Dear boomers,

First I'd like to introduce myself. But don't worry, I'll make this quick. My name is Catherine, I've been playing adventure games ever since I was a kid, and if the continued state of my addiction is any worthy indication, I might as well be infected and cursed by the BAAGS. I also happen to be a traitor, since I play other genres too. Lastly, I'm often obsessed with game development and all sorts of news and gossip regarding my favorite game companies.

Ok, so for my first post, I wanted to express something that's been on my mind for the past few days. You see, I really enjoyed the three Agatha Christie games that The Adventure Company put together between 2005 and 2007. According to this interview with game designer Lee Sheldon, they were planning to do five games. In April of 2007, prior to releasing Evil Under the Sun (the third game), Mr. Sheldon confirmed the publisher's intentions, as this quote will attest (full interview here).


Now, I understand the first three games have received their share of negative reviews, but I loved them as mood pieces and found them to be truly good-looking titles as well. The Adventure Company had hired developer AWE Games to handle the production, and they released each game within a one year development cycle. Except... last year, where Agatha Christie was nowhere to be found. So here's my crazy theory... Seeing as the games were criticized, I think TAC will ditch developer AWE Games and pick another studio to produce the fourth title. That would explain why we haven't heard anything about the license in a long while. Call it intuition if you like. I feel something's going on behind the scenes. It's crazy, I'm convinced they'll announce something very, very soon.

My feeling is that TAC might choose Frogwares or Kheops Studio, since they worked with them in the past. Or it could be some other developer I don't know about.

• Any thoughts on this, boomers?
• What did you think of the first three games (And Then There Were None, Murder on the Orient Express, Evil Under the Sun)?
• What would you like to see in the fourth game, if there was to be one?

I'm just curious to learn what you people think.
Thank you!

Cath

Cath, to GameBoomers.
There already is a 4th in the works called ABC Murders.

Ana

Hi Ana! Thanks for the welcome!

And yes, that's true. But I believe it's a hidden object game.

No, it is an adventure game. You can search the forum for previous threads on it.

Ana

Wow, I double checked and it appears you are absolutely right, Ana. I was sure I read somewhere that The ABC Murders was a sort of follow-up to Death on the Nile, and wasn't going to be part of TAC's classic adventure series. But this is GREAT news then! Thanks!

It does seem odd that TAC hasn't made a proper announcement for it though.

TAC does not usually make a formal announce till it's just about ready to release. We usually need to back into the info by sluething first and then asking questions.

Ana

Hi Cath and welcome to GameBoomers!

My own theory (based on absolutely no evidence) is that TAC decided to focus on their Hardy Boys game last year, and that somehow put the Agatha series on the backburner a bit.

Just my guess, though.

Thank you Becky for the welcome!

And that's a very plausible theory.

I think you've confused ABC Murders with Peril at End House. Death on the Nile and Peril at End House are hidden object games from Oberon Games, and aren't related to the adventure games made by AWE Productions and published by TAC.

just dropping by to say, "Welcome Cath"

Hi Jenny wasn't Death on the Nile a pc Game?

Death on the Nile is a PC casual game. It does get somewhat confusing, with some of the Agatha Christie games being adventure games and some being casual games.

ok boy Im really getting a little lost ... so many games so little time thing lol Thanks Becky You are the Best

Hello Leeana, I appreciate your welcome!

You know, perhaps this subject wasn't the best choice for my "introduction" to these great forums, as I feel I've added a fair share of confusion. I sincerely apologize, and promise to make my homework properly next time. Yup.

Ok, so bottom line is...

Death on the Nile and Peril at End House are hidden object, casual games, while The ABC Murders is the upcoming fourth entry into The Adventure Company's series. It hasn't been "officially" confirmed yet, but it seems likely to happen.

Cath -- you got it! Here's a thread from a few months ago where we dicussed The ABC Murders. Semi-semi-official news on the second page of the thread.

EXCELLENT thread!! Thank you so much Becky!

The 3 mentioned AC games are my personal favourites along with the Lost Crown. I was a bit disappointed by the 3rd one when David Suchet didn't provide his voice for Poirot. In an old interview he said that he would lend his voice for 3 games, he only did one but i don't know if that will actually happen(since he didn't do it in EUTS he might not return). Still i am anxiously waiting for another release, hopefully in the near future. We can only wait and see

Spyros

Hi Butcher!

I agree with you on this matter. I'm actