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Believe it or not…but End Game started with a love story…

Our first ever End Game alternate reality game – The Source is based off of the original alternate reality game created by co-founder M for co-founder A as a proposal. Just like the game, except for a few edits, the original game unfolded just as those of you who have played it, experienced it. The ending was of course, very different. Here is how it unfolded according to A…

“I had just finished the latest puzzle that took me to the 24 hour fitness in Pasadena, CA. I was pretty sure one of the clues I had deciphered had to do with a lock combination on a numbered storage unit. The gym had lockers. It had to be it. I parked the car and ran inside the building. Luckily, I had a gym membership so despite being really anxious, I tried my best to calmly get it scanned. After being checked in, I ran down the stairs to the lockers and ran around until I found the right number. Sure enough, there was a lock on it. I tried the combination I had deciphered and it opened! Inside, was a large heavy black duffle bag. What was in it?

I remembered that Agent S had told me that he needed me to grab the evidence for him because he wasn’t able to. He had warned me that I could be in grave danger if I opened it so despite the intense curiosity, I refrained. The suspense was killing me though, I had to be careful. I casually walked out of the gym with the bag and ran to the car. I informed Agent S that I had the bag and he sent me a cryptic message. After figuring it out, the message said that he wanted to meet at 8pm that same evening in Redondo Beach, CA.

I inhaled sharply. I finally was going to get to meet Agent S, would this intensely insane mission be finally over? I still can’t believe I got roped into doing all of this, I must be crazy. I stashed the duffel bag in the trunk and covered it up with the other junk in my trunk and drove to Los Angeles, CA to my workplace in a daze. I had been mentioning some of what was going on to my boss and co-worker, but my boss had had enough. She covered her ears and exclaimed that she didn’t want to hear anymore, she had a family to take care of. She and my co-worker implored me to not go meet Agent S. All of this was too weird.

When all this started from the first email I received, I didn’t even want to join, but M convinced me it was an important cause. At first, I thought this was one of M’s funny ideas, but as time dragged on and 3 weeks had already passed, my reality started to blur. I wasn’t sure anymore. Should I go or should I not go meet Agent S tonight? I talked it through with M and he convinced me that we should see this through. We already were so deep into it. It was scary to think about it, but he said he would come too and be nearby so if anything were to happen he could be a witness or call for help.

After work, M and I grabbed some takeout of our favorite foods for dinner (just in case it was a last meal) and hit the road to the beach. We parked the car and grabbed the duffel bag and pulled out our phone to figure out the exact coordinates for the meeting. We were early, and the place was deserted. M went off to the side to appear as a casual bystander unrelated to me and we waited. 8pm hit and no one showed. I started to get nervous and thoughts raced through my head. Was Agent S compromised? Did I get the wrong coordinates? Will I get in trouble for being on the beach with a mysterious unmarked duffel bag? God, I hope there isn’t a body in here.

8:15pm, 8:30pm, could an agent really be that late? I texted Agent S, but no answer. What happened to him?? M walked over and said that he didn’t think Agent S was coming. I was frantic, what are we supposed to do I said? What about this bag?! I was so close! I thought this was going to be over soon and I could maybe get back to my normal life.

M said let’s open it. I was appalled! It was a dangerous suggestion, anything could be in the bag. I don’t want to open it. You do it, if you want to open it so bad. M opened the zipper and nothing happened. Thank God nothing scary popped out. He peered inside, stood up, shrugged and said, it’s ok, come take a look. I gingerly tiptoed over and peered inside…plates? cups? boxes of food? All wrapped inside a large blanket! I was bewildered! What kind of evidence was this? Is this a joke? I’ve been so anxious, what is happening?

I suddenly heard M near me calling my name. A! Hello? A! In a daze, I turned toward him and saw that he had gotten on one knee and was holding out a box with a ring on it. I stared at him stunned. He said “A, Will you marry me?”

I was flabbergasted. Complete silence. I was so confused. I told him this wasn’t the time for this, something serious is going on, and I feel like I’ve lost my mind. He told me that there wasn’t an agent S, that he was agent S and that this was all an elaborate marriage proposal because he knew how I loved puzzles and adventure. It’s an alternate reality game. It’s not real.

What did he say? None of this was real? Or was it? Wait, so he’s really asking me to marry him right now?

I punched him in the shoulder and he teetered. I started yelling about how this alternate game consumed my life and brought me a lot of angst. And he created this game! Could I marry someone who came up with such a twisted proposal? Then it dawned me, of course I could. This man took everything I loved and enjoyed and put in a ton of time, energy, sweat, intelligence, and love into making the most amazing unforgettable proposal I could have ever imagined. Probably one that most people could never imagine.

Yes. I will marry you!

We celebrated with an evening on a deserted beach on a nice large blanket with a picnic of all my favorite snacks, drinks, and food. Cheers to the game finally being over, but the real game of life beginning its newest chapter.

After years in the making, End Game finally came to fruition with the desire to provide every game player with their very own unforgettable experience.

Check back often to see all the new adventures that we come up with that are accessible to all types of players. Remember to play responsibly!!

P.S. A forgot to let her boss and co-worker know she was ok that night because she was so happy about getting engaged that the next day when she showed up for work, she received many hugs of relief and scolding for they were wondering if they should call the police all night.