By Gary Symons
TLL Editor in Chief
Game makers Infinite Rabbit Holes has released a game based on Arkham Asylum that is half board game, half augmented reality.
The company describes the officially DC-licensed game Arkham Asylum Files: Panic in Gotham City as “board game meets escape room.” The idea and technology behind the game are quite fascinating, as it includes technology that creates 3D imagery you can view through your mobile phone as the game progresses.
The game’s tech also has an impressive pedigree, as Infinite Rabbit Holes is a subsidiary of Animal Repair Shop, a studio creating immersive, connected, and personal experiences that merge the latest technology with fun storytelling.
The creative team has a deep history in cutting-edge entertainment, recognized globally for their innovative attractions at Disney, Universal and Warner Bros. theme parks, as well as the most awarded and well-known Alternate Reality Games (ARGs) of all time, including WHY SO SERIOUS? (The Dark Knight), YEAR ZERO (Nine Inch Nails), FLYNN LIVES (Tron Legacy) and PAWN TAKES PAWN (Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War), to name a few.
“When we set out to create The Arkham Asylum Files, we leveraged our team’s collective experience through games, theme parks and emerging technology to make a truly immersive at-home entertainment experience,” said Susan Bonds, CEO or parent company Animal Repair Shop. “Our goal was to put audiences into the Batman universe to interact with characters they love that is native to this new storytelling platform. The design and high-quality production is incredible. Our team produced every aspect of the experience.”
Infinite Rabbit Holes is the team behind 2008’s award-winning The Dark Knight ARG campaign Why So Serious?, and has again partnered with Warner Bros. Discovery Global Consumer Products for this new offering that seamlessly blends state-of-the-art AR technology with immersive storytelling.
The idea is that players try to solve mysteries on the streets of Gotham City with DC’s Harley Quinn, Batman and The Joker. This new form of at-home entertainment combines the best elements of collaborative play to immerse players deep inside Batman’s universe in a way that Infinite Rabbit believes will really revolutionize game night.
What makes The Arkham Asylum Files is that the game literally “comes to life,” overlaying digital content on physical elements using a free app on your iPhone or iPad.
Hosted by The Joker, the app unlocks animated and live-action story scenes, 3D graphics, gameplay, an original score and other fun surprises.
The box holds over 100 game elements, including top secret Arkham Asylum files, classified Gotham City police evidence, custom game boards, mysterious artifacts, and collectibles. The adventure will also have expansion packs and downloadable content to extend The Arkham Asylum Files experience over time.
In Panic in Gotham City, there’s a new threat in town and it’s up to you to solve the mystery and save the day. The story unfolds over seven chapters, which can be played separately or binged like your favorite television series in one session. Players join forces with Harley Quinn to unmask Gotham City’s most infamous villains by digging deep into their Arkham Asylum files.
The game is collaborative rather than competitive, so you work together with family and friends to build Gotham City and solve Riddler-worthy puzzles to match wits with The Joker and unravel a brand-new, visually stunning epic story behind Arkham Asylum’s most notorious inmates.
“At our core, we’re storytellers. Our passion is creating next-level, groundbreaking ways to place audiences into exciting narratives,” said Alex Lieu, Chief Creative Officer of Animal Repair Shop. “As a huge fan of DC’s Super Heroes and pop-culture entertainment, being able to share the future of gameplay through the Batman universe has been a dream come true.”
Early investors and advisors in Infinite Rabbit Holes include John Martin, former CEO of Turner LLC and former CFO of Time Warner, and world-renowned puzzle expert and YouTuber Chris Ramsay. Chris stated “I solve games and puzzles for a living. At home experiences are the new economy and, with Infinite Rabbit Holes, the world has never experienced AR quite like this before.”
The Arkham Asylum Files: Panic in Gotham City is the first of three adventures in The Arkham Asylum series, offers hours of collaborative family fun for 1-6 players, ages 13 and up, and can be purchased HERE for $149.