Hello. This is <Realworld EXP.>. What if you could go beyond simply watching your favorite movies from the outside and actually become part of the story to experience it firsthand? For example, what if you could participate in the games from 'Squid Game'? How thrilling would it be to face the moment when robot Young-hee turns around after saying 'Red light, green light'? Such experiential venues are now becoming a reality. And they're doing it in a way where hundreds of people can participate simultaneously. I went to see it for myself!
Immersive Death Game: Where Movies Meet Theme Parks
On July 19th, 'Immersive Fort Tokyo,' the world's first immersive theme park, opened 'Immersive Death Game,' an experiential content based on Netflix's popular drama 'Alice in Borderland'.
'Alice in Borderland' is a drama about survival challenges where characters are suddenly transported to a mysterious dimension called Borderland and must participate in various life-or-death games to survive. Each episode features uniquely designed mazes and thrilling puzzles that require extraordinary thinking and cooperation or competition within time limits. This concept received great acclaim and even made it into the global Top 10.
This 'Immersive Death Game' is developed in collaboration with Robot Communications, the original production company behind Alice in Borderland. Participants wear 'collar bombs' around their necks, just like in the drama, and must remove them within the time limit to survive. While the bombs in the movie have the terrifying consequence of 'beheading' upon mission abandonment or failure, the game uses conductors that deliver 'electric shocks.' You know those toy lie detectors where you put your finger on them during truth games and get shocked? Think of this as a neck-worn version of that.
Become the movie protagonist and solve missions!
The game runs in 20-minute sessions. Participants must make online reservations in advance, similar to getting a waiting number through a table management system (using airwait service). No need to wait in line unnecessarily - they'll notify you when it's time. When your turn comes, players gather in a designated plaza, receive bombs like the ones shown in the photo, and put them around their necks. One unusual aspect is that during basic information input, you must check numerous consent items for various safety accidents. The key point is that they're not responsible for any incidents caused by electric shocks.
Participants scan QR codes displayed on their necklaces with their smartphones, enter the entrance code shown on screen, and wait. Up to this point, the atmosphere is very peaceful - people take verification photos and chat with each other, curious about what kind of game awaits.
Game on! After setting the mood in the venue, the lead actor appears on the ceiling screen and begins explaining the game. People cheer when the familiar actor appears, likely due to the anticipation of entering a movie scene.
Providing immersive roles and narratives
People become immersed when given a role in any situation. And when they become the protagonist of that role, they become ecstatic. If movie highlight moments unfold before me! I become completely immersed. Initially, the audience thinks 'Wow, I'm in a movie scene!' but still remains in an observer position. Even when test games are presented, they only recognize 'Now I need to move.'
But following AI voice guidance '5, 4, 3, 2, 1 (go, yon, san, ni, ichi)' and beep!!! 'Bzzzzt' - the sound of millions of volts accompanied by a strong electric shock to the neck. This instantly snaps you to attention. Maybe because it's unexpected, but the electric shock is stronger than anticipated.
'What the! This is too strong~ This is no joke!' At this moment, one participant in the venue jumps up with smoke coming from their neck. They say 'I'm not playing this game' and run out, but soon collapse with a 'bzzt,' and the host approaches saying they're dead (of course, they're all actors). It creates a very entertaining atmosphere.
When the female AI voice dryly declares 'The game begins,' the screen starts a 17-minute countdown. Participants who were laughing suddenly become serious, immediately immerse themselves, and start running around solving puzzles. Now participants transform into complete protagonists of this game!
Simple puzzle games like picture matching that anyone can enjoy
The game consists of 2 missions and is relatively simple. The first problem presents 'picture cards' with characters and numbers on your smartphone screen, and you must find identical cards and calculate the sum of the numbers displayed. Various patterned picture cards are posted throughout the plaza, and while it seems easy to find them at first glance, the shapes are subtly different, making it challenging to find the correct answer. There are even picture cards with no matching shapes! (You'll get a taste of electricity!).
While 17 minutes seems long, it actually feels like less than a minute when you're playing. You become that desperate, and although staff keep telling you not to run, you end up running anyway... Those who solve the first problem move on to the second, which involves following spider web lines partially revealed on the ceiling screen to find all visible numbers and add them up for a three-digit value.
This three-digit number is for the three-digit lock hanging on the electric necklace, but you can't unlock it yourself - someone else must help you. You haven't even unlocked your own necklace, but now you must help others too, with less than a minute remaining! And soon the countdown begins again. 10, 9, 8... 3, 2, 1. Bzzzzt!! Aaah!!!
The game venue concludes filled with cheers from those who completed missions and (joyful?) screams from those who got shocked. People innocently waiting for the next round look on with tense expressions, wondering what's happening^^ Now it's time to exit from Realworld back to the normal world. How about it? Would you like to give it a try?
The era of story-driven theme parks is coming
We're witnessing attempts to bring open-world RPG games into real spaces. After Immersive Fort Tokyo opened on March 1st, Shanghai officially opened the world's largest immersive theme park SAGA光明之城 (Shanghai SAGA City of Light) on May 28th. Over 50 movie scenes are prepared with more than 150 diverse actors performing.
UK's Secret Cinema presents immersive movie performances that can accommodate over 5,000 people at once. Most notably, there's a brilliant new approach targeting Alpha and Gen Z demographics instead of children and families first. Interestingly, Immersive Fort Tokyo is led by key figures from Universal Studios Japan, Shanghai SAGA is a theme park launched in Shanghai by France's 'Puy du Fou,' one of the world's top 4 theme parks, and Secret Cinema recently collaborates with Disney, Universal Studios, Warner Brothers, and others to expand content-centered theme parks.
As imagined in the introduction, what if you could enjoy various quests from 'Squid Game'? You'd probably want to rush there immediately for exciting adventures. Thousands upon thousands of thrilling movies, dramas, and games will likely pursue such expansions. The day when screen worlds unfold in the real world - Realworld - is approaching. Just imagining it makes your heart race, right? Realworld will also work diligently to help you meet such a future sooner!
Thank you!