Jonathan XIV also took a turn to sit on the Iron Throne. (Angelina Reyes\/UConn Photo)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nThe \u201cescape room\u201d event is part of a promotional effort for HBO Now, the cable giant\u2019s streaming service for mobile and other electronic devices, developed by Mr. Youth, a marketing agency specializing in new, young consumers and social media. Escape room events are a growing trend among Millennials.<\/p>\n
The rooms being re-created at Radcliffe Hicks Arena include the White House Briefing Room and Oval Office from \u201cVeep,\u201d the Incubator Room from \u201cSilicon Valley\u201d and the courtyard of Castle Black that leads to where the Iron Throne sits in \u201cGame of Thrones.\u201d<\/p>\n
In the first two escape scenarios, the competitors must find the hidden codes required to open up the doors leading out of the rooms, facing challenges during the search. In the \u201cGame of Thrones\u201d room, the team will have to build a three-dimensional puzzle map from the show\u2019s opening sequence, whose pieces are hidden under the snow. The teams have to first escape the Oval Office, followed by the Incubator Room, and then move to the courtyard and then open the door in order to finally reach their objective \u2013 a chance to sit on the Iron Throne. The teams have six minutes to solve each room\u2019s puzzle.<\/p>\n
Isabella Hyams, film director with Mr. Youth\u2019s production company, says the creative team worked to develop puzzles that students could solve quickly.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe tried to come up with puzzles that you could solve in six minutes, are fun, and were show-related,\u201d she says. \u201cWe didn\u2019t want it to be that you could solve the puzzle only if you watched the show. We wanted clues so if you watched the show, you would think it would be more fun.\u201d<\/p>\n
The marketing agency recruited two UConn \u201cambassadors,\u201d Jordan Angel BUS \u201918, a real estate and finance major, and Esha Reddy BUS \u201917, a management major, to promote the \u201cEscape the Expected\u201d event in Storrs. \u00a0They said their goal was to gather a wide range of students with different backgrounds and majors to participate in the event.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs a management major I focus a lot on communication,\u201d Reddy says. \u201cSocial media is something you have to use. A lot happened over email. You have to be good about getting back to people. I\u2019m in a business fraternity where we accept all majors. To be able to talk to my fraternity with friends from all different majors and backgrounds makes it easier to spread the word.\u201d<\/p>\n
Angel says class visits to various business organizations to learn networking and \u201cpeople skills\u201d in his major helped him to bring together a wide range of people.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s opportunities to network on campus, in the dining halls, in between classes,\u201d he says. \u201cFor me it\u2019s the Student Union. A lot of kids hang out there and talk.\u201d<\/p>\n
Wednesday evening, as finishing touches were being put on the three escape rooms, the production crew enjoyed a visit from Jonathan the Husky, who toured the rooms. Jonathan posed for photos in each room. In the \u201cSilicon Valley\u201d room, the Husky mascot was surprised when he hit a key on one of the computers and the \u201cHusky Fight Song\u201d started playing, causing him to start cheering on his audience. Jonathan ended his tour of \u201cEscape the Expected\u201d participating in a group photo with the production crew.<\/p>\n
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