A Canadian company is hoping to make life during a pandemic a little more entertaining with a game it tested out in Steveston last Tuesday.
Dubbed, “part escape room, part Amazing Race,” the game operates like a clue-solving adventure combined with scavenger hunt, according to Andrew Nickerson, owner of Mystery Town Tours, which hosted the free trial.
“It’s a whole lot of fun. We work with local businesses and we hide clues in their windows. Therefore, people become more aware of the clues -- and the businesses.
“We will showcase many fun places in the community; some of those places are hidden gems that they wouldn’t find themselves. Whether you have been here for 20 years or 20 minutes, you will see the town in a new way,” said Nickerson, adding that all players are required to maintain social-distancing due to COVID-19.
For Tuesday’s event, participants were encouraged to bring their friends and families to work in teams of two to four players and use the clues provided to solve a mystery that took them around town on a 2-km route. The tour could range from 90 minutes to 2.5 hours -- or even the whole day.
People started the adventure by downloading the Mystery Towns App on a phone and inputting all information as instructed. Then players received a background story and a series of clues that lead them through their adventure. If players submitted the right answers, they would receive a new clue. Otherwise, they got a time penalty.
Players need to pay in advance to join the Mystery Towns Tours, but Nickerson offered a free experience in Steveston July 13, 14 since his team was taking promotional photos for the new game.
For people who are interested, they can visit solverichmond.com.
