Today, we have the pleasure of chatting with Mihail (AKA GG3L), a full-stack developer from Romania, who has made a significant mark in the Escape Simulator community through his impressive modding and scripting skills. Mihail's journey into the world of Escape Simulator began with a casual YouTube discovery that quickly turned into a passion. Since then, he has become an integral part of the community, contributing innovative LUA scripts and room designs that enhance the gameplay experience for everyone. Join us as Mihail shares his insights, experiences, and the creative process behind his engaging and intricate escape room projects.
Enigmas of the Nile
Can you tell us a little bit about yourself and how you got into playing Escape Simulator?
My name is Mihail, and I am a full-stack developer from Romania. I currently specialize in web-related application development but have also dabbled in game testing, software testing, game design, and development.
As for how I got into playing Escape Simulator, I was watching random YouTube videos and stumbled upon one about it. After watching it for a few minutes, I paused the video, went to Steam, and bought it. I've never stopped playing since.
Modding in videogames in general is a pretty fun way to expand on what the developer originally envisioned. But we really want to know what made you say: “Fine, I’ll do it myself”? :-)
Chronicles of the Forgotten Wisdom - Ch. I
When I first started building rooms, I made it a rule to only use the editor logic. I thought it would be a fun challenge. After I eventually tried LUA for the first time, it became a new challenge. I spend a lot of time on the official Discord server and take note of what others are having trouble with or would like/need to be added to the game. I realize that most of these problems/requests aren’t a priority for the developers, as they have more important things to focus on, so I try my best to create the functionality and share it with the community.
Did you mod other games before, or Escape Simulator is the first one you started fiddling with?
I’ve always had an attraction toward computers in general. I’ve started tinkering with them since I got my first one back in 2002. I first learned all of the “how not to do it” ways… the hard way. As for modding, I started with custom private servers and client modding for popular games of the era in 2005.
How do you approach the creative process when starting a new LUA script or escape room project? Do you begin with a concept, a puzzle, or something else entirely?
When it comes to room building, I start with a simple idea. I then give it a name, a story, and a visual representation. If I’m happy with the result, I then start building puzzles. Scripting is different. When most people want to relax, they watch a movie, play a game, or do some other activity. I like playing around with the LUA API.
How did you first discover the potential for creating LUA scripts for Escape Simulator?
I’ve played around with a lot of programming languages, but LUA wasn’t one of them. At first, I was reluctant to learn another one, but that quickly changed when I couldn’t find any other way to implement a feature for one of my rooms and realized it was extremely easy and fun to use.
What motivates you to continue developing and refining your LUA scripts for Escape Simulator? Are there specific feedback or experiences from our community that drive your work?
I’ve always enjoyed helping people. All of the scripts I’ve shared were designed with the community in mind. Most people find coding intimidating, that’s why my scripts don’t require coding knowledge to be used and are configurable through the editor directly.
GG3L is an active community member on Pine's Discord server and often helps other members
Besides your own creations, are there any other LUA scripts on the Steam Workshop that you think are total game-changers for the Escape Simulator community?
Thoroniul’s and apa-games’s work is some of the best out there. Thoroniul is the original LUA master, and apa-games, while relatively new to the community, has created some great things and also spent the time to create a detailed guide to help others get into LUA easier.
Were there any specific resources or tutorials that helped you learn LUA scripting for Escape Simulator?
I think most people interested in trying LUA scripting, myself included, probably started with “Thoroniul's LUA Tutorial” as a guide.
Are there any specific game mechanics or features in Escape Simulator that you haven't explored yet but are interested in experimenting with through LUA scripting in the future?
I feel like I’ve almost reached the limits of the current API. I’m looking forward to the new update.
Every creator faces hurdles. What are some valuable takeaways you've gained through your experiences as a creator for Escape Simulator, especially those that were hard-earned lessons?
Always test and playtest your projects thoroughly before publishing and make sure you always have backups that you can roll back to in case you ever need to.
If someone in the community is interested in getting started with LUA scripting for Escape Simulator, what advice would you give them?
Start small and go up from there. It might look intimidating, but it’s not really that hard. You could think of using the editor logic props as a simplified form of coding and LUA as a more manual but less restrictive way of doing the same thing.
The guide created by apa-games is perfect for both beginners and experienced coders. If you have any questions or need help, the official Discord server is your friend. Someone will always be there to help.
Pine's Discord community member apa-games has created a famed Unofficial Escape Simulator LUA Guide. Check it out!
Has your experience with LUA scripting in Escape Simulator influenced your approach to other games or activities outside of the game itself? Has it sparked an interest in programming or scripting in general?
I’ve been meaning to go back to game development, but could never find the time. LUA scripting was the answer to that problem.
Can you recount any funny moments, unexpected discoveries, or bursts of inspiration that happened while working on your projects for Escape Simulator?
I once spent around 30 minutes trying to figure out why my script wasn’t working, only to realize that I accidentally deleted the script prop from the room. Some of my scripts were unexpected discoveries. I usually play around with the API, trying different ideas. There were multiple instances where I discovered something new or got new ideas while working on something completely different.
Possibly one of the most hilarious thumbnails you'll find for a LUA script.
Are there any upcoming projects or LUA scripts you’re currently working on that you can share with us?
I do have some projects in the works, but they’re still in early development. As for scripts, the ones I haven’t already shared news about are part of the new Collab room.
Pine's Discord member Brush$troke has announced a new Collab room. Make sure to check out the previous The Collab: Museum.
Do you have a favorite community room (or rooms) you've created so far?
I don’t have a favorite one. I love and hate all of my rooms equally. :-)
And finally, can you name the 3 best rooms by other room builders?
I’ve played a lot of great community rooms, but the first that come to mind are the ones created by Zesty and Cico. From both a technical and gameplay point of view, my favorite would be The Devilish Diorama.
Calling all Escape Simulator enthusiasts! Prepare to embark on a brand-new adventure as the beloved community-made room, The Collab returns for a thrilling sequel - The Collab World Tour Volume 1!
Following the enormous success of the first and second community collaboration, this new collaborative effort promises to be even grander.
Due to its epic scale, The Collab World Tour will be released in three volumes, with Volume 1 kicking off its beta testing phase in mid-July, and will be available to everyone on Steam Workshop this summer.
To whet your appetite for this international escapade, be sure to check out the announcement video created by Robin from Pine Discord community!
The Collab World Tour Volume 1 is a testament to the incredible creativity of our community. A talented group of creators, including Zesty, GG3L, Eureka Paprika, Bartololomeo, Elkondo, Wollo, ChazzyB, Dr. Krank, APA games, namo-krub, k8sparrot, Robin, and more, have joined forces to craft this unforgettable experience.
Mark your calendars, escape room fanatics – The Collab World Tour Volume 1 is coming this summer!
Get ready to join the adventure and see what treasures await you across the globe!
Want to be a part of something great? Join our community!
Want to connect with the talented creators behind these epic works?
Fresh Community Picks! Here are our top picks for the newest Community Rooms!
Hey everyone!
We are back! In our next quest of searching for the shiniest and the brightest stars among community rooms, here we have the newest picks. So let's dive in!
Quantum Quests, Inc.
Quantum Quests, Inc. is a highly-rated escape room created by Wollo, a well-regarded name many of you probably already recognize. Woll's theme for this room was AI; well, not AI per se, but a a humorous take on artificial intelligence. Quantum Quests Inc. also features voiceovers, DMCA-friendly music, and players praise the room's creativity, intuitive puzzles, and well-integrated difficulty curve. Make sure to check it out!
Calling all armchair detectives! Glitz, Jazz and Murder is a murder mystery room set in 1962 New York City. Created by paullwetzel (author's first room btw!), this escape room transports players to the Birdland Jazz Bar where the famed saxophonist, Jax O. Phone, has been found dead. According to the comments, players laud the room's enjoyable puzzles and immersive murder mystery theme, making it a great choice for players seeking a fun and thematic escape room experience.
