Fictional Reality

A lively discussion with Flatpak and Full Deck creator Stephen Lockyer about his history of designing puzzle books, his discipline of creating content, and how the every day and mundane inspires his process.Stephen has a dry sense of humour and I could have chatted with him for hours about his puzzle making process. His is an enthusiastic creator and very helpful and open contributor to the puzzle community. He has launched numerous successful Kickstart campaigns and he and his business partner are responsible for several renowned puzzle books.This episode we discuss his process and how to create massive amounts of content without overloading your brain or your schedule.==========LINKS=========Stephen has provided us with a special discount code for the Escapages online store: FICTIONALREALITYHead over to https://escapages.co.uk/ and use the code FICTIONALREALITY upon checkout to recieve a discount on all productsMy website: https://www.puzzledreality.comMy IG: @thepuzzledmakerPodcast Producer: https://thatsnotcanon.comInterested in starting your own podcast? Head to That's Not Canon and ask how See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

LA based experience designer Tommy Honton joins me as we discuss his journey from a film and tv writer in the wild and wacky world of experience design.This is the 10 episode of season 2 of Fictional Reality. In this season I talk to experience designers from around the world about how they design puzzle experiences, mysteries, immersive theatre, and escape rooms. Today I chat with Tommy Honton an award winning experience designer with a passion for the fundamental experience of the player. He has designed and created experiences such as the Museum of Selfies, Stash House, Arcana, All of Them Witches, and the Mortality Machine (to name a few).He is a pleasure to talk to and learn from and was very encouraging in being forthcoming about how he entered the field and continues to design experiences. He has a playful heart and a eye for detail. His focus on accessability makes him a careful considerate creator who's goal is to provide an exciting, meaningful experience for the player.I hope you enjoy this episode, remember to like and subscribe and catch you next time!==========LINKS===========Tommy Honton: Website: https://tommyhonton.com/Stash House Escape Room: https://www.stashhou.se/Review of Arcana: https://becomeimmersed.com/arcana-review/My website: www.puzzledreality.comMy IG: @thepuzzledmakerPodcast Producer: https://thatsnotcanon.comInterested in starting your own podcast? Head to That's Not Canon and ask how See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The Wild Optimists are the creative duo behind the first mass markte escape room in a box game and work as puzzle designers whose goal is to discover new ways to play.This week I chat with two very clever, generous, and creative puzzle designers Ariel and Juliana. Together the are The Wild Optimists, two women who are constantly pushing themselves to discover new ways to play. They have created in home experiences, online puzzle quests, are the minds behind Vampire Pizza (a quarantine solution), and have also launched a puzzle workshop among many many other projects. Their laundry list is as long as their testimonials page and they were very generous in giving me an evening of their time.We discuss how they came to be, their passion for creating new experiences, their process, what they have been doing during quarantine, and how others can create their own puzzle narrative experiences.I hope you enjoy this episode, remember to like and subscribe and catch you next time!==========LINKS===========My website: https://www.puzzledreality.comMy IG: @thepuzzledmakerPodcast Producer: https://thatsnotcanon.comWild Optimistshttps://www.wildoptimists.com/Rita Orlovhttps://www.getpostcurious.com/Vampire Pizzahttps://www.vampire.pizza/Renegade Gameshttps://www.renegadegamestudios.com/Escape Room in-a-boxhttp://www.escaperoominabox.com/en-usInterested in starting your own podcast? Head to That's Not Canon (LINK ABOVE) and ask how See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

A chat with experience designer Ben from Mystery City Games, an outdoor puzzle adventure company who specialise in "puzzlefying" historical stories.EPISODE NOTES: Ben and his business partner decided to make use of all the great history, stories, and mysteries that lay hidden within the bricks mortar of Amsterdam by creating a puzzle led narrative adventure that would take visitors on a mysterious self guided tour of the city. Two years of development and testing resulting in a successful model that had his company growing rapidly to expand to more cities, developing more true historical puzzle adventures.I hope you enjoy this episode, remember to like and subscribe and catch you next time!==========LINKS===========My website: https://www.puzzledreality.comMy IG: @thepuzzledmakerPodcast Producer: https://thatsnotcanon.comMystery City Gameshttps://mystery.city/IG: @mysterycityStickville Murder Mysterieshttps://web.archive.org/web/20140717125047/http://www.normandcompany.com/STICKMAN/index.htmlInterested in starting your own podcast? Head to That's Not Canon and ask how See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Jack Ford Morgan is the founder and game designer for Half-Monster Games, an independent Australian board game producer. We talk about his latest game Animal World War, the question of "what is good", and designing player experience.EPISODE NOTES: Jack and I talk about the importance of designing the player experience in our latest episode. We discuss how immersive approaches to game design help build a narrative and universe that sustains player imagination throughout gameplay. We digress slightly into trying to answer the question of What Is Good and easily dispatch the answer, I don't know why it took so many philosophers so long to figure it out!Jack and I have a lot in common with regards to designing experiences, his within the board game industry, and my within the immersive events and entertainment industry. I hope you enjoy this week's episode of Fictional RealityLINKS:Half-Monster Games: https://halfmonstergames.comIG: @halfmonstergamesMy website: https://www.puzzledreality.comMy IG: @thepuzzledmakerPodcast Producer: https://thatsnotcanon.comwww.puzzledreality.com | www.brisbaneexplorers.com | www.halfmonstergames.com See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Paul Adams is a multi-modal creator specialising in theatre production and business development. He is a true renaissance man, and believes in surprising the customer with value.EPISODE NOTES: This is the sixth episode of season 2 of Fictional Reality. This season I will be interviewing experience designers, puzzle developers, and escape room enthusiasts to find out how they design experiences.This week I chat with Paul Adams from Small Crown Productions, a local Brisbane based theatre producer and creator. Paul has extensive experience not only in theatre, live action role play, re-enactment performances, and film but also in managing and growing business.He is on a mission to apply the skills that have made him a successful manager, organiser and leader and apply them to a creative business model. We have a lengthy discussion about the experience design of the customer journey. Paul believes that the customer should become a part of the company, especially within the children's theatre industry. So Paul has created a series of models, funnels, and frameworks aimed at expanding the customer experience to create loyalty, and value across years, generations, and productions.I hope you enjoy this episode, remember to like and subscribe and catch you next time!==========LINKS===========My website: https://www.puzzledreality.comMy IG: @thepuzzledmakerPodcast Producer: https://thatsnotcanon.comSmall Crown Productionshttps://www.smallcrownproductions.com.au/Paul on IG: @smallcrownproductionsInterested in starting your own podcast? Head to That's Not Canon and ask howwww.puzzledreality.com | www.brisbaneexplorers.com | www.halfmonstergames.com See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

This week I chat with Doctor Cameron Cliff. He develops multi-platform experiences and uses storytelling to solve strategy problems.EPISODE NOTES: This is the fourth episode of the new season of Fictional Reality. This season I will be interviewing experience designers, puzzle developers, and escape room enthusiasts to find out how they design experiences as well as tips and tricks for you how can too.This week I chat with Doctor Cameron Cliff. He develops multi-platform experiences and uses storytelling to solve strategy problems. From immersive, interactive theatrical productions that explore themes like loneliness or the lives of refugees, to the experience journey of online educational modules.Cameron received his PhD researching how multi modal storytelling (then trans-media) can facilitate perceived co-creation, community, and ownership of content and thus create a more fully engaging media. We discuss how emotion and narrative can work together with interactive and immersive design to create an unforgettable user experience. Experience design can lead to strong emotional connections through the feeling of perceived co-creation, choice, and agency.I love talking to Cameron about how to engage audiences to ride an emotional roller-coaster, but of course it is imperative that it is done safely and with the consent of the viewer. We discuss at length what it means to invoke emotional responses and how they can be successfully implemented through experience design.I hope you enjoy this episode, remember to like and subscribe and catch you next time!==========LINKS===========Cam's Website: https://www.cliffhangercreative.com/Punchdrunk "The Lost Lending Library": https://www.punchdrunk.org.uk/project/the-lost-lending-library/Art of Game Design on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com.au/Art-Game-Design-Lenses-Second-ebook/dp/B00OYUO4PYRobert Pratten "Transmedia Storytelling on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ylj74jPHafEGetting Started in Transmedia Storytelling: https://talkingobjects.files.wordpress.com/2011/08/book-2-robert-pratten.pdfNo Mimes Media (AR puzzle adventure for The Dark Knight): https://www.nomimes.com/Feminist Approach to Game Design:Brie Code (Tend and Befriend Game Design): https://www.briecode.com/Feminist Game Design Journal: https://maifeminism.com/leveling-up-a-critical-feminist-pedagogy-for-game-design/My website: https://www.puzzledreality.comMy IG: @thepuzzledmakerPodcast Producer: https://thatsnotcanon.comInterested in starting your own podcast? Head to That's Not Canon by clicking the above link and ask howwww.puzzledreality.com | www.brisbaneexplorers.com | www.halfmonstergames.com See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

This week I chat with Michelle and Yacine from Society of Curiosities and Kauai Escape rooms. In the COVID business pivot they released a play at home adventure subscription service.EPISODE NOTES: This is the third episode of the new season of Fictional Reality. This season I will be interviewing experience designers, puzzle developers, and escape room enthusiasts to find out how they design experiences.This week I chat with Michelle and Yacine from Society of Curiosities and Kauai Escape rooms. In the COVID business pivot they released a play at home adventure subscription service.We chat about how they became escape room owners as well as their design process for ensuring that narrative consistency remains paramount in achieving their vision. They also tell me their tips and tricks for inspiring awe and wonder for anyone looking to design a puzzle experience themselves.I hope you enjoy this episode, remember to like and subscribe and catch you next time!==========LINKS===========Society of Curiosities: https://www.societyofcuriosities.com/Kauai Escape: https://www.escaperoomkauai.com/My website: https://www.puzzledreality.com/My IG: @thepuzzledmakerPodcast Producer: https://thatsnotcanon.comwww.puzzledreality.com | www.brisbaneexplorers.com | www.halfmonstergames.com See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Today I chat with Rita Orlov, the creator behind the mail-out mystery website PostCurious. She is a narrative puzzle adventure designer, illustrator, creator, maker extraordinaire.EPISODE NOTES: This is the third episode of the new season of Fictional Reality. This season I will be interviewing experience designers, puzzle developers, and escape room enthusiasts to find out how they design experiences.Today I chat with Rita Orlov, the creator behind the mail-out mystery website PostCurious. She is a narrative puzzle adventure designer, illustrator, creator, maker extraordinaire. We discuss her latest project "The Emerald Flame", a narrative puzzle adventure that involves a mysterious comet, an alchemist, a historical society, and a mysterious plot. She has recently launched this epic adventure on kickstarter which has, by all accounts, been an uproarious success. This episode is a deep dive into the creative purpose. From the initial idea, then the research, the designing, testing, prototyping, and manufacturing we cover the process of creating a top tier narrative puzzle adventure from the ground up.I hope you enjoy this episode, remember to like and subscribe and catch you next time!==========LINKS===========PostCurious Website: https://www.getpostcurious.comThe Emerald Flame Kickstarter: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/postcurious/the-emerald-flamePostCurious on IG: https://www.instagram.com/postcuriousMy website: www.puzzledreality.comMy IG: @thepuzzledmakerPodcast Producer: https://thatsnotcanon.comInterested in starting your own podcast? Head to That's Not Canon and ask howwww.puzzledreality.com | www.brisbaneexplorers.com | www.halfmonstergames.com See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

This week I chat with Chris Waters aka The Architect and owner of Constructed Adventures, an individualized treasure hunt experience designer from Portland, Oregan USAEPISODE NOTES: This is the second episode of the new season of Fictional Reality. This season I will be interviewing experience designers, puzzle developers, and escape room enthusiasts to find out how they design experiences.This week I chat with Chris Waters aka The Architect and owner of Constructed Adventures, an individualized treasure hunt experience designer from Portland, Oregon USA.Chris is a wealth of knowledge when it comes to experience design and we chat in great depth about his first treasure hunt experience that blew up on Reddit in 2016. He explains his process, some tips and tricks to doing it yourself, and he shares his top 10 rules for immersive experience design.I hope you enjoy this episode, remember to like and subscribe and catch you next time!================LINKS=======================Constructed Adventures Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzsH...Reddit Subpage: https://www.reddit.com/r/Constructeda...Website: https://www.constructedadventures.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/constructed...Twitter: https://twitter.com/constructed_advSupport Chris on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/Constructedad...NPR "How I Built This": https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=799...Ottendorf (Book) Cipher: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Book_ci...Wordsearch Builder:http://puzzlemaker.discoveryeducation...My website: https://www.puzzledreality.comMy IG: @thepuzzledmaker

This week I chat to enthusiastic and adorkable escape room owner Keziah about how she designed her latest room and the fundamentals of an immersive experience.EPISODE NOTES: Welcome back dear explorers!This is the first episode of the new season of Fictional Reality. This season I will be interviewing experience designers, puzzle developers, and escape room enthusiasts to find out how they design experiences.This week I chat to enthusiastic and adorkable escape room owner Keziah about how she designed her latest room and the fundamentals of an immersive experience. She tells us some tips and tricks to designing our own experiences too.When it comes to designing escape room experiences Keziah believes in the power of story, and to let the puzzles augment the narrative.I hope you enjoy this episode, remember to like and subscribe and catch you next time!====LINKS====My website: www.puzzledreality.comMy Youtube Channel:My Instagram: @thepuzzledmakerSeraphim Escape: www.seraphimescape.com.auwww.brisbaneexplorers.comwww.halfmonstergames.com See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

I am joined by two other chrononauts this week as we discuss the trials and tribulations of living as a time traveler.Time-traveling freelancer Zane C Weber and TIME agency sellout Ol Matty join me in the booth this week and discuss what time adventures they've been on. We go back to the early Cretaceous, to the golden age of pirates, and catch a little glimpse into the future as we find out how time travel is regulated and some clever ways to earn a dollar here and there.www.brisbaneexplorers.comwww.halfmonstergames.com

Thank you for creating me. You are the world you experience, here let me show you.www.brisbaneexplorers.comwww.halfmonstergames.com

Joined by Zane C Weber, Johanna Lyon, and Paula Arujo we dive into the world of propaganda and how stories delivered to us about the world shape the world. An interesting discussion that moves across propaganda in popular culture, to children's advertising, to the blurry line between privacy and insidious messages targeted directly to us.www.brisbaneexplorers.comwww.halfmonstergames.com

Zane C Weber is a prominent futurist, doctor, and used car salesman and has a lot to say about the nature of late capitalism in dense urban environments. Callan Davies is an esteemed guest lecturer at the college for independent research toward marine intelligence. We talk at length about ideal Utopias and how they might be the most fictional realities of all before touching on fascism. All in all, an enlightening conversation.www.brisbaneexplorers.comwww.halfmonstergames.com

This week I talk with my friend Nick about what type of narrative The Bible tells us, and in turn, what type of fictional reality.My friend Nick, a fellow philosophy undergrad, pizza enjoyer, and devout Christian. We talk about the bible and its place in the world as a reality shaping document. What kind of reality does the bible offer us, and in turn, shape us into? Listen to find out.www.brisbaneexplorers.comwww.halfmonstergames.com

Your host James Elliott comes to you from the year 2021 and tells us all about a puzzle adventure made by The Brisbane Treasure Hunt Society called The Time Traveler. We also get a bit of info on what time travel is like in the future.www.brisbaneexplorers.comwww.halfmonstergames.com

I am joined by Professor, Artistic Director, and wild apothecary Dr Rob Pensalfini this episode. We had already sampled some of the finer concoctions he had recently conjured , but the important thing is that we had fun.www.brisbaneexplorers.comwww.halfmonstergames.com

In about 2 years a TV show simply titled "TIME" will air. It will change the medium, and our view on time, time travel, and fictional reality forever.www.brisbaneexplorers.comwww.halfmonstergames.com

What do games do for us? Why are they so addictive? Well this week I talk to Jack Ford Morgan and Callan Davis from Half-Monster Games about how we immerse gamers within fictional realities (yet again). We go nice and deep into how games fulfill our wishes, what those wishes are, and where they come from.If you're interested in The Great GOMA Art Heist head over to this link:https://www.facebook.com/events/447864422451968/If you'd like to know more about Half Monster Games head to their website or facebook.www.halfmonstergames.comIf you'd like to know more about The Brisbane Treasure Hunt Society head over towww.brisbaneexplorers.com#podcast #gamedesign #art #jung #goma #timetravel #games #gaming #QUTwww.brisbaneexplorers.comwww.halfmonstergames.com

Picking up from part one The Boretti's head down to Dutton Park cemetery to search for the remains of their late father. They become embroiled in tales of secrets, imbued with wine, and quite derailed by the conclusion.Cast:Neddy Boretti: James ElliottEddy Boretti: Matthew Hannibal ButlerFreddy Boretti: Patrick ShearerTeddy Boretti/Inspector Moss: Thomas HarrisBetty Boretti: Julia PendrithFran: Johanna LyonReverend Green: Tristan TellerCheck out the Brisbane Immersive Ensemble athttps://www.brisbaneimmersive.com/Or the Facebook live video of us solving the puzzle at https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1097369447117098&id=145934115984228#drama #improv #podcast #crimefiction #comedy #drunk #puzzles #crimefamily #brisbane #brisbaneactors #actors #gameswww.brisbaneexplorers.comwww.halfmonstergames.com

Last time we convinced Inspector Honey to work for us. This time we are going to figure out who killed our pa, why, and where his body is hidden. A talented group of actors from Brisbane Immersive Ensemble drink wine, solve puzzles, and improvise the story as we pretend to be new york gangster here in sunny brisbane c.1936Cast:Neddy Boretti: James ElliottEddy Boretti: Matthew Hannibal ButlerFreddy Boretti: Patrick ShearerTeddy Boretti/Inspector Moss: Thomas HarrisBetty Boretti: Julia PendrithFran: Johanna LyonCheck out the Brisbane Immersive Ensemble athttps://www.brisbaneimmersive.com/Or the Facebook live video of us solving the puzzle at https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1097369447117098&id=145934115984228#drama #improv #podcast #crimefiction #comedy #drunk #puzzles #crimefamily #brisbane #brisbaneactors #actors #gameswww.brisbaneexplorers.comwww.halfmonstergames.com

Some friends and I recently went and experienced the latest escape room from Escape Hunt in West End, Brisbane, Australia titled Blackbeard's Treasure. I review the experience with a focus on immersion, flow, difficulty, coherence, and theme before giving a score out of 5 Escape Ropes.www.escapehunt.com.au#escaperoom #escapehunt #puzzle #game #pirate #treasure #blackbeardstreasure #immersive #escape #thingstodowww.brisbaneexplorers.comwww.halfmonstergames.com

An Ode To Stickswww.brisbaneexplorers.comwww.halfmonstergames.com

This episode I talk with Xanthe Jones and Ben Lynskey the creative minds behind Brisbane Immersive Ensemble responsible for Cluedo! The Interactive Game. A very practical episode about what immersive theatre is, isn't, and some keys steps to keep in mind for how to create your own.#immersive #theatre #experiences #howto #brisbane #brisbanetheatre #Cluedo #acting #gamification #puzzles #anywheretheatrewww.brisbaneexplorers.comwww.halfmonstergames.com

Keziah Seraphim is the owner of Seraphim Escape rooms, heralded as Brisbane's scariest escape room. She has done over 80 escape rooms and is a true fanatic. Prior to the podcast recording Kez gave a puzzle I'd created a go: The Bank Heist In-A-Box. She is an absolute delight and has some great insight into what makes a strong, engaging, puzzle and escape room experience. Check her out at the link below or head over to her facebook page if you'd like to see her play The Puzzle Present in a live video we recorded.https://www.seraphimescape.com.au/https://www.facebook.com/SeraphimEscape/www.brisbaneexplorers.comwww.brisbaneexplorers.comwww.halfmonstergames.com

This week's episode is a short poem I wrote for a treasure hunt I made that took explorers on a journey up a small mountain in Toohey Forest. The hunt was augmented by some meditations by popular philosopher from the 1970's Alan Watts and Sam Harris. If you would like to listen to more waxing philosophy like this let me introduce you to Alan at the link below.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2RFZQjLMV6Y&list=FLy670ZY8pk4yJpEWeE_tE3g&index=7www.brisbaneexplorers.comwww.halfmonstergames.com

Writer Ol Matty Hannibal Butler from Delicious Word Sandwich joins us to talk about his latest science fiction space opera, what it means to engage his audience in fictional worlds, the underdog, and how we can write our own narratives to supersede those placed before us. Check out Delicious Word Sandwich, a literature review podcast that analyses classic texts and embodies them into the perfect sandwich:https://open.spotify.com/show/3sInDpDHgEtZnVrHBsMp2R?si=tLBhkO2ASJ2ae8TImrHRPQThanks for listening and let us know what you think on instagram @brisbanetreasurehuntsocietywww.brisbaneexplorers.comwww.halfmonstergames.com

Join Brisbane's most notorious family as we sit down with The Boretti siblings and Fran. We discuss life, crime, money, wealth, and fame in Brisbane 1936 and of course; the man tied to the chair with the gag over his mouth.CastNeddy Boretti: James ElliottFreddy Boretti/ Cheif Inspector Puce: Patrick ShearerTeddy Boretti: Thomas HarrisEddy Boretti/Jaimeson Honey: Matthew Hannibal ButlerBetty Boretti: Julia PendrithFran/ Inspector Periwinkle: Johanna LyonWe would like to thank The Brisbane Immersive Ensemble for letting us have the Boretti's for the evening. If you would like to experience Cluedo! The Interactive Game head over to www.brisbaneimmersive.com and book your tickets today.www.brisbaneexplorers.comwww.halfmonstergames.com

Welcome back to the second episode! This week I talk with a good friend of mine John Catania about my favourite film sub-genre: time travel. We discuss the methods that the medium of film has at its disposal to grab an audiences' attention, how much does an audience need to start creating their own fictional reality, and what makes a fictional reality within a filmic universe compelling. Enjoywww.brisbaneexplorers.comwww.halfmonstergames.com

Join world-renowned sandwich chef Baz as he guides you along a roller-coaster voyage into the discovery and creation of the World's Greatest Sandwich. www.brisbaneexplorers.comwww.halfmonstergames.com

Welcome to the first episode of Fictional Reality. I, James Elliott from The Brisbane Treasure Hunt Society, join you with Zane C Weber (That’s Not Canon Productions) and Jack Ford Morgan (Half-Monster Games) as we discuss how an audience are initiated into a fictional reality. Be it a game, a puzzle, or immersive piece of theatre. We explore what creates an immersive world for audiences, before tangenting into the hidden world of Harry Potter, Warhammer 50k, and the nature of Conspiracy Theories. Enjoy.www.brisbaneexplorers.comwww.halfmonstergames.com

Tune in on Tuesday for our first episode!www.brisbaneexplorers.comwww.halfmonstergames.com