This Is Not An Escape approaches CGDC 10's "Escape" theme in a way both novel and familiar, and it makes for a mind-twist of an experience. Clearly this entry was a labor of love for its creator, and the result is something well worth watching, and well worth playing. This is Not an Escape is an entry into our 10th Casual Gameplay Design Competition, with the theme of "Escape", and our community of judges awarded it with the 2nd place prize.

Did you think you had truly escaped The Dark Room? HA! Commandingly Deep-Voiced Australian John Robertson is back to taunt you a second time, as you try to escape The Dark Room: Round 2, a continuation of his darkly-comedic YouTube puzzle adventure. Things are a little darker and a little angrier this time around, but the concept remains as hilarious as ever.

The decisions you make in this YouTube interactive fan fiction game (based on the AMC television show) not only determine the fate of one Madison Avenue advertising agency, they might just save the world. Help Don Draper regain his confidence, inner peace and good ideas while preventing his untimely death. Although it's disappointing this isn't a true platform game since your involvement doesn't extend beyond clicking an occasional option, Mad Men: The Game is an entertaining and enjoyable parody of 1960s culture and the show that has everyone talking about it.

You can't look around. You can't check your inventory. You can try weeping, but expect Australian comedian John Robertson to taunt you if you do. ("Is there anything as sad as tears only you can feel but nobody can see?") If you're going to escape from this YouTube-based puzzler, you'll need to think outside the box. Actually, that won't help you either. You're not in a box. You're in the Dark Room.