HackerHotel 2020 · Netherlands · 2020

HackerHotel 2020 Badge

Mixed-reality escape-room challenge badge

A story-first challenge badge where the badge, hotel, terminal session, puzzles, and lore formed a mixed-reality escape room.

EventHackerHotel 2020

SeriesBadge.Team Adjacent Events

LocationGarderen

CountryNetherlands

People

Authors & Credits

artwork

Nikolett S.

Listed in the HackerHotel 2020 team section.

Source

audio

Glu

Listed in the HackerHotel 2020 team section.

Source

challenges

Sake

Listed in the HackerHotel 2020 team section.

Source

circuit diagram and PCB routing

Renze Nicolai

Listed in the HackerHotel 2020 team section.

Source

Why It Mattered

It is an important counterpoint to app-store badges: no Python or general app surface during play, but a deeply event-bound puzzle object.

Hardware

Four front buttons, battery-powered game hardware, SAO connector, LED matrix, EEPROM-backed behavior, and serial interaction over a 3.3 V USB-serial adapter.

Software & Apps

Presents a terminal text prompt at 115200 8n1 and drives the escape-from-HackerHotel game and minigames.

Lore

The official docs describe an Egyptian cat goddess theme, hidden instructions, and the CYBER SCARAB add-on from Tilde Industries.

Lifecycle

Add-ons & Upgrades

game interface historical

3.3 V serial terminal game interface

The challenge used a 3.3 V USB-serial adapter on the SAO connector at 115200 8n1, with OS-specific Badge.Team guides for Linux, macOS, and Windows.

Compatibility: HackerHotel 2020 Badge

Source

hardware add-on historical

CYBER SCARAB

Tilde Industries produced a CYBER SCARAB add-on for the HackerHotel 2020 challenge badge.

Compatibility: HackerHotel 2020 Badge

Source

post-event challenge support historical

Post-event mixed-reality workaround guide

Badge.Team published a post-event guide for completing the mixed-reality challenge without the original hotel props, magnetic maze, and badge-to-badge team formation.

Compatibility: HackerHotel 2020 Badge

Source

Operational history

Issues & Camp Impact

safety major

The documentation warned not to let the badge front contact metal because exposed ground and protruding battery terminals could short and overheat batteries.

Users were told to remove batteries when storing the badge and to handle the exposed front carefully.

Confidence: primary docs
Status: documented warning
Timeframe: during event
Source note: HackerHotel 2020 Badge.Team docs.

hardware errata moderate

The SAO connector was placed on the bottom instead of the top, mirroring the connector relative to the SAO specification; LED-matrix pinout problems also required bodgewire rework.

Users wanting add-ons or full LED intensity needed rework guidance and sometimes volunteer help.

Confidence: primary docs
Status: rework documented
Timeframe: during and after event
Source note: HackerHotel 2020 errata.

EEPROM corruption recovery note

The troubleshooting section documented an unresponsive three-red-light state as EEPROM corruption and directed attendees to Badge.Team members for quick reprogramming.

The record captures both a failure mode and the on-site support workflow that kept the challenge playable.

Confidence: primary docs
Status: documented recovery path
Timeframe: during event
Source note: HackerHotel 2020 troubleshooting docs.

field-accessory availability note

The getting-started notes say USB-serial adapters and headphones were available only as needed, not in every badge bag.

The badge game depended on accessories that some attendees needed to borrow from the badge hacking area.

Confidence: primary docs
Status: historical
Timeframe: during event
Source note: HackerHotel 2020 getting-started docs.

missing rights-cleared image note

No HackerHotel 2020 badge image is published because the current Badge.Team source trail has not been paired with a reusable original badge photo or official upstream raster render with source URL, license or permission basis, attribution, and processing notes.

The record remains source-backed and image-free rather than copying Badge.Team page media, documentation screenshots, event photos, placeholders, or generated approximations.

Confidence: local project policy
Status: needs licensed original replacement
Timeframe: current catalogue build
Source note: badge.gallery image policy and HackerHotel 2020 Badge.Team docs.

Resources

HackerHotel 2020 Linux serial guide connection guide · Badge.Team guide for connecting to the HackerHotel 2020 badge from Linux using a USB-serial adapter and Picocom. HackerHotel 2020 Windows serial guide connection guide · Badge.Team guide for connecting to the HackerHotel 2020 badge from Windows. HackerHotel 2020 docs official docs · Badge.Team page documenting the mixed-reality escape-room badge, serial game flow, errata, SAO issue, LED rework, and Cyber Scarab add-on. HackerHotel 2020 macOS serial guide connection guide · Badge.Team guide for connecting to the HackerHotel 2020 badge from macOS with Picocom and common USB-serial devices. HackerHotel 2020 post-event play guide post-event guide · Post-event guide for completing the mixed-reality challenge without the original hotel props and badge-to-badge setup.

Sources

Badge.Team: HackerHotel 2020 docs Retrieved 2026-05-15 · Badge.Team page documenting the mixed-reality escape-room badge, serial game flow, errata, SAO issue, LED rework, and Cyber Scarab add-on. Badge.Team: Connecting on Linux Retrieved 2026-05-15 · Primary connection guide for the 3.3 V serial terminal workflow on Linux. Badge.Team: Connecting on Mac Retrieved 2026-05-15 · Primary connection guide for the 3.3 V serial terminal workflow on macOS. Badge.Team: Connecting on Windows Retrieved 2026-05-15 · Primary connection guide for the 3.3 V serial terminal workflow on Windows. Badge.Team: Playing after the event Retrieved 2026-05-15 · Primary post-event guide for mixed-reality puzzle workarounds and badge-to-badge challenge recovery.