MagiQuest facts for kids
MagiQuest is an exciting live-action adventure game where you become a powerful magic user! Imagine stepping into a fantasy world where you use a special wand to interact with hidden objects and solve mysteries. Players, called "Magi," wave and point their infrared (IR) wands at different things in the game area. This "activates" objects, like opening a treasure chest to get gold for your game account. Some locations even have extra items you can buy to unlock secret areas or go on more quests, which means even more fun and in-game treasures!
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The Story of MagiQuest
The very first MagiQuest adventure began in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, on June 15, 2005. It was a big celebration with actors from the game! Over time, more MagiQuest locations opened in places like East Hanover, New Jersey, and Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. In 2008, a company called Great Wolf Resorts decided to add MagiQuest to all their Great Wolf Lodge hotels, making it super popular.
MagiQuest even had a short run at Six Flags Great America in Illinois in 2010. Later, in 2011, a new location opened at the Palisades Mall in West Nyack, New York. There's even a MagiQuest kingdom near Tokyo Dome in Japan! The first Canadian MagiQuest opened in Niagara Falls, Ontario, in late 2011.
However, some of the original MagiQuest locations, including the one in Myrtle Beach, closed permanently in 2015.
Other Adventure Games
MagiQuest also inspired other cool games!
- DinoQuest: This game is like MagiQuest but with a dinosaur theme! You can find it in Santa Ana, California.
- CompassQuest: This game is very similar to MagiQuest, but you use both a special compass and your wand. It has different kinds of quests, like "Wayfinder" and "Treasure" quests.
- Journey to Save the Light: Starting in 2013, a new game called ShadowQuest (now known as Journey to Save the Light) began appearing at some Great Wolf Lodge MagiQuest locations. This game features updated graphics and real-time battles.
- Guardians of the Realm Portals: When the Great Wolf Lodge in New England opened in 2014, it introduced a new version of MagiQuest with new characters and updated quests.
- MagiQuest Chronicles: In 2016, a new and improved version called "MagiQuest Chronicles" (also known as "MagiQuest 2.0" by fans) launched. It features all-new computer graphics that look amazing in real-time. This version includes Journey to Save the Light and another game called "Rise of the Totem Masters," where you level up a totem figure by battling dark creatures. MagiQuest Chronicles has been added to many new Great Wolf Lodges and updated in older ones.
How to Play MagiQuest
The Ancient Book of Wisdom
When you start your adventure, you'll get an "Ancient Book of Wisdom." This special booklet is your guide! It has hints and riddles to help you find objects for your quests, game rules, and a map of the location. Each location has its own unique book because the quests are different everywhere. For Journey to Save the Light, there's a "ShadowQuest Guide."
At some newer locations, like the Great Wolf Lodge in Williamsburg, Virginia, you can also use a MagiQuest app on your phone to help you play!
Quests and Adventures
Your main goal in MagiQuest is to become more powerful by earning magic runes. You get these runes by completing tasks and activating special targets with your wand. Some of the runes you can earn include Lightning, Enchant Creature, Music, Protection, Freeze, and Healing.
Once you become a "Master Magi" by earning certain runes, you unlock even more challenging quests to earn powerful runes like Fire, Shield, and Potion. Some Great Wolf Lodge locations also have unique Celestial and Great Wolf Runes.
Outside of the main game, you can even use your wand to duel other Magi for gold and experience points!
MagiQuest Online
There was once an online version of the game called MagiQuest Online (MQ Online). It was created by the same people who made the famous game "Myst." Players could buy different "chapters" of the game. If you completed the first chapter online, you could even unlock a special "Silver Dragon" quest to play at certain MagiQuest locations.
However, MagiQuest Online was discontinued at the end of 2012. Now, the Silver Dragon quest is available to all Master Magi who have defeated Charlock, the red dragon, in the physical game.
How MagiQuest Technology Works
The MagiQuest wand is like a special remote control that uses infrared (IR) light. It has a tiny light at the tip. When you move the wand, sensors inside detect the movement and make the light flash a secret code unique to your wand. You can even see these flashes if you point your wand at a digital camera in a dark room! The wand doesn't have an on/off switch; it saves battery power by turning off when it's not moving.
The Compass Quest compass is different. It uses a special technology called RFID and doesn't need batteries. Each compass has a unique code that is read when it's very close to a detector.
No information is actually stored inside your wand or compass. Instead, your player name, birthday, and nickname are linked to your wand's unique ID number in a central online database. This database keeps track of everything you've done in the game, like the runes you've earned and how much gold you have. This means if you lose your wand, your progress can be transferred to a new one!
The game objects you interact with, like pictures on walls, statues, or treasure chests, have hidden IR sensors and RFID panels. Many of these objects have lights and sounds that activate when you use your wand. Some even have touchscreens where you can get instructions or interact with the game more deeply.
To play, you usually start at a kiosk to get instructions for your quest. Then, you go find and activate the right game objects. Your instruction booklet helps with the first quests, but for others, you'll need to remember the clues from the kiosks. You can always check your progress at informational kiosks around the game area.
Because all your game progress is stored in a central database, you can even continue your adventure at different MagiQuest locations across the country! The system updates continuously, so if a quest requires you to activate objects within a certain time limit, it knows exactly how long you're taking.
Music and Characters
The band Blackmore's Night performs some of the cool music you hear in MagiQuest. The band's singer, Candice Night, also plays the role of Princess Candice in the game. She also plays Princess Amora, who appears at Great Wolf Lodge locations.
Wand Accessories
You can buy different "toppers" for your wand, which are like decorative orbs for the tip. There are also "rune keepers" where you can display replicas of the runes you've earned. The toppers often relate to different "clans" you can choose to be a part of in the game:
- Warrior (red): Warriors are brave and strong. They are good at dueling and use the power of lightning.
- Woodsy (green): Woodsy clan members love nature and can summon enchanted creatures to help them.
- Trickster (purple): Tricksters use jokes, magic, or music to distract their opponents.
- Shadow (black): Shadow members are powerful and can disappear or distract others.
- Majestic (blue or pink): Majestic members have healing powers and can heal themselves and others.
Each topper can also give you special powers in the game! For example:
- Red Dragon/Global Dragon: Gives you "Fireburst" to instantly defeat certain dragons or creatures.
- Ice Dragon/Wintera: Gives you "Iceburst" to instantly defeat other powerful creatures.
- Skull/Dark Stone: Gives you the power of the "Laughing Skull" to defeat various foes.
- Pegasus/Unicorn Horn: Gives you the power of "Music" to get help from magical creatures or gain lots of gold.
- Ice Crystal/Pixie: Gives you "Nature's Favor" to dazzle crystals or summon jewels.
- Pink Gem/Majestic Crown: Gives you "Healing" power to heal yourself or get extra chances in battles.
- Armillary: Allows you to summon the "Owl" for valuable knowledge during quests.
- Trickster's Crown: Gives you the power of "Laughter" to make the kingdom smile.
- The Blue Claw: Allows you to instantly summon a character named Xavier into the kingdom.
You can pick a clan that fits your style and choose a topper and decorations that match!
