The SOLVER Puzzle Hunt is a new type of experience that combines independent film and gaming. Drawn from the world of puzzles, mysteries, and escape rooms, the game sets up the characters and conflicts of the forthcoming feature film Solver, which is set to launch in early 2018.
“Our fans are disappointed with formulaic, big-budget Hollywood movies that struggle despite millions of dollars in advertising,” says HFL Alum Jack Kelley, producer of Solver. “They want a new kind of experience that’s challenging, interactive, and meaningful.”
Launching in December 2017 via social media (Instagram: @solverfilm), the Solver Puzzle Hunt features unique puzzles created by leaders in the community such as Breakout Games, the largest escape room company in the US, ClueKeeper, a puzzle app, Jodi Jill, founder of National Puzzle Day, SCRAP Entertainment, Geocaching, Professor Scott Nicholson, Nick Baxter, Curtis Chen, Errol Elumir, Patrick Fye (Evil Genius Escape Rooms), and Bruce Whitehill.
Kelley and the Solver team have bigger goals than just entertainment though. “Most people don’t equate education and fun. But puzzles and games develop the same kind of problem-solving skills we need from new generations of engineers and scientists.” To that end, he’s working to support several organizations that promote STEM education (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) such as the Smithsonian Science Education Center, the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the National Museum of Mathematics, and the Jerry Slocum Mechanical Puzzle Collection at Indiana University’s Lilly Library. “Developing our mental skills needs to be dynamic, fun, and engaging. Puzzles are a great way to do that. Science and problem solving are cool – and the key to our survival.”
So what makes solving puzzles so engaging? According to Dave Moursund of the University of Oregon: “Your mind/brain learns by developing and storing patterns. As you work to solve a problem […] you draw upon these stored patterns of data, information, knowledge, and wisdom […] The fun is in meeting the challenge of the puzzle[!]”
An all-ages mystery-adventure, the film builds on the world established by the Solver Puzzle Hunt and releases January 29, 2018 on National Puzzle Day. It stars John Ruby, Kerry Knuppe, and Antonio Jaramillo.
SOLVER LINKS are at Instagram: @solverfilm, Facebook: #solvermovie and IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt5963132/.
