Escape Academy 2: Back 2 School News

[p][/p][p]Hey there, Escapists![/p][p]7 months ago, we gave you a fairly early look of what Humanities Campus looked like, in the form of a devlog going over an entire YEAR of progress.[/p][p][/p][p]In all of our previous devlogs, we’ve mostly focused on the backend side of things. Puzzle design, implementation, and early versions of levels as they come together. However, we haven’t had a good opportunity to really let the art team shine until now. Please keep in mind that every picture shown off here is a work-in-progress, and there’s plenty more polish on the way![/p][p][/p][p]Campus design has been an ongoing conversation since we started prototyping for Escape Academy 2: Back 2 School, and it certainly didn’t stop at the time of that video we mentioned earlier. So, without further ado, CCG is proud to present a sneak peek at…[/p][p]Is that Science Campus I see in the distance? We’ll use the honor system and ask that you don’t look over there - you’re not supposed to know what it looks like yet![/p][p][/p][p]Jokes aside, the Humanities Campus has gotten some BIG updates since you all saw it last. The layout was changed from the locks up to better fit within the EA2 playstyle (and by that, we mean running around opening doors like a maniac.) [/p][p][/p][p]Humanities Campus now has distinct buildings with their own history - this includes the new library that was built after Quanty so kindly decided to pave the way for a new one last year![/p][p][/p][p]Here’s a beautiful before-and-after of the library concept and where it currently stands in Escape Academy 2 - instead of being tucked away at the back of campus, it’s now the very first building you’ll need to pass through to make it to the rest of campus, maybe even allowing for some super fun quests inside! 😉[/p][p][/p][p]We can’t show off the interiors just yet, as we’ve gotta leave SOME surprise for the fans, but we invite you to imagine all the wild possibilities inside. A mildly-trustworthy companion? Banned books? An angry professor? You’ll have to wait and see. [/p][p][/p][p]Next, we wanted to have the ability to have some buildings that you would actually expect to be on an “Escape” humanities campus. There’s obviously a lot of history at the Academy we’re more than excited to see players dive into on release, but how does the Academy honor it?[/p][p]The Cipher Center is one of the many ways we’re injecting school identity into the various campuses throughout the game. Not only do we get to have campus-like buildings with a touch of Escape, but you’ll actually get to walk inside, talk to other students, professors, and truly get the opportunity to feel like a student at the Academy. The Cipher Center is just one of the many doors (ha) that have been opened thanks to our new open-world systems.[/p][p][/p][p]Of course, no good campus is without a state-of-the-art lecture hall, fit with the latest and greatest seating technology. Here, students will learn all about the history of the Academy’s founders - just make sure to brush up on your decryption skills over at the Cipher Center first so you don’t fail that exam![/p][p]Additionally, something we haven’t had a lot of chances to talk about yet is the location of the Academy. It’s known that the Academy is a secret to those who aren’t enthusiastic about Escape, so it must be secluded - Escape Academy 2: Back 2 School makes sure that your immersion remains unbroken with beautiful landscapes and nature littering the Academy and its surrounding areas. I truly can’t understate how well-immersed all of these trees, patches of grass, and little trails throughout the Humanities Campus makes me feel as a player.[/p][p]What could that be?[/p][p]Before we wrap up our section on the campus updates, enjoy this sneak peek. If you’ve kept a keen eye since we dropped our trailer, something in this image might seem a little familiar…[/p][p][/p][p]We hope that you’ll enjoy the Humanities campus as much as we enjoyed making it! As a player and devout fan of Escape Academy 1, all of the little touches in here make it feel absolutely perfect. Even then, there’s still tons of work to be done! Speaking of…[/p][p]We’re proud to announce that localization is actively underway for the following languages:[/p]

• [p]French [/p]
• [p]Italian [/p]
• [p]German[/p]
• [p]Spanish[/p]
• [p]Japanese[/p]
• [p]Simplified Chinese[/p]

[p]These languages are also currently available in the demo! We can’t say much else at this time, but if you speak any of these languages, please check out our demo and consider leaving a review so we can get some feedback from non-English speaking players.[/p][p]Stay safe, Escapists! There’s been rumor of a Brain Storm headed this way - so make sure you’re prepared![/p][p][/p][p]Don’t forget to…[/p][p]…and we’ll see you in the next one. Let us know what you thought of this blog post, and what you’d like to see in the next one - that’s all from us.[/p][p][/p][p]With much love,[/p][p]Coin Crew Games 💛💜[/p]

[p]HEY there Escapist![/p][p][/p][p]Today’s blog is about HEY - or, if you’re not one of the developers of Escape Academy 2: Back 2 School, then it’ll be known as A Clued Awakening to you![/p][p][/p][p]This blog will be a little bit different, mainly because we’re not showing off a level you haven’t seen. If you’ve played the demo (and we hope you have!), then you’ll be familiar with this level as the very first thing you see when you start a new game. [/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]A Clued Awakening was one of our first chances to begin playtesting Escape Academy 2: Back 2 School, and it was the first time we committed to scrutinously playtesting a section of the game with the community.[/p][p][/p][p]HEY was first seen en masse at Summer Games Fest, the same place that we announced Escape Academy 2![/p][p][/p][p][/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]With our announcement and rise in playtests, Escape Academy 2 truly felt like it was put to the test at this point. This was when we really started cracking down on tidying up the narrative, as well as making sure that the way the early game was flowing was solid.[/p][p][/p][p]While the entire game is very important to us, as developers (and players!) the first moments of the game are extremely important. It’s where you’ll find a brand new initial look of the updated Academy, and make an impression on all the returning players coming in on that iconic tram (that’s you!). More on that later.[/p][p][/p][p]The Founders of the Academy are a very important part of Escape Academy 2’s story. We can’t give away too many details as that’d lead to spoilers, but including the Founders at the very start of HEY was a good way for us to set up for that facet of the story, while also giving players a very familiar environment (A classroom!) to explore.[/p][p]There’s so much more I’d love to gush about on the topic of the Founders - but you’ll have to wait to get the full story 🤫[/p][p]Something about waking up to the spikes in the ceiling falling while you’re still recovering from the memory-gas-grogginess felt magical to us. However, as great as this intro was, that doesn’t mean it was completely without problems.[/p][p]Starting with something as dramatic as this does a very good job of conveying tense emotions to the player; there’s this sense of urgency, needing to quickly find a solution, especially when the timer starts ticking down! Having 15 minutes to figure out all of the controls isn’t optimal for most players/ Intensity is very good - but panic from the player is bad. We didn’t want to compromise and lose any intensity in this level, so over time, we made a plan.[/p][p]Say hello to TIC - that’s short for Ticket! While not an “escape room” in the traditional sense, this level functions as a tutorial for the player, while also setting up the narrative as you prepare to travel to the Academy for your second year.[/p][p]Here, you’ll be expected to get on the tram in an ORDERLY fashion. Absolutely no running, jumping, or funny business (😉). In here, you’ll get familiar with the control scheme, puzzle interaction, and more![/p][p][/p][p]However, getting the ticket won’t be your only challenge. You’ve also got to get the tram ready to go, which will require you to solve a quick puzzle! It’s not too challenging, but we think that’s perfect for something like a first level. It gets you familiar with the interaction system, and allows for an opportunity for us (the developers) to catch the player off-guard with the sudden intensity immediately followed.[/p][p]And if you can’t figure out how to get a ticket to the Academy, well...maybe you should’ve stuck with community college.[/p][p][/p][p]HEY was a truly excellent way for us to move along the story without a lot of dialogue and without needing a ton of player-NPC interaction. Being able to interact with the story while playing the game reduces the amount that we’re breaking immersion, and prevents dialogue from taking up too much of the player’s time. Lastly, it also means that there’s more than one facet for the story to be comprehended through - so all you dialogue skippers (not) reading this won’t miss out![/p][p][/p][p]Hopefully, this look behind that scenes at a very familiar level was something you enjoyed! Making HEY was a ton of fun for the team, and it was our introduction to what a vertical slice of the Escape Academy 2 experience would truly feel like. Ever since that moment, we’ve been dedicating to recapturing that magic in every other section of the game (while making our own new magic, of course!) [/p][p][/p][p]Let us know what you thought of this one, don’t forget to say hi to us in Discord, and as always, we’ll see you in the next.[/p][p][/p][p]With Love,[/p][p]Coin Crew Games 💛💜[/p]

