Florida 2023
This is going to be a very quick and simple post, but I’ve got a big update on my little trip to Florida!
Articles by Brian Gondek
Upcoming Travels: 2023 Edition
As an escape room enthusiast, it’s a bit of a sore spot for me to only have played one game in the TERPECA top 100 ranking. Only 17 of the most recent year’s winners are in the US, and the only one I’ve played has been Cutthroat Cavern in Baton Rouge (US #2). This year I have a chance to rectify that.
The Carolinas: Day 2
Day two of my trip to North Carolina started with a simple objective- go west as early as possible. I didn’t have any concrete plans for the day, but I knew my list of to-dos was long compared to the time I had available, so an early start was imperative.
The Carolinas: Day 1
A day before my trip to Charlotte, I didn’t have a plan. I had only just confirmed that Christina (my wife) would not be available at any point on the trip to do anything with me. I had to leave home at 5:30 AM to catch my flight to Charlotte, and the night before I didn’t get home until 10 after staying out to grab dinner with a traveling vendor. I hadn’t packed yet.
United Basic Economy – Ouch!
For the first time in about five years, I returned to North and South Carolina. The trip was amazing- but more on that later! First I need to share my experience flying to and from Charlotte, since it was quite an unusual experience. The short version: avoid flying United Basic Economy!
Pile of Money + Randomness = Recipe for Frustration
In many ways, it’s more difficult to design a big prize treasure hunt than to design a good puzzle. Even tricky puzzles are designed to be solved. If you’re five days into a puzzle event and there’s a puzzle with zero solves, the designer probably goofed up at some point. For treasure hunts, that’s often the norm.
Third Annual Masquerade Tribute Hunt – Starting March 20
The Third Annual Masquerade Tribute Hunt officially begins March 20th, but the fun has already started.
Accidental 600th
I completed my 600th escape room. At the time, I didn’t know it was my 600th escape room. C’est la vie!
Tall Tales Investigations – The Case of Percy De Vere
I’m blown away. I played The Case of Percy De Vere, one of the at home murder mystery games from Tall Tales Mysteries, and without hyperbole I can say it’s the best at home murder mystery game I’ve played, beating out strong competition from companies like Hunt a Killer and Unsolved Case Files.
A Thank You to Paruzal
One of my favorite new developments in 2019-2020 was the advent of the online escape room. While businesses everywhere were locked down, clever business owners realized there was a new opportunity to offer puzzle games playable from home. While escape rooms you can play on your computer are nothing new, the novelty of having an online game master walking you through a scenario was great, and even after physical businesses reopened, I still appreciate playing these games from time to time.