What exactly is Mystery on Main Street? Mystery on Main Street (MoMS) is creating a new interactive “whodunit” game for mobile phones made freely downloadable through the Apple App Store and Google Play. Each “gameplay” takes players to local walk-in businesses (e.g.: shops, eateries, events, etc.) they’ve chosen to receive clues and solve a mystery while promoting local business. Participating locations are alphabetically listed and displayed with an image, address, phone number and brief description from the app drop-down list in their mobile phone or augmented reality (AR) glasses. Clues are provided in the app once a gameplayer is within the premises. Location personnel are not required to interact with the player. The first player to solve the mystery receives a valuable prize.

What’s a “gameplay”? Each gameplay tells a unique, locally written mystery story and indicates a winning prize. A player arrives at a location and chooses a clue from the list. Once chosen, an AR in-app character instructs the player to seek out a QR code strategically located within the location to unlock the answer. Once located and scanned, if the choice is correct, the player must wait 12 hours before they can make another guess within another location. If incorrect, the player can try again at another location within a few minutes. This continues until the mystery is solved which typically takes about four weeks.     

Seems like a kids game. Data for the most successful similar mobile game reveals the average player is a 26 y/o woman making US$90k per year, the best player is 70, and group players range from 16 to over 60. Think of this as Groupon meets scavenger hunt meet Pokémon Go, but players and participating merchants mutually gain with no membership or subscription required. It’s definitely not a kids game.

Won’t this just attract a bunch of people that just want to play a game and not really buy anything? Participating gameplay locations will typically be dozens of  merchants of all types offering a variety of products and services. If a player chooses a particular location to visit, chances are the player already had an interest and would like to discover what they have.

Can a gameplay last less than four weeks? Gameplays can be engineered to continue for an approximate predetermined time. For example, a month long gameplay in a shopping district or perhaps, a weekend or weeklong festivity event. Games can also be themed to coincide with local history, seasonal or holiday events and similar.

How is a winner determined? Once all the guesses are correctly made by a player, the winner is instantly declared and that gameplay ends automatically, notifying all the other players. The winner receives a TBD valuable prize(s) for solving the mystery. A default feature will notify all game players as well, indicating the prize.

 What’s the valuable prize(s)? Cash! Prizes are determined by several factors including the number of participating merchants. More merchants, more money! Merchants are strongly encouraged to offer discounts, coupons and free samples to players. We’ll partner with the merchant to increase their value. Plus, every time a player completes a gameplay, their player level rises and they’ll automatically receive MoMS merchandise such as (level color) shirts, mugs, and even a cool Sherlock Holmes style magnifying glass to give them the edge on the next mystery!

 What’s in it for the merchant? More eyeballs inside their location! Players must browse within the location as a core function of completing the game. Interference with employee routine isn’t necessary. Participating locations are viewable worldwide in the app’s map but the clue is only viewable within the location, and only within a small window of time. This motivates impulse buying and return shopping. Plus, we uncover the all-important “ghost shoppers” (the “just looking” crowd)!  

 Are you using tracking technology? Tracking will only be used while the game is being played due to the GPS technology. We do not continually track or sell singular user information, and no membership or subscription is required. Your information is safe! MoMS uses advanced technologies including QR codes, augmented reality (AR) and artificial intelligence (AI), providing a higher level of excitement and appeal. Bluetooth for brand and product promotion is on the roadmap.

So, I bring up the app map, see a gameplay nearby, and go play? Yep, it’s that easy. Merchants will receive an 8”x11” co-branded printable window display poster to make it easier for players and encourage walk-ins.

Who do I call if I have a problem? The app is self-sufficient and step by step, so there shouldn’t be any issues the user can’t resolve. This said, we’ll have a toll-free customer service number available. We also plan on having a local “Agent” in every community dedicated to merchant service. We strongly believe in personal customer service.

Hmm… do you happen to need Agents… or writers? As a matter of fact, we do! Local Agents represent MoMS and meet with merchants and other local organizations. They’ll have an opportunity to “own” the market and actually, many other markets too. Our stories are written by creative local writers. They live in and know their market, culture, historical nature and nuances. Contact us directly for more info on this.

              For more information about Mystery on Main Street, contact us directly at:

ILikeAMystery@mysteryonmainstreet.com