Inverness-inspired digital game set for debut
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A GAME set up by an escape room fan moves to Inverness for the latest challenge from today – with Nessie as your guide.
Vicki Mackenzie (35) – who was born in the city – came up with her MyEscapeFrom online game after she and her friends were suffering from lockdown boredom, opening with a War Of The Roses challenge featuring Lancashire and Yorkshire.
Vicki said: “The first games were inspired as something to do with friends as we became bored of Zoom quizzes very quickly! After the quizzes, we had found a couple of online escape rooms, then thought ‘Hang on, we can do these!’."
When the games gained interest online and Vicki connected with local businesses, she decided to create a full series of the location-based challenges.
“We had so much fun making the games, and thought it was a really cool way for people to learn about new places that they may have never visited before.
“And for me, getting to do all the research for the games is exciting, it feels like I’m on a virtual holiday.”
Cath Findlay of Walk Inverness has helped Vicki brush up on her local knowledge of Inverness, and Walk Inverness is among the first MyEscapeFrom sponsors.
Cath said: “As an Invernessian and a business owner it’s brilliant to see a new project that raises awareness of our beautiful city!"
After leaving Inverness as a toddler, Vicki and her family moved to Preston, before Vicki's current job in the theatre industry took her to London.
But like her dad John – better-known as 'Johndo' by fellow Inverness Caledonian Thistle fans he meets regularly at away games – Vicki has hung on to her love of Inverness.
She said: “It was my dad John Mackenzie’s idea to do an Inverness game and I jumped at the idea of going back to my roots and learning more about where I was born.”
The Inverness challenge will be available to play online at www.myescapefrom.com from Friday at 7pm, alongside the Lancashire and Yorkshire themed games which are free.
The Inverness game is available for £4.99, with the idea that the price pays for a whole team.
Vicki said: “The game will take around 45 minutes to two hours, depending on your team size. And players will need to use Google Maps, Streetview, local websites and, most importantly, brainpower to make their escape!
“As you go, you get to explore your location and escape by solving cryptic clues and riddles and in this game you will help Nessie gather pieces of evidence from around Inverness to keep her secret safe!”
To play, visit www.myescapefrom.com from 7pm today.
