MAF Suitcase of Surprises

Not all rewards come easy. Suitcase of Surprises turned a standard mall giveaway into a game of suspense — a tactile dial, a 3-digit combination, and a prize reveal that played out live in front of a crowd. Crack the code. Unlock the case. Win the prize.

Interactive InstallationGamificationTouchscreen ExperienceExperiential MarketingPrize ActivationPublic Engagement TechnologyQueue Management SystemEvent TechnologyReal-time Feedback SystemImmersive ExperienceDigital InteractionBrand Activation

Services

Experience Design
Game Mechanics Design
Interaction Design
Software Development
Touchscreen Development
Hardware Integration
Creative Technology Direction
Installation Deployment
Campaign Strategy

Tech Stack

Unity Touchscreen Application
Custom Dial Interaction System
Tablet Registration System
Queue Management Software
Real-time Validation Logic
Large Display Screen Integration
Backend Data Tracking
Interactive UI/UX System

Client

Majid Al Futtaim

Year

2023

01 / Challenge

Giveaways are forgettable. Games aren't.

Standard prize promotions in retail environments have a problem: they're passive. Hand someone a voucher and they move on. Majid Al Futtaim needed an activation that would stop foot traffic, hold attention, and turn a reward mechanic into something people actually wanted to participate in — and watch others participate in too.

02 / Idea

Make them earn it — one digit at a time.

Instead of handing out prizes, we hid them behind a combination lock. Participants had to crack a 3-digit code using a physical dial to unlock the suitcase and reveal their reward. A simple mechanic — but one that introduced skill, suspense, and spectacle into what would otherwise have been a transactional moment. Every attempt became a performance. Every win became a shared event.

03 / Execution

Crack the Code, Claim the Prize

Pixel Plus Media designed and built the full system from scratch. Participants registered via tablet and entered a managed queue — building anticipation before they even reached the machine. At the activation, a custom touchscreen dial let them rotate and input their combination in real time. When the correct code was entered, the prize was revealed instantly on a large display screen — creating a public moment of excitement visible to the entire crowd. The system ran on a custom backend with real-time validation logic, data tracking, and queue management software, handling sustained participation across the full campaign period.

04 / Results

Every attempt a moment. Every win a spectacle.

By turning a giveaway into a game, the activation dramatically increased dwell time, participation rates, and organic crowd engagement. The queue became part of the experience — and the public reveal turned individual wins into shared moments that drew new participants in. A reward mechanic that worked harder than any standard promotion.

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