Ford Motor Co. put a new spin on escape rooms—the popular experience game of solving a riddle or puzzle to get out of a locked room. The leading auto company teamed up with New York tourism organization I Love New York and created a one-of-a-kind experience called Escape New York. (See below.)
The experience took place June 23-26 in New York City’s Moynihan Station and is an elaborate take on the typical experience room. Escape New York involved five rooms, the 2017 Ford Escape, and the experience was designed to get participants in the mindset to travel and experience the great state of New York. Gamers used the following Ford features to orchestrate their escape:
• Digital music and streaming radio from iHeartRadio via SYNC® AppLink™
• Voice-to-text capabilities of SYNC 3 driver connect system
• Remote start and remote lock capabilities of SYNC Connect, via FordPass™
• Premium audio system from Sony® with Clear Phase™ and Live Acoustics™
• Enhanced active park assist
• Adaptive cruise control and collision warning with brake support
• Rearview camera
• Seven-color ambient lighting
• Hands-free, foot-activated liftgate
Puzzle master Victor Blake developed the game, which more than 1,000 participants signed up to experience. “Ford asked if I’d be up for integrating the new Escape into an Escape the Room game, and the end result is unlike anything I’ve created before,” says Blake. “The SUV is packed with tons of advanced technology, and it was an entertaining exercise to integrate things like ultrasonic parking sensors into the puzzles and clues that are iconic to the game.”
Ford and I Love New York also developed Summer Escape Travel Guides featuring weekend and extended getaways that can be best enjoyed in the 2017 Ford Escape. All Escape New York participants received a custom summer guide highlighting the state’s diverse vacation regions to help plan the perfect weekend getaway. Did someone say road trip?
