Hotel 626: the Online Haunted House

by Austin Keenan

Frito-Lay of North America presents a Snack Strong production that you won't soon forget. This truly unique and innovative use of multiple online medias is a really cool experience (especially if you like scary movies and such). The site, Hotel 626, requires you to use a webcam, a microphone, and register with the site so that they can immerse you properly into this hellish nightmare. Don't worry it's not that hellish. In fact, it's pretty fun! (See latest update on Hotel 626 here.)

The site runs entirely on flash, and utilizes your webcam to make sure you're playing in the proper conditions, namely with all the lights turned off. As a bonus, Hotel 626 is only open at night time, from 6pm to 6am, so you won't be getting out of the creepy factor too easily.

After you register with the site, you'll be allowed to enter Hotel 626, which starts off with a disturbing jump out of bed due to some strange noises. The game is played in 10 chapters, most of which utilize some form of media interaction. You have to pay attention very carefully for clues in the cinematic scenes that will let you solve puzzles and survive the horror. One stage tells you to flash a goul with your on-screen camera, one asks you to sing a lullabye, and one requires you to sift through pictures until you find your own. There's also one part with a creepy phone call that will help you escape Hotel 626, so make sure you have your cell nearby.

There aren't many sites that take full advantage of different types of interactive online media the way Hotel 626 does. It really is a fun and challenging game, and if you make it all the way to the end, you can even share your journey on Facebook and Twitter. After work tonight, definitely check this one out. You'll be impressed with how well this site works, and how engaging the game becomes.

Update: I just found a video game Haunted Mansion that may be interesting for younger players. For a more terrifying experience for more mature players, the whole Silent Hill series looks pretty good.

EDITOR'S UPDATE: Hotel626.com is no longer available. It's sister site Asylum626.com is also closed. You can find out more about why Hotel 626 shut down here. For other recommended online scary games, see 3 Sites To Satiate Your Appetite For Fear.

Austin Keenan
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Comments

Mar 30, 2009
by Anonymous

thnks

thnks!!! I love it :D

Mar 31, 2009
by Austin Keenan

gld u lkd it, anonymous! I

gld u lkd it, anonymous! I really wish a lot more companies would take advantage of the multiple media platforms that are readily available for this type of marketing. how much fun is it?!?>!?!/

Austin Keenan
Cool and Innovative Websites
InventorSpot.com

Apr 3, 2009
by Anonymous

Stop calling minors cell phone at Night!

While I can respect creative marketing ideas I think there are privacy issues at hand when calling a 12 year olds phone number at 10 pm at night. I have written Frito Lay regarding this marketing program to voice my displeasure and I hope that in the future they target their marketing in a direction that will produce positive results in the desired audience.

Apr 4, 2009
by Anonymous

<center><FONT FACE="TW CENT MT" COLOR="FF3399" SIZE="10%">hhmhmh

'for me?? its not really scarey ..

Apr 5, 2009
by Anonymous

minors phones

give me a fuckin break. i have just a FEW problems with your point of view.

1. you gave your minor a cell phone when they most likely dont need it.

2. you as a parent have an obligation to look at what your MINOR is looking at on the internet and you FAILED your job as a parent... if you thought it was non apropriate for their age you should have said no to the website.

3. you are a dipshit for blaming a company which most likely discloses what will happen in the game and the usage of the cell phone.

4. if your minor gets a call from a video game at 10pm at night whats the harm? they are most likely still playing it.

5. and finally shouldnt you get looking more at the content of the HORROR game rather than a fucking phone call???

its parents like this that make me mad at the world... they blame everyone but themselves and their own shitty parenting. I HAVE A NOVEL IDEA get off your fat ass, pay attention to what your kid is doing on the internet, and stop being so fucking neurotic. *sp*

and i have one little last piece of advice for you. go look at your internet history in the "internet settings menu" 5 dollars says that your precious minor that you have been trying to protect has been looking a PORN for some time. if you or someone like you gets this site taken down there will be paybacks!!!! lol
~falcor

Apr 5, 2009
by Anonymous

re:minor

on number 5: get=be

and btw a 12yr old dosent need a cell phone. what reason do they have one??? they dont go anywhere alone and there is always a house phone near by. god you are wasting money.
~falcor

Apr 13, 2009
by Anonymous

I' scared........aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

You must delete this game!!!!!!!
that's game make me scared!!!!!
aaa!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
a ghost!!!!!!!!
(close my eyes)

YOU MUST DELETE THIS GAME ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !

Apr 13, 2009
by Anonymous

He knows the way!

This is a wonderful game and I totally got hooked the first time I played. Even though I had tons of work to do, I still made sure that I had enough time to play this game at night. I like it because it is very creative and it feels like you are actually living through a horror movie.

And Austin stole this link from me. I WAS THE ONE WHO FOUND IT!! So yeah, this article is written by me too =) hahha

May 14, 2009
by Anonymous

any others like it?

you guys know of any other scary games out there that i could play?

May 15, 2009
by Anonymous

Scary

OK this is really scary i would rather play Fatal Frame then this .

May 17, 2009
by Anonymous

scary

i loved this xD i was jumping out of my seat everytime.

May 18, 2009
by Anonymous

626

you die inside you die for real

May 24, 2009
by Anonymous

----

- Lillian

I Didn't Play It Cause Everytime I get In It , It Say User Name Or Password Is Inorect And i make Sure It's Right But It Don't Let :@

P.S hope it is good XD

Jun 13, 2009
by Anoo

Freaking awesome

Well done, team - great use of tons of media. Might I suggest a microphone and camera test at the beginning? I'm having to (to be fair, was going to anyway) play it again to get a good facebook pic. Great concept, though. Well executed!

Jun 21, 2009
by Anonymous

ive seen scarier,

ive seen scarier, hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha