shots of tequilla and something called a New York nipple twister...

  8. Chuck E. Cheese by thehickcoder · · Score: 5, Funny

    From the Article:
    ...and burrowed through a mass of grapefruit-sized plastic spheres.

    What, he went to Chuck E. Cheese?

  9. Sounds like typical video game designers... by Malor · · Score: 5, Funny

    This sounds like a solid design effort, worthy of most video game levels.

    After all, I see prisons with baggage carousels _all the time_.

  10. Er.. by AWhiteFlame · · Score: 5, Interesting

    And we thought Flight Sim was bad for the Terrorists.. Now virtual training for prison escapees!

    --
    "Everything worth innovating today will go to court tomorrow."
  11. Re:The game's most compelling aspect by Dachannien · · Score: 4, Funny

    If you have DDR for Playstation, you can plug in a regular Playstation controller instead of using the DDR mats and play it that way. None of that pesky exercise, plus it's way easier to win.

  12. WTF? by Brandybuck · · Score: 4, Funny

    The door opens...

    WTF? What kind of prison break is that? Give the players a spoon and ten years to dig a hole!

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