Help Fred and George Weasley escape detention in this challenging Escape Simulator room by MelonVerse, a popular community builder! Work together (singleplayer or multiplayer) to solve puzzles, bypass their wacky security measures, and retrieve a mysterious prototype from their Diagon Alley shop. MelonVerse notes that this high-end room is estimated to take 1-1.5 hours to complete, so grab some pen and paper for notes, adjust graphics settings if needed (the room is graphics-heavy), and turn up the volume for all the Weasley-related fun!
Unearth a family secret in Cabin Riches V2! This escape room by AbsoluteMinimal casts you as the inheritor of a potentially wealthy cabin. While on their deathbed, your relative confessed to embezzling funds over a 25-year career and hiding the loot within the cabin. This first-time designer's creation offers a treasure hunt experience with puzzles and secrets to uncover, and it's nice to see players praise the room's design and puzzles, although some found themselves stumped by a particular four-digit keypad lock. The good news? An in-game walkthrough is available to help explorers who get stuck.
Hold your nose and prepare for a hilarious escape in Lost in the Loo (Toilet Trap!) by Pancakemaster. This single-player (with support for multi-player, although some players found some bugs when playing in co-op) room throws you into a bizarre situation: trapped in a public restroom after a secret government mission goes wrong. Players rave about the room's humor, fun puzzles, and creative use of a surprising location. So put your training to the test and see if you can escape this wacky predicament!
Unleash your inner scientist and crack the case of Harriet Anne Heartmeyer's disappearance in Dr Krank's The Secrets of Harriets Study. This community room challenges your logic and observation skills (60% each) as you explore Saint Paulos Study Hall, rumored to hold her hidden research. With difficulty geared towards 1-2 players, this puzzle-heavy escape room (20% succession puzzles, 0% knowledge puzzles) is perfect for those seeking a mentally stimulating challenge.
Calling all game show fanatics! Hurry's Cool Cash is a love letter to classic shows, transforming Escape Simulator into a 16-room game extravaganza! Inspired by The Price is Right, The Crystal Maze, Who Wants to be a Millionaire, and more, this experience caters to all playstyles.
Test your mettle in Versus Mode (30 minutes) – a fast-paced competition where you race against others to solve puzzles, collect "Cool Cash" across themed rooms, and be the first to grab 15! Craving a solo challenge? Embark on a 2-hour single-player odyssey to find all 50 Cool Cash, with an extra-difficult hunt for a legendary 51st hidden somewhere! Feeling the teamwork spirit? Although not officially supported (expect some bugs!), a co-op mode lets you tackle the challenges together (around 1.5 hours).
Especially interesting part about this room is how it was made. The author says the room was started in august 2023 and completed in june 2024, though with intermittent month-long breaks.
Ahoy there, mateys! Prepare to plunder Blackbeard's booty in Blackbeard's Golden Treasure, a quick 15-minute Escape Simulator adventure. You'll need to scour the captain's quarters for six golden keys, forged from the heart of the ocean itself, before Blackbeard's crew returns and reclaims their riches! Can you solve the puzzles and escape with the legendary pirate's treasure?
If you're still looking for a great room to play, this spring we hosted another fantastic Build-a-Room competition. If you missed it, you can check out and play the winning rooms here: https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/1435790/view/4187863868000595623
Make sure to nominate your favorite community rooms on Pine Discord!
Here's a small reminder that you can nominate your favorite room using these reactions on Pine Discord, in the #share-your-room channel using these reactions
Fixed an issue where items wouldn't enter slots in custom rooms. Items were exiting the trigger before being processed by the update loop.
Added the long-awaited Omega Pillar!
Happy escaping!
-Pine team
5 Reasons Why It's Great to Play Escape Simulator Today!
Escape Simulator isn't just a game—it's an ever-expanding universe of puzzles. With the recent releases of the PowerWash DLC and a vibrant community crafting endless puzzles, now’s the perfect time to dive in. Take advantage of a huge 40% discount during the 2024 Summer Sale, and join us as we call all puzzle enthusiasts and escape room fanatics!
Why Choose Escape Simulator?
Massive Variety
Start with 26 themed rooms—from Ancient Egypt to Space—and explore further with 14 major updates packed with new challenges.
VR Immersion
Experience puzzles like never before with VR support right out of the box.