[p][/p][p][/p][p]It’s us again…and this time we’ve got something we’re super excited to show off. So far, most of the content we’ve shown in our Steam blogs has been of the first 2 chapters for Escape Academy 2: Back 2 School, showing off what the early foundational story looks like as well as how exactly the open-world mechanics will operate. However, as the story begins to unravel, you’ll find yourself in more and more tense places. So without further ado, let us introduce you to…[/p][p][/p][p]Just like last time, there won’t be any big narrative spoilers in this one, so if you want to see the full context of this scene, make sure to wishlist and maybe even sign up for a playtest? 👀[/p][p] [/p][p][/p][p]Things start off pretty spicy in DET. If you’re allergic to memory gas, you might want to hold off on this one. (But then again, if you were allergic to memory gas I guess you’d never make it in to the Academy…)[/p][p] [/p][p]In the other cells are 3 of your other dearest classmates, who mustn’t fall victim to the memory gas! Using your wits and the tools available to you through the room, you’ll either have to devise a clever way to get out, or forget you were ever here.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]After you’ve found your way out of your cell, you’ll have to reconvene with your classmates who haven’t been so lucky.[/p][p]One of the ways that we feel this level really shines is in the player-NPC interactions. In Escape Academy 1, it didn’t feel like there was a whole lot of room for using NPCs to move along the level/interact with the level itself aside from simple dialogue. In DET, the NPCs interact with the level itself alongside the player, allowing you to interact with the story more directly during this level.[/p][p][/p][p]More yapping with/between NPCs in general was one of our biggest narrative feedback points (although some of you went as far as wanting to date Jeb…) so we’re very happy to be introducing dialogue as a compelling, moving force in levels like these.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]The Warden’s Key just might be you and your classmates' only ticket out of here - if you can come up with a solution clever enough to reach it![/p][p] [/p][p]A mechanic we’ve been leaning on more heavily to make puzzles like this possible is the Assemble Items Interface. It may sound small, but this is a custom puzzle interface built into the Escape Academy engine that allows the player to insert multiple items into a puzzle in order to receive another item.[/p][p] [/p][p]So, if you were stuck in the Detention Dungeon, how might you cleverly get the Warden’s Key and make your escape? Let us know in the comments![/p][p]If the concept of a “Detention Dungeon” sounds a little too familiar to be the first time you’ve heard of it, then you’d be correct![/p][p]Before we began fleshing out the story (and even before it was organized into chapters!😉) the Detention Dungeon was one of the very first levels we conceptualized. And as you can probably tell, it looked a little….different back then. Escape Academy 2: Back 2 School was basically just 2 images and a handful of prototypes![/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]This prototype would slowly become a founding basis for the story - something about the concept of a “Detention Dungeon” felt both great not only in alliteration, but within the thematics of The Academy and its (many 👀) secrets as well. 🔑[/p][p]Over time, the context of the level changed and right now it sits very comfortably within the early parts of Escape Academy 2: Back 2 School’s story. Of course, there’s not too much we can give away about the story just yet. (although we’re very excited for you to see more!)[/p][p][/p][p][/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]Want to read more about how Escape Academy 2: Back 2 School got here? Check out Devlog #2![/p][p]We hope you’ve enjoyed this sneak-peek into what’s to come in Escape Academy 2: Back 2 School 👀! Do you have your own ideas for anything else you think a Detention Dungeon should include? Anything you would change? Let us know in the comments![/p][p] [/p][p]Lastly, don’t forget to….[/p][p] [/p][p]and we’ll be back with more.[/p][p]With Love,[/p][p]Coin Crew Games💛💜[/p]

