Adrian Hon
@adrianhon.bsky.social
Founder and former CEO of Six to Start, made Zombies, Run!, wrote "You've Been Played" and "A History of the Future in 100 Objects".
Associate Artist at the Traverse Theatre. Writing a book about immersive art.
Blog: mssv.net
Associate Artist at the Traverse Theatre. Writing a book about immersive art.
Blog: mssv.net
Talks about a situation in the Saw immersive experience where designers are essentially responsible for heightened emotional response, including inadvertent physical contact.
So: create physical distance/barriers between performer and audience.
So: create physical distance/barriers between performer and audience.
October 22, 2025 at 2:06 PM
Talks about a situation in the Saw immersive experience where designers are essentially responsible for heightened emotional response, including inadvertent physical contact.
So: create physical distance/barriers between performer and audience.
So: create physical distance/barriers between performer and audience.
Must have an "authoritative presence" available to de-escalate alcohol-fuelled behaviour – not necessary a big guy but someone who can hold space and command attention.
Don't argue, just change perspective. "I get what you're saying but today we don't do X here"
Don't argue, just change perspective. "I get what you're saying but today we don't do X here"
October 22, 2025 at 2:06 PM
Must have an "authoritative presence" available to de-escalate alcohol-fuelled behaviour – not necessary a big guy but someone who can hold space and command attention.
Don't argue, just change perspective. "I get what you're saying but today we don't do X here"
Don't argue, just change perspective. "I get what you're saying but today we don't do X here"
Ensure the experience is designed and performers are equipped w/ access tools like sensory backpacks, simplified scripts, variable difficulty levels.
Last week they introduced a new idea from an access consultant: every performer now has a laminated paper printed Paddington paw that says "Stop"
Last week they introduced a new idea from an access consultant: every performer now has a laminated paper printed Paddington paw that says "Stop"
October 22, 2025 at 2:06 PM
Ensure the experience is designed and performers are equipped w/ access tools like sensory backpacks, simplified scripts, variable difficulty levels.
Last week they introduced a new idea from an access consultant: every performer now has a laminated paper printed Paddington paw that says "Stop"
Last week they introduced a new idea from an access consultant: every performer now has a laminated paper printed Paddington paw that says "Stop"
Make sure performers know anyone who's coming in advance who might have different needs (including influencers!)
October 22, 2025 at 2:06 PM
Make sure performers know anyone who's coming in advance who might have different needs (including influencers!)
Crucial that Mental Health First Aider isn't someone who is incentivised to get performers back working asap, i.e. someone removed from day-to-day operations.
October 22, 2025 at 1:49 PM
Crucial that Mental Health First Aider isn't someone who is incentivised to get performers back working asap, i.e. someone removed from day-to-day operations.
CODE RED: e.g. biohazard, e.g. kid throwing up or pooping (I am assuming). If you have kids at your attraction, make sure you have a lot of biohazard sand around!
CODE RED X: e.g. Zero tolerance for transphobia.
CODE RED X: e.g. Zero tolerance for transphobia.
October 22, 2025 at 1:47 PM
CODE RED: e.g. biohazard, e.g. kid throwing up or pooping (I am assuming). If you have kids at your attraction, make sure you have a lot of biohazard sand around!
CODE RED X: e.g. Zero tolerance for transphobia.
CODE RED X: e.g. Zero tolerance for transphobia.
3-level escalation system (other shows will want different numbers!)
Uses an in-room emergency button, powered by COGS show automation software.
Uses an in-room emergency button, powered by COGS show automation software.
October 22, 2025 at 1:42 PM
3-level escalation system (other shows will want different numbers!)
Uses an in-room emergency button, powered by COGS show automation software.
Uses an in-room emergency button, powered by COGS show automation software.
De-escalate through a palette of in-world language.
Emphasis I, not you: "I don't want to miss our train!" if you want the group to get a move on, etc.
Prevent adults from getting in your face by putting one foot forward.
Emphasis I, not you: "I don't want to miss our train!" if you want the group to get a move on, etc.
Prevent adults from getting in your face by putting one foot forward.
October 22, 2025 at 1:40 PM
De-escalate through a palette of in-world language.
Emphasis I, not you: "I don't want to miss our train!" if you want the group to get a move on, etc.
Prevent adults from getting in your face by putting one foot forward.
Emphasis I, not you: "I don't want to miss our train!" if you want the group to get a move on, etc.
Prevent adults from getting in your face by putting one foot forward.
Safe touch guidelines – one hand only, shoulders, upper back/arm, etc.
October 22, 2025 at 1:35 PM
Safe touch guidelines – one hand only, shoulders, upper back/arm, etc.
Don't try to provide rules diegetically at the expense of clarity!
October 22, 2025 at 1:33 PM
Don't try to provide rules diegetically at the expense of clarity!
External and internal behaviour rules for audiences
October 22, 2025 at 1:31 PM
External and internal behaviour rules for audiences
Buddying has been an incredibly useful tool in performer training, helped because the show has been running for so long. Sometimes a buddy is in plainclothes to provide backup, bring along the back of the group, etc.
October 22, 2025 at 1:29 PM
Buddying has been an incredibly useful tool in performer training, helped because the show has been running for so long. Sometimes a buddy is in plainclothes to provide backup, bring along the back of the group, etc.
Lots of juicy stats on the Paddington Bear experience!
30 audience members admitted every 7 minutes, non-stop. Highly automated experience.
30 audience members admitted every 7 minutes, non-stop. Highly automated experience.
October 22, 2025 at 1:28 PM
Lots of juicy stats on the Paddington Bear experience!
30 audience members admitted every 7 minutes, non-stop. Highly automated experience.
30 audience members admitted every 7 minutes, non-stop. Highly automated experience.
(I wonder what John Bale of Sport, Space and the City (1993) would make of sports spectatorship moving into virtual stadiums. People now fully excluded from the physical environs of the pitch but there is still an effort to create some kind of social participation – which will still be controlled)
October 22, 2025 at 9:49 AM
(I wonder what John Bale of Sport, Space and the City (1993) would make of sports spectatorship moving into virtual stadiums. People now fully excluded from the physical environs of the pitch but there is still an effort to create some kind of social participation – which will still be controlled)
(It's endlessly fascinating to me that "shared reality" is a goal of immersive experiences like Cosm, implicitly opposed to the fragmented, individualised reality of social media or at-home screen-based media. And yet the shared reality it delivering is extremely artificial and commercialised.)
October 22, 2025 at 9:43 AM
(It's endlessly fascinating to me that "shared reality" is a goal of immersive experiences like Cosm, implicitly opposed to the fragmented, individualised reality of social media or at-home screen-based media. And yet the shared reality it delivering is extremely artificial and commercialised.)
Cool ideas about timed soundscapes that help move the story along.
Also about using AR for people to point at game materials so different players can “see” different information in secret - e.g. the traitor can see that a knife was their murder weapon, whereas to everyone else it’s just a knife.
Also about using AR for people to point at game materials so different players can “see” different information in secret - e.g. the traitor can see that a knife was their murder weapon, whereas to everyone else it’s just a knife.
October 21, 2025 at 4:58 PM
Cool ideas about timed soundscapes that help move the story along.
Also about using AR for people to point at game materials so different players can “see” different information in secret - e.g. the traitor can see that a knife was their murder weapon, whereas to everyone else it’s just a knife.
Also about using AR for people to point at game materials so different players can “see” different information in secret - e.g. the traitor can see that a knife was their murder weapon, whereas to everyone else it’s just a knife.
Interesting ideas about writing games in spreadsheets or Twine!
Their game is somewhat replayable in that someone who’s played it before can play in another game as a new character who knows a lot more about the mystery than everyone else. Neat!
Their game is somewhat replayable in that someone who’s played it before can play in another game as a new character who knows a lot more about the mystery than everyone else. Neat!
October 21, 2025 at 4:40 PM
Interesting ideas about writing games in spreadsheets or Twine!
Their game is somewhat replayable in that someone who’s played it before can play in another game as a new character who knows a lot more about the mystery than everyone else. Neat!
Their game is somewhat replayable in that someone who’s played it before can play in another game as a new character who knows a lot more about the mystery than everyone else. Neat!
Try prototyping and “pseudo-playtesting” Jubensha as a tabletop or immersive theatre experience to figure out what players want to expect to do
October 21, 2025 at 4:27 PM
Try prototyping and “pseudo-playtesting” Jubensha as a tabletop or immersive theatre experience to figure out what players want to expect to do
This is Joe’s own Jubensha, based on a live interactive theatre show he’s done. It recently crowdfunded on Kickstarter - I backed it and it’s already shipping!
October 21, 2025 at 4:17 PM
This is Joe’s own Jubensha, based on a live interactive theatre show he’s done. It recently crowdfunded on Kickstarter - I backed it and it’s already shipping!
Very few original games written in English - maybe 12?
October 21, 2025 at 4:15 PM
Very few original games written in English - maybe 12?
So, it’s not like larp, escape rooms, D&D, or murder mystery rooms.
(This talk is more about physical games that groups buy and play for themselves at home, usually GM-less, as opposed to those played in Jubensha cafes in China)
(This talk is more about physical games that groups buy and play for themselves at home, usually GM-less, as opposed to those played in Jubensha cafes in China)
October 21, 2025 at 4:12 PM
So, it’s not like larp, escape rooms, D&D, or murder mystery rooms.
(This talk is more about physical games that groups buy and play for themselves at home, usually GM-less, as opposed to those played in Jubensha cafes in China)
(This talk is more about physical games that groups buy and play for themselves at home, usually GM-less, as opposed to those played in Jubensha cafes in China)
Story/quest "trails" are structured based on a modified classical paradigm of rising and falling action
October 21, 2025 at 1:53 PM
Story/quest "trails" are structured based on a modified classical paradigm of rising and falling action
Escape rooms compete against others but benefit from customers already searching for them, whereas Phantom Peak had to educate people on what it actually is.
The official Discord has 1225 members with 50,000 messages sent per month.
The official Discord has 1225 members with 50,000 messages sent per month.
October 21, 2025 at 1:51 PM
Escape rooms compete against others but benefit from customers already searching for them, whereas Phantom Peak had to educate people on what it actually is.
The official Discord has 1225 members with 50,000 messages sent per month.
The official Discord has 1225 members with 50,000 messages sent per month.
A lot of shade thrown at other immersive experiences here – "Sad dancing in a dark place" is a direct reference to Punchdrunk.
(I'll just say that when I was critical about Phantom Peak in my own review, he wasn't as happy!)
(I'll just say that when I was critical about Phantom Peak in my own review, he wasn't as happy!)
October 21, 2025 at 1:38 PM
A lot of shade thrown at other immersive experiences here – "Sad dancing in a dark place" is a direct reference to Punchdrunk.
(I'll just say that when I was critical about Phantom Peak in my own review, he wasn't as happy!)
(I'll just say that when I was critical about Phantom Peak in my own review, he wasn't as happy!)