L'histoire
I've always had the idea of developing entertainment in Guinea-Bissau, because fortunately or unfortunately, young people always have money to spend on "amusement." Making money in a capitalist way is fine, but my ethics still push me not to do it haphazardly.
So, even if it's to entertain the audience, I want them to educate themselves, to inform themselves, to come out of the experience they will have with my games with greater knowledge.
I started working on the project during the COVID 2020 pandemic lockdown period after the birth of my son.
Escape games were just beginning to take off in France. This game involves a team of players locked in a room decorated with a theme and a scenario. The team has one hour to solve puzzles and other riddles to solve the mystery! Adrenaline is guaranteed, but cooperation and general knowledge are also required!
And get this, in 2019, there was NO escape room in the world, even on the continent, that used a truly African scenario (the only one that came close was on an Indiana Jones quest in Ancient Egypt and you know how some people whitewash the history of Kemet). That's where my Afro-centrism gave me inspiration! Talking about our Black heroes and heroines and their successes, making quests and scenarios out of them, and voilà!
The concept
So I have already developed the complete scenario and gameplay of the 1st room "Our Heroes are still alive":
Five great African heroes have been resurrected to liberate Africa, but they have been trapped by a traitor. After investigating, you realize he is holding them prisoner before killing them. You find yourself in this traitor's operations office. You have 1 hour to thwart his plans before his return and free our heroes, where they will die a second time... And you too!
I also have an idea of the layout of the room:
Financing
From France, I had planned a "catastrophic" budget of €30,000, where I had planned a large part of "raw" work. I had set aside around €5,000 and I managed to raise €1,100 from a crowdfunding campaign at the end of 2020. Far from it, the project remained in the boxes. The vagaries of life in Guinea-B melted my savings like snow in the sun, and I struggled to keep the crowdfunding money intact all this time.
On the occasion of a business project financing competition launched by the UNDP in July 2023, I redid the calculations as close as possible to reality and the shops for rent "without major works" available and I arrivedat a budget on paper of €10,000 ($11,500). I imagine that the reality could go up to €11,000 or €12,000 at the most.
The results
In my optimal version (2 months at 85% because of the attractive opening rate; 3 months at 100% at the normal rate thanks to word of mouth; 6 months at 65% at the normal rate due to the fallout from the craze) I arrive at a turnover of 40 million CFA (+/- 60,000€ -- $68,000) excluding sales of derivative products.
In a pessimistic version (a reduced rate for the entire period and 65% occupancy) I still arrive at a turnover of 14 million CFA francs, which doubles the investment in the first year.
I don't plan on failing because, firstly, it's not the right mindset, secondly, young people have a crying need for entertainment and will run towards anything new in this country. Thirdly, even if the intellectual side might put some people off, the gameplay really isn't very complicated and I'll make sure to let people know that with feedback from beta testers and a few celebrity guests.
The plan is realistic and viable!
Now I need a business angel with €8,900.
The sequel...
The downside of this activity is that after customers have come once and discovered the scenario, there is no longer any interest in coming back (except to come and finish the scenario in case of failure the first time).
So it's about developing other rooms with other scenarios!
African and Black history are so vast that I don't worry about always having scenarios ready:
Here I reveal a small exclusive list to you:
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Great Black Women in History (Representation)
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Who stole Tio Bernal's gray gold (cashew)? (police investigation)
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The government mole (Democracy / Good governance)
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The World Bank's $1 Billion Card (Economics)
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Our inventions (representation)
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Survive (illegal immigration)
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Dr. Joaquim Diallo's Remedy (Scientist/Health)
Additional sales
In addition to the sales of refreshments and some Escap'Africa / hero T-shirts, I imagine the expansion of the premises as a games library with other Afro-inspired board games and a pan-African library.
There you go, you know everything about my baby!
Have I made you want to join me? Contact me now!
Les autres projets
Sumo Cana & Sukari
Carbo'nete
Iabri Roda
Escap'Africa
Brincadera GB