During my volunteering at the environmental protection and education centre “Pfaffengut Plauen”, one of my duties was taking care of the European Wildcat on site – Waldemar. Wildcats are a beautiful, but sadly endangered species. Connected to Waldemar’s enclosure is a circle trail with several stations aimed at teaching primarily children about European Wildcats. To add something for teenagers and young adults, I created an escape game that could be played along the trail.
Strange things are happening at the wildcat trail of the Pfaffengut Plauen. In the evenings, visitors hear manic laughter near the wildcat enclosure. Buckets of food meant for wildcat Waldemar disappear from the safe. The team working at the Pfaffengut are certain: those are no harmless pranks – Waldemar is in danger! Help is needed to stop whatever is going on …
The players, in groups from 3 to 12 individuals, have 60 minutes to retrieve Waldemar’s food and stop the evil “Animal Lover” from genetically changing Waldemar into a monster cat. They need to find clues, solve riddles, crack locks and most importantly work togehter to achieve their goal.
This game combines analogue puzzles, being outside in nature, teamwork, and some of the latest technology. Players need to find, unlock, and use a smartphone to scan NFC chips, each of which contains certain information. Some of these chips open images or videos with facts about wildcats, others trigger sound files or open apps.
One of the main game elements is an augmented reality app, necessary to reveal hidden clues and traps. This technology allows for an extra layer of depth and engangement in the game.
“Spaß haben und zugleich etwas lernen. Das ist das Ziel des neuen Highlights im Plauener Umweltzentrum. Dabei dreht sich alles um die Wildkatze – und um ein Handy.” — Freie Presse Plauen