More Adventures
Enjoy 3 free DLCs including fan favorites like Portals and Among Us, plus premium DLC packs that add magical, Wild West, and Steampunk adventures.
Community and Creativity
Access over 4,000 community-created rooms and unleash your creativity with our Room Editor. Check out some of our favorite ones here.
Keep an eye out for more exciting updates, including a major DLC, two free DLCs, and an autumn Build-a-Room challenge. Plus, we've got even more surprises up our sleeve!
We've joined forces with FuturLab, the brilliant minds behind PowerWash Simulator, to bring you PowerWash-themed room for Escape Simulator!
Get ready to dive into the iconic PowerWash garage, transformed into a mind-bending escape room. Instead of sparkling surfaces, blast away grime to uncover hidden clues and conquer this all-new challenge.
VR Mode: Fully playable in VR or flat version!
New Editor Props: Use new 3D props to build your own garage or whatever your imagination creates.
Rock and Roll Soundtrack: Enjoy a brand-new rock and roll soundtrack that amps up the excitement.
The PowerWash DLC for Escape Simulator is available now! So grab your friends (or go solo!) and get ready for a squeaky-clean escape!
💧New PowerWash room is coming out on June 20th!
Hey Escape Simulator fans! Ever thought, "What if we had a simulator within a simulator?" Well, hold onto your power hoses because PowerWash Simulator is coming to Escape Simulator! Get ready to dive into the iconic PowerWash garage, now transformed into an exciting escape room. That’s right, it’s the ultimate Simulator Simulator experience!
Mark your calendars – it's coming out on June 20th and it's completely free!
Build-a-Room #6 Winners!
While you're waiting to play the PowerWash room, check out the winners of our Build-a-room #6 competition! The theme was Party Time to celebrate our 10th anniversary. We received 28 awesome submissions and here are the winners and their prizes:
🥇 First Place: The Forever Party made by Kukelia & Frama. They won $1000!💰
🥈 Second Place: Wrong Party made by nemo_krub. They won Meta Quest 3 VR headset! 👓
🥉 Third Place: Secret Party made by med1nh0 and he won $100 Steam gift card!🎮
Rookie Category
(first time Build-a-room competitors)
🥇 First Place: The Birthday After made by apa-games and won Meta Quest 3 VR headset! 👓
🥈 This time we decided to give out one more rookie prize to of $100 Steam gift card to Capybaras in the Club made by MilkyQueen! That song rocks!
The community vote
🥇The winner of the community vote is Raise the Rooftop by Brush$troke. She's also getting a $100 Steam gift card!
You can check out the winners announcement stream here (once it uploads):
All the winners also won upcoming DLC, but more about it later. ;)
Thank you all for building and being part of our community!
Can't wait to see you all in the garage! -Pine team
10 years of Pine Studio! Let's throw a Build-A-Room party!
We can't believe Pine Studio is already 10 years old! From over 40 flash games, SEUM, six Faraway sequels, and two Birdcage games, to Cats in Time and our dream project, Escape Simulator. We are proud of everything we've achieved in these 10 years. We are especially grateful to our team and all the incredible people with whom we work side by side doing what we love. Thank you for playing and being part of our journey! 💖
It's our birthday...
Let's throw a Build-A-Room Party!!! 🥳
Join us for the Party Time Community Challenge and design the ultimate party-themed escape room! We're tapping into the limitless creativity of our community to create the most engaging and immersive escape rooms for Escape Simulator. Imagine anything from a cozy birthday bash to a wild office party, a luxurious yacht celebration, or an energetic night out—the sky's the limit! (don't forget it has to be an escape room 😅)
We're excited to see what you come up with! Let us know if we should bring anything to your party.
🏆Prizes Galore!
To make this celebration even more special, we are again featuring several categories to ensure that both seasoned and first-time builders have a chance to shine.
Experienced Builders Category
This is the main event, open to participants who already have one or more rooms in their portfolio. The top prizes include:
1st place: $1,000 cash + a surprise gift
2nd place: Meta Quest 3 + a surprise gift
3rd place: $100 Steam gift card + a surprise gift
Rookie Builders Category
Is this your first time competing in one of our Build-A-Room contests? Fantastic!
