Bomb’s away!
Escape room junkies can head to Dumbo for a chance to disarm the “world’s largest paint bomb” — and go head-to-head with other teams for cash prizes.
Beat The Bomb this week announced the start the company’s first competitive tournament, the Pro League Open. Teams of four who participate will compete in the Water Street escape room’s hi-tech physical rooms featuring touch screens, laser mazes, projection walls, radio frequency transmitters, and motion-capture cameras, and has a signature Paint Bomb ending for those who don’t “beat the bomb.”
The team that’s fastest to diffuse the mighty paint bomb will be declared the winner.
“Beat The Bomb is taking digital gaming off the couch and into a real-world live-action format. The Pro League Open will feature elite Bomb Squads competing to win a grand prize of $1,000 in a head-to-head, bracket-style tournament,” said Beat The Bomb CEO Alex Patterson. “E-sports is exploding in popularity but needs a format that retains both the physicality of traditional sports, and also the focus on team collaboration. That’s why we created Beat The Bomb’s Pro League.”
Now through April 30, any four-person team over the age of 13 that comes to Beat the Bomb is qualified to compete, and able to enter on the spot. Teams must have exactly four players in order to log a qualifying score, and can play as many times as they want. Only a team’s best score will be logged. Anyone can participate, and all past Bomb Beaters will receive an exclusive 50 percent discount to come back and try again.
The top eight teams will be invited to the Open, where matches will be conducted as real-time Battle Mode games pitting the teams against each other in Beat The Bomb’s two identical Brooklyn “Game Pods.” Teams must follow all official tournament rules, which will be dolled out and overseen by on-site referees.
The Open will be held at 6 pm on May 6 at Beat the Bomb (255 Water St.) with COVID-19 measures in place to protect the safety of players and staff. The event will also be streamed on Beat the Bomb’s Instagram, TikTok, and Twitch channels.
Prizes include a $1,000 grand prize for the winners and $250 for the runner-up, plus swag bags and free tickets for future play for first through fourth place. All competing teams will leave with some swag, including an exclusive Pro League pin.
Registration is open and teams who enter to qualify by signing up to play Mission 01: Cyberbot. For information on the Pro League Open, visit blast.beatthebomb.com/proleagueopen.
