7 tips for your outdoor game using devices

Summer is coming soon, and we offer more and more outdoor games such as scavenger hunts or escape games using devices.

Usually, we play on a device when we’re indoors, and we can charge our device. But in our case, we play our game outdoors, and this leads to different aspects to take into account.

I’ve listed 7 tips to improve your outdoor games using devices (such as phones or tablets).

Tip #1 Make it visually clear

In an indoor setup, it’s easy to see your screen. It’s relatively dark, and you’re usually sitting. But outside, it’s another story: The high brightness makes your device screen less visible. Gladly, there are a few ways to overcome this constraint:

Use high contrast pictures, use text that’s distinctive from the background, and use a bigger font. Avoid the dark mode.

Or I have a simpler way to solve it: Use a platform that was optimized for outdoor games! It’s the case with Loquiz. We’ve been offering games since 2011, and we’ve optimized our app to be outdoor-friendly since.

Tip #2 Test your game

When you play your game outside in a public area, you never know what constraint will happen. It’s usual to have a renovation at some location, so the space becomes inaccessible. In that way, make sure you test your game on the spot before you try it.

With Loquiz, you can test as many times as you need, and you can provide a test QR code to any local people, in case you’re not on spot. It’s possible thanks to the test mode.

Tip #3 Tone down the difficulty level

Think about it: When you’re indoors, it’s easy to put all your attention on the puzzles you’re solving. Less distraction, more comfort. But if you’re outside… It’s too warm or too cold, there are many passersby around, and the sun makes the screen less readable. From there, you’ll need to reduce the difficulty level of your game.

And I can say that it’s tough to conceive riddles when you’re sitting comfortably behind your computer, for people who will play outdoors. It makes tip #2 even more important: Your tester feedback will help you adjust the difficulty.

Tip #4 Ensure that it’s easy to start the game

Will your outdoor game work with a PDF on a phone? Or an app? In both cases, put yourself in your players’ shoes and think about how they have to start it. If it’s a PDF, make sure that the document is readable and offer a printable version. If it’s an app, make sure that it’s easy to start their very own game.

In Loquiz, the player will have to enter the username, password, or scan a QR code. You can also provide them with a tablet where you’ve already logged in.

Tip #5: Double-check the walking distance

An outdoor game means a lot of walking (or running) in an area. Make sure that this fits with your audience. Ask them if they’re keen on moving or not, then adapt accordingly.

For a normal audience, try not to have more than 2.5 km of total walking. If your audience is sporty, or if you advertise your game as a sports game, 8 km is a good limit. If people are not keen on walking long distances or if you have children, 1.5 km should be a maximum, and they should spend more time on the different checkpoints.

Tip #6 Manage the device batteries

If you’re providing the players with your own tablets, just make sure they all have enough battery. But if your players come with their own device, never assume that they come fully charged. In my experience, a lot of players come with their phone charged at only 20% and expect it to survive throughout the game.

Make sure that your system allows the player to transfer the game from one device to another. After all, everyone has their own phone. It’s the case with Loquiz with the tickets (they just need to log in with the same credentials on another device) or the “resume with existing team“.

Tip #7 Ensure that you can play partially offline.

If you’re outside, then you can play with Wifi. You’ll have to rely on the network, meaning that your connection will be unstable. In that way, ensure that your outdoor game keeps working without a network. If you’re only playing on a PDF, then it’s fine. But if you’re on a webpage or an app, it might be more challenging. If you’re playing in a city, it’s ok. But if you’re in an old town with narrow streets or if you’re playing in the mountains, you might consider this constraint. Thus, make sure you test your game before.

With Loquiz, you can ensure that your game works offline if you follow these conditions.

If you have any questions about setting up an outdoor game, or if you need my insight, then feel free to send me a message!