You have a chance to win Meta Quest 3 + a surprise gift!
Community Award
After the submission deadline, we'll open a poll for the community to vote on their favorite room. The winner of the Community Award will receive
$100 Steam gift card and a surprise gift.
How to Enter
To submit your party-themed escape room, simply post a link to your creation in the #💾competition-submissions channel on the Pine Studio Discord server. Remember, you can only submit one room, and multiple builders can collaborate on a single entry.
The submission deadline is May 27th at 8AM CEST / 2AM EST. We'll then review all the amazing rooms and announce the winners during a special livestream a few days later (TBA). Stay tuned for more details on the stream!
📑Rules
You can only submit one room. Multiple submissions will not be counted.
Multiple builders can work together on one room, but there will be only one prize for them.
It has to be an escape room.
The gameplay should ideally be under 30 minutes, but it can be longer.
You can make your room as big as you wish.
You need to record a video walkthrough and post it on YouTube or similar video sharing site.
You are allowed to bug fix your room after submission, but can not resubmit an entirely different room.
All references to existing IPs (including names, images, models and sounds) must be edited, parodied or otherwise modified to infer a likeness to the original IP without directly copying it.
Use models, textures, sounds and other assets that are either Creative Commons (CC0) with attribution, that are from the ES library, or that you have paid the license for. Give credit if needed.
Copies of other players' rooms are not eligible.
Keep it fun/clean! No profanity, racism, hate speech, sexually suggestive content, etc.. Rooms that might be considered offensive in any way or form will be disqualified.
The Pine team will choose the winners for the Rookie and Experienced Builder Categories this time! The Community prize will, naturally, be decided by community votes.
💡Some Useful Tips for Building the Perfect Party Room
Keep it simple!
Aim for a playtime of 15-30 minutes
Test your room thoroughly and get feedback from the community
Focus on quality over quantity – a few great puzzles are better than many mediocre ones
Consider accessibility features like color blindness and hearing impairment
Most importantly, make it fun! At the end of the day, that's what matters most.
We can't wait to see what you'll come up with for this special 10th-anniversary celebration. Let the party planning begin! 📝
Happy building, Pine Team
VR Update Hotfix #3
Hey adventurers, here's a third round of fixes and improvements for the VR Update! This brings our total to over 100 fixes and improvements since the release of VR mode! Check out what's new in v32852:
General Improvements:
Added a confirmation window for "Exit To Menu" to prevent accidental exits during gameplay.
Enhanced feedback upon pressing keys to join a lobby.
Updated missing translations for various settings and textures.
Resolved display issues of main menu news for Traditional Chinese.
Fixed a double-trigger issue with the lobby code toggle button.
Updated the theme color for the link button in the main menu.
Fixed a display issue for the trophy icon in completed but uninstalled community rooms.
Upgraded pop-up dialogs and interfaces to a dark theme.
VR Improvements:
Added item information display (name and category icons) when hovering over items in VR.
Improved the realism of player torso movements.
Introduced settings for VR item hover pop-ups and hand visibility (options: hidden, transparent, opaque).
Fixed bugs related to inappropriate item hints, unresponsive books in multiplayer, simultaneous grip and trigger presses, hit indicators passing through portals, disappearing hands in Versus mode.
Enhanced visual effects for item sparkles and added sound for shoulder stashing items.
Added a Halloween ghost character skin.
Ensured correct orientation for player nameplates in multiplayer.
Level Improvements:
"Tutorial": Fixed a visibility issue for VR players when flat version players pick up a book.
"The Underground Lab": Improved item handling to prevent stuck items.
"Leonardo's Workshop": Enhanced the VR paintbrush puzzle experience.
"The Engine Room" (Steampunk DLC): Clarified fire extinguisher usage in VR tutorial.
"Chronomancy Hall" (Magic DLC): Resolved a desync issue with the clock puzzle.
We're really happy with how our VR mode is shaping up! Next up, we're shifting our focus to getting the game ready for the Meta standalone. Your feedback means a lot to us, so if you have any cool ideas or suggestions to make the game even better, hit us up at community@pinestudio.com or drop us a message on Discord.
