MagiQuest is a live action role-playing game in which players take the role of magic users. Players, called Magi in the game, use an infra-red (IR) emitting wand to interact with objects. These objects are scattered throughout the location. By waving and pointing the wand at an object, referred to as "casting" in game, a player activates the object's action. For example, pointing a wand at a treasure chest will cause the chest to open and an amount of gold is added to player's account. At some locations there are also optional items available for purchase such as a key which unlocks secret areas or a compass which allows a player to go on additional quests. Completing certain compass quests unlocks more features such as a map showing the location of every object from the basic quests.
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The first MagiQuest opened in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina at noon on June 15, 2005. The opening celebration included live appearances by actors featured in the quests. Additional MagiQuest locations have subsequently opened in East Hanover, New Jersey; Pigeon Forge, Tennessee; and those located within Great Wolf Lodge indoor waterpark resorts in Williamsburg, Virginia; Charlotte, North Carolina - Concord, North Carolina; Grand Mound, Washington; Grapevine, Texas; Kansas City, Kansas; Mason, Ohio; Pocono Mountains, Pennsylvania]]; Traverse City, Michigan; Williamsburg, Virginia; and Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin. On July 31, 2011, the newest MagiQuest location opened in Fun City at the Palisades Mall in West Nyack, New York. In Japan, locations include the Tokyo Dome and Lagunasia parks.
The Myrtle Beach and Mall of America locations are owned by Creative Kingdoms (owner and developer of MagiQuest's technology and associated patents). Other locations are franchised.[1]
DinoQuest, a dinosaur themed interactive game based on the same patented technologies is located in Santa Ana, CA.[2]
Announced at the IAAPA 2009 (International Association of Amusement Park and Attractions) trade show are plans for Creative Kingdoms (the parent company of MagiQuest) to create a spin-off company, 'AquaKingdoms' that will bring a new form of the technology used in MagiQuest to water based attractions. The first product of AquaKingdoms, SplashQuest, was introduced in prototype form to Schlitterbahn in New Braunfels, TX for the summer of 2009.[3]
Players and parents are provided with an "Ancient Book of Wisdom," a booklet containing useful information about the game such as hints and riddles to locate objects necessary to complete a quest, game directions, requirements for adventures (more advanced quests that require the use of certain spells obtained by completing quests), and a map of the location. Because there are different quests and adventures in different locations, the book's contents are unique to each location.
The basic wand comes in multiple color variations and comes with an "orb" topper that has no effect on game play. Dragon wands were released in 2008 which give players in-game advantages against the dragons. All wands contain motion sensors and an infrared light-emitting diode (see Technology below), which transmits a unique code to in-game objects when the wand is "cast"--shaken and pointed at the object. While wands have multiple sensors and the ability to differentiate between types of motion, types of wand motion do not currently have any effect on game play. At the gift shop, you can buy your own wand, toppers, and decorations (like ribbons and stickers) for your wand.
All game-play is individual, but any person can wield a given wand at any time. No advantage is gained from having multiple wands in a group, unless players wish to compete against each other, for instance by seeing who can complete tasks more quickly.
The objective of MagiQuest is to build and gain power by obtaining magic runes. These runes are awarded for completing certain tasks, using the wand to activate targets marked with a stylised Q. The runes available on Rune Quests are: Lightning, Enchant Creature, Music, Protection, Freeze, Distraction, Healing, Portal, Dazzle, Reveal, Ice Arrow, and Master Magi. While the Master Magi Rune does not grant any spells like the other Runes, earning it opens up new Rune Quests specifically for Master Magi. These Runes are the Fire, Shield, and Potion Runes. A Great Wolf Rune is also available at Great Wolf Lodge locations.
Also, outside of the kingdom of MagiQuest, a player can use his or her wand and the powers they have earned in the experience to duel each other for gold and experience points. At the Myrtle Beach location, Magi can also participate in "Garden Quest", a special rune that takes Magi around Broadway at the Beach, an outdoor shopping mall in Myrtle Beach where the MagiQuest is located.
MagiQuest Online (MQ Online) is an online version of the game. Created by Cyan Worlds, the creators of Myst, the game runs on the same engine used in Cyan's own online game, Myst Online: Uru Live. Currently only available for Microsoft Windows, MQ Online may be downloaded from the MagiQuest website.[4] MQ Online is sold in chapters; as of September 2011, only the first chapter is available. While the game has a free trial mode, each "chapter" must be purchased individually per player account. Players who complete chapter one online may access an additional quest, the silver dragon, at some MagiQuest locations.
The MagiQuest wand is a battery-powered infrared (IR) remote control device with an LED at the tip. Motion sensors (a spring sensor and a ball-and-tube sensor) inside the wand detect movement and cause the LED to emit a brief series of flashes which is unique to that wand. (These flashes can be seen by pointing the wand at the lens of any digital video camera in a dark room). The wand's range is several meters. There is no on/off switch; when the wand is left motionless, the circuit is not energized, saving battery power.
The Compass Quest compass is a plastic housing containing an embedded RFID device (an unpowered microchip and antenna circuit.) No battery is required. Like the wand, every compass has a unique numeric code; this is transmitted when the compass is placed within range of a detector, approximately 1-2 centimeters (about 1 inch).
No information is stored in either the wand or the compass. The player's name, birthdate, and nickname are associated with the wand and/or compass ID number at the time of purchase. The exact names and date given are irrelevant. This association is stored in a central online database server, and can be transferred to a new wand if the original one is lost. The server tracks the current status (runes and gold acquired, current quest, etc.) of every player in the system.
The physical topography consists of a large set of objects throughout the hotel/mall/park complex with embedded IR sensors, plus a set of RFID panels shaped like the outline of the compass. Game objects can include pictures on the walls, statues, ceiling tiles, animatronic chests, and video kiosks and projection rooms. Most stations have lights and audio prompts which play briefly on activation and shut off automatically, but kiosks and projection rooms additionally contain touchscreen video displays which allow the player to interact with the system for a short session; no login is required other than the presence of the wand or compass.
Game play typically consists of using a kiosk to receive instructions for a quest or adventure, then finding and activating a series of game objects. The requirements for the initial quests are printed in an instruction booklet supplied with the wand, but some quests must be received from the kiosks and committed to memory. Informational kiosks throughout the complex can be used to find out what parts of the current quest have been completed and what is left to do, but these omit certain clues to the locations of the objects.
The database is nationwide. The player's status (current quest, number of gold pieces, etc.) for every location can be queried from any informational kiosk in the network. Within a complex, it is updated continuously—for instance, after activating one object, a time limit (e.g. 30 seconds) may be given to find and activate the next object in the series, and if the limit is exceeded by even a few seconds, the next object will instruct the player to return to the previous station.
The band Blackmore's Night performs some of the music for MagiQuest. Candice Night, the band's vocalist, plays the role of Princess Candice. She also plays the role of Princess Amora, who is seen only at Great Wolf Lodge locations.
There are several different replacement "orbs", known as "toppers", available for purchase. There is also a rune keeper to on which to keep purchased rune replicas. The orb toppers relate to the specific clans that the player can join. While the toppers relate to the clans, the player or Magi, can choose any topper s/he wishes. The Clans are:
Toppers, Powers, and Recharge Requirements (A list of these can also be found while creating a new wand):
You can choose your clan and choose a topper and decorations that correspond with the clan that you chose.
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