Gamecraft announces a new innovative form of playing, by designing, in collaboration with 60mindgames and alternative entertainment 60minutes escape rooms, a combination of live action adventure game and escape room experience!! An evolution of the escape game trend with a mysterious 120 minutes scenario throughout a two-storey mansion, corporate headquarters of 60 minutes escape rooms!! Based on live performance and interaction from Gamecraft‘s narrators and an abundant of original puzzles, ‘Escape the house – The Curse’, has already known an impressive success and became the ‘talk of the city’ between tourists and restless youth of Thessaloniki!!
SCENARIO: In a quiet and indifferent suburb of Houston, on Rill Str, stands an abandoned and terrifying two-storey building. Urban legend, the legend of the neighborhood, recounts that nobody else has dared to visit for over twenty years. Neglected by people and ravaged by time, the villa comes with a dark history. Locals say that anyone who dares to enter, will follow the horrible fate of it’s old inhabitants…
Haunted?
Cursed?
Myth or reality?
Do you feel ready to discover it’s secret and escape or will you be the next victim?
The outer doors seal behind you…
You have only 120 minutes…
Escape the House will be performed from July 1st until August 13th 2015.
Information and reservations:
60 minutes escape rooms – Kallidopoulou 24 Str, 546 42, Thessaloniki, Greece
Tel: +30 2310843995
Mystery Nights video trailer
A murder mystery game is a type of role playing themed party. The host (Game Master) uses a carefully planned and entertaining murder case scenario, providing information and findings to the guests. Usually, the guests separate into equally manned competing teams. Each team plays the role of a cooperative investigation team and tries to comprehend and classify all available data, while they struggle to put up the correct ‘Whodunnit’ theory. The second stage of the scenario involves live questioning of the case’s primary suspects, adding a new and even more interesting amount of disclosures. At the end, every team of players has to decide. Who is responsible for the crime? Who will face justice? The host gives the grand finale with a detailed explanation of the true crime. A murder mystery game usually involves dinner or a buffet. The event may be held for any type of celebration. Teams could be friends, tourist groups or even corporate executives. Duration of the game varies from 2 – 4 hours depending on the scenario and the number of competing teams.
Gamecraft has created over 10 original scenarios in English, from hard-boiled investigations to lighter, more theatrical and role playing friendly cases. These games have been played with great success in various locations (hotels, cafe, restaurants) and occasions (birthday parties, corporate executive meetings, conventions). We believe that we have won the confidence of all playing groups with our fluent English and high quality of gamification and game mechanics.
19
Feb
A fantasy and fiction short story or a short story based on creative imagination in general, should undeniably possess one and only important literary skill. To distinguish and highlight natural through the metaphysical or supernatural, realism through the epic exaggeration, bravery and light through an atmospheric description of terror and darkness. And vice versa, with the same amount of flair and convenience. No, the skills described are not many, the talent in doing so should be one and the same. In written and spoken storytelling, the starting point and the final destination are not as important as the narrative path itself, the way and the right dose of writing chemistry to transform text to an imaginary journey.
Opposite Hemisphere anthology series matures with each and every new story. It’s authors are gathered for the 3rd time and present their creative work in an anthology whose main purpose, is to be able to successfully transcribe inspirations from a portion of people who claim and continuously prove their love for imagination, mystery and fantasy in all objective forms. All stories appearing in the third issue’s pages, have their own respectable history. Coming from writers on a new, fresh start with admirable results and an appetite for experimentation and continuous improvement. Skilled efforts have stepped in our anthology, enriched and refined with new ideas and concepts. Stories from veteran pens embrace the project, adding to the anthology’s quality and ‘literary gravity’. It is a colorful and multi-shaped trip in so many imaginative and real feelings, moments, people, ventures, locations, seasons and senses.
The international journal of The Inclusive Museum addresses a basic question: How can a museum institution become more inclusive, comprehensive, complete? The journal hosts publications from academics, curators, museums and public officials, cultural institutions and students involved in research on the subject. In this journal, Dr Niki Nikonanou and PhD student Fotini Venieri, University of Thessaly Greece, made us feel proud, creating a case study for Gamecraft‘s experience with live role-playing in Greek museums, presenting a role playing team designing and implementing LARPs for eight consecutive years (first pilot live role playing game in 2007) and our true role in bringing LARP (Live Action Role Playing) in Greek reality. We would like to thank them for a great honour and congratulate them on the importance and quality of their publication.
http://onmuseums.com/publications/journal
http://ijz.cgpublisher.com/product/pub.177/prod.285
25
Dec
Gamecraft is a creative team dealing with the design and implementation of interactive and role playing games, creating recreational and educational activities based on almost any theme or subject for the last six years (since August 2009). Along the way, we feel that it is our duty for our friends and the community we all live in, to dedicate a number of our events for charitable purposes. For that reason, Gamecraft’s ‘MYSTERY NIGHTS’ role playing-murder mystery game we all loved and in cooperation with OXYGONO and METAIXMIO publications, offered crime fiction books at the Center of Addiction Treatment (KETHEA) KETHEA ITHACA and KETHEA PROMETHEUS. In both cases, the books will be given to the respective institutions, enriching their already existing library.
Both institutions rejoiced and thanked us for the bid. This action proved that there are moments worth every effort to multiply smiles among us. We want to thank all MYSTERY NIGHTS players for their contribution –through their participation- in these sessions, a sign that we can still work as a team and care for our fellow human beings.
Mystery is a part of all good things. Even virtue or beauty is mysterious.
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
http://www.kethea.gr/en-us/home.aspx
THE MUSEUM
The foundation purpose for the Olympic Museum of Thessaloniki was to reflect the sporting history of the country, by filling the vacuity and absence of similar athletic museums in Greece. At the same time, the basic intention was to create a vivid place, where all the museum’s information will provide a strong motivation for the public to understand, participate and appreciate all aspects of athletism (physical training, health, mental balance, history). Specifically, the Olympic Museum’s goal is the preservation of our sporting heritage and the promotion of the cultural side of all sports. These goals are met in practice through exhibitions, presentations, educational programmes and other interesting events.
For 2014, Gamecraft has designed and implemented a Role Playing Game about the history and values of the Olympic Games in co-operation with the Olympic Museum of Thessaloniki. The ‘Immortal Travelers’ edu-LARP is performed in groups of 16-20 participants, stands as an educational program, providing useful information of the Olympic Games timeline by focusing on the institution’s good and bad historical moments.
Immortal Travelers
It is the year 2096, just before the Olympic Games in Athens, 200 years after the opening of the Olympic Games modern era. The Committee of the Immortals in its effort to restore the fragile world peace, undertakes a mission to remind heads of state about the values of Olympism. The only way to achieve this, is through a time trip. Will they be able to bring the Olympic Truce to task and save our planet from the impending war?
Thessalloniki Olympic Museum Website
19
Oct
LARP Census is a global effort for the registration of all Live Action Role Playing Games (L.A.R.P) made worldwide. This includes roles, innovations, preferences and contributions of designers, players and all coefficients of a L.A.R.P. The effort will serve as the basis for any future research in an academic or other professed level, being a free open source database with information that can be used to account and enrich their quality. In this effort, Gamecraft is the representative of Greece’s contribution (translation and editing of the Greek language) so that the census can be conducted for all Greek LARP experiences in individual and group level. The choice of the LARP Census management team makes us proud, honored and rewards our extrovert orientation.
Gamecraft announces a new cooperation with British company Huntzz founded by brothers Charles and Edward Wiles, based on the homonymous digital platform Huntzz dealing with treasure hunts in sites of historic, cultural, tourist and special interest such as museums, archaeological sites, historic sites and even entire cities!
Huntzz is an iOS/Android app with real-world treasure (scavenger) hunts and tour guides in one that also allows any individual, location or organisation to create and share their own hunt anywhere in the world!
Especially for Thessaloniki:
…This is a walk through 23 centuries of history and culture, in a living and colourful city, where many ethnic and religious communities lived and prospered throughout the years. A city with influences and achievements from diverse people of the Eastern and Western civilization. A crossroad of stories, experiences and events. A city with an abundance of monuments that reflect historic importance, dating from antiquity to modern times. A place for a hunt of knowledge, a hunt for humanity’s essential values…
The application offers a digital map (via the Google maps platform) and directs the player in characteristic locations. There, a riddle is presented and the right answer is requested through search and observation. Earn ‘gold coins’ for answering correctly and use a few of them for a small hint, on the next tough question. Search the next location, find the answer and open the chest with your reward scroll! Read it to learn the history of the monument you just deciphered! A game of thrills and a cognitive walk at the same time!
BBC Click is the BBC’s flagship technology program for which presenter Kate Russell regularly reviews the latest apps and websites. Here she talks about the Huntzz scavenger hunt app:
Huntzz App is available in:
App Store: https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/huntz…
Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/apps/de…
20
Oct
They are 13.000 kilometers (8000 miles) away!! We found them through their accomplishments and noticed our similar subject and background! Last week we exchanged some emails with Aaron Vanek, Executive Director of Seekers Unlimited, a public charity organization, located in Los Angeles California, dedicated to fostering education by developing and producing live action role-playing (LARP) programs for classrooms. Amazing!
Seekers Unlimited (a 501(c)(3) public charity) is a progressive educational development company that uses one of the oldest art forms-–play pretend-–to create a unique and engaging learning experience. Their interactive programs can be custom-made for any subject, any level, and any situation, whether the lesson occurs in an hour or a year.
Their expert staff designs dramatic narratives similar to the classic “Choose Your Own Adventure” books or modern video role-playing games. But instead of turning a page or clicking a mouse to make things happen, students solve relevant problems in an interactive contextual story. Costumes, props, and technology can greatly enhance the experience, but they are not required. All that’s needed is a little imagination…
Seekers Unlimited goals:
- Create programs that are entertaining interactive aids that support teachers’ lesson plans.
- Exceed U.S. National and State Core Educational Standards.
- Provide innovative educational experiences for all age levels.
- Partner with like-minded organizations locally and internationally.
We hope that Seekers Unlimited continue making great edu-larps for schools, we wish them good luck, great success in whatever they are dealing with and -why not- a future collaboration with an edu-LARP containing both European and American ‘flavor’! Keep playing!
A series of investigation role-playing based on juvenile book series.
Every month, one Saturday, we read a book, we play a game. Starting from late October, our little friends will be faced with a great challenge. A rare collection of children’s books suddenly disappeared, as if by magic, from a famous writer’s private library. The burglar was professional, leaving no evidence at the scene of the theft, besides a new book and a series of bizarre tests and puzzles.
Looks like it’s time for the ‘Fantastic Detectives’ to take action!!
1) October 19th, 14:00, based on ‘Young Sherlock Holmes’ book series by Andrew Lane
2) November 16th, 14:00, based on ‘The Magician’ book series by Antonio Casanova
3) December 21st, 14:00, based on ‘The Land of Stories’ trilogy by Chris Colfer
4) January 18th 2014, 14:00, based on ‘Rico and Oscar’ book series by Andreas Steinhöfel
Gametime: 90-100 minutes
For participants above 9 years old
Maximum number of participants per team: 35
Call Oxygono for your assignment:
OXYGONO (by Metaichmio) – Modern bookstore – Seminars – Events
Olympou 81
54631, Thessaloniki
T: +30 2310 26 00 85
Ε: info@oxygono-metaixmio.gr
