Suggestions
Brendan Mills
Founder, Escape Plan Ltd
Brendan Mills is the Creative Director and founder of Escape Plan Board Games Ltd, a company he established in May 2020.3 He is an entrepreneur who successfully transitioned from managing escape rooms to designing and publishing board games.12
Mills founded Escape Plan Board Games after successfully Kickstarting two projects, raising over £100,000 across them.2 His first game, "Stop the Train!", was launched less than a year before his second game, "Hit the Silk!".14
Prior to founding Escape Plan Board Games, Mills was the Director at Escape Plan Ltd, which operated physical escape rooms. When the COVID-19 pandemic forced the closure of traditional escape rooms, Mills pivoted his business model, drawing inspiration from tabletop gaming to create board games.1
Mills manages a team of 10 and has demonstrated his ability to adapt to changing circumstances, turning challenges into opportunities.2 His background includes various roles at Kantar Worldpanel before venturing into the entertainment and gaming industry.
Highlights
Pushed for Time has been open for a few weeks now and we are delighted to have it as part of the suite of games at ESCAPE PLAN LTD. (We are better equipped than ever for corporate/large groups).
'PFT' has stretched us and we've acquired new skills, e.g. on COGS supplied by the excellent Clockwork Dog. We've learned how to build new things with the oversight of Lasercraft Creations - the three month installation period far longer and bigger than anything we've done prior. We also continue working with the talented Oli Harrison on soundscapes and he's absolutely delivered again.
The conception of this game (internally dubbed 'The Howling Child' on account of its myriad needs) has been an interesting process of asking "Is this fun" about many parts of the experience. "If it's not, why is it here and should we keep it?"
Tweaking the experience is a watchful process of seeing what delights players and using those learnings, to dream up new ideas and improvements. And occasionally admitting we expected too much from players and need to iron out the ambiguities.
For me, the most exciting part is the scope for future episodes within this emerging new world we have created of a Time Travel Agency.
That’s our work Christmas party. Apparently they like working for Escape Plan. Somehow we have managed to set a culture that makes it possible. One of them summed it up nicely for me and that’s absolutely given me a warmth and a lift this December. 😊
Thanks for another lovely Christmas Brendan. I probably said this last Christmas, but you’re the best boss I’ve ever had, and that’s because your priority is being decent to people and then the rest follows after that. And I appreciate that a lot.