[p][/p][p]We’re keeping up the momentum with our next devlog. Personally, I’m finding myself extremely excited to write this because the topic of this blog post is something we’ve gotten a good handful of questions on since our announcement of Escape Academy 2: Back 2 School. We’re answering the question that’s got everyone on the edge of their seats:[/p][p][/p][p]Don’t worry - Turmeric has plenty of business left on campus, and she hasn’t disappeared from the Escape scene just yet.[/p][p][/p][p]Today, we’re excited to show you a level with the codename “RAT”. Welcome to “Lightbulb Moment”.[/p][p]We won’t spoil any of the juicy narrative details just yet (sorry gang, you’ll have to play the full game to figure that one out 😉) but in true devlog fashion, we’re excited to jump into the nitty-gritty of what you can expect from this level.[/p][p] Turmeric is in trouble! We’ve gotta help her![/p][p]As you’d expect from the Academy, saving the beloved class pet won’t be as simple as opening the lock. That’d make too much sense. This level draws a TON of inspiration from Rube Goldberg machines, which if you’re unfamiliar, are a type of whimsical chain-reaction contraption that usually relies on common household items to cause a cascading effect that makes something happen. Usually this is something mundane, like starting your coffee machine, or turning on the oven, but in our case, we’ve got a class pet to rescue.[/p][p][/p][p]Credit to Whimsical Widgets for the picture used above; if you’d like to read more about Rube Goldberg machines, you can check out the Wikipedia page here.[/p][p][/p][p]Contraptions and whimsy are only the start, of course! Littered throughout the level are a bunch of different puzzles that utilize physics in unique ways for puzzle solutions - whether this be rotating cheese, throwing paper airplanes, or turning a rat into the best sailor you’ve ever seen.[/p][p]Marble puzzles are making a comeback in Escape Academy 2: Back 2 School! This time, thanks to our updated game engine, they’ll be able to rely on actual physics instead of animations, letting us implement puzzles like this far faster and cleaner than before. This also allows us to increase the complexity and variety of puzzles in the final product of the game, something that we are very excited for![/p][p]As you travel through RAT, Turmeric will make her journey all the way around this space, eventually making it back to the start. (Not before indulging in several different means of transportation to accomplish this, though!) Choo choo![/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]Please! Be careful! The █████ ██████ isn’t safe! If we don’t █████ ███████████ ███████████ ███████████ ██████, Turmeric could █████ ██████ ███████ ██████████████████████████ ██████ █████. We must be quick. [/p][p][/p][p][/p][h2]And finally, yes. You can pet the RAT.[/h2][p][/p][p][/p][p]We hope you enjoyed this early peek at what RAT will have to offer. There’s a lot of opportunities in this space for whimsical puzzles, something that our team has always been fond of. If you have suggestions, or some stuff you’d like to see in a future devlog, just let us know and we’d be more than happy to indulge![/p][p][/p][p]See you in the next one….and don’t forget to:[/p][p][/p][p]With much love,[/p]

[p][/p][p]We’ve got exciting news for you today! Our friends over at Lost Sock Studio are proud to announce their newest upcoming title: Escape The Riddlerock Ruins. If you enjoyed Escape Academy, you won’t wanna miss this one![/p][p][/p][p]Escape The Riddlerock Ruins is a first-person escape room puzzle game with plenty to offer, whether it be overgrown jungle ruins or hidden mountain chambers. With the new backpack-inventory system and an all-new furry companion, you’ll have more than enough tools to enjoy your upcoming adventure.[/p][p][/p][h2]Go check out Escape The Riddlerock Ruins, and make sure to drop a wishlist while you’re at it![/h2][p][/p][p][/p][p][/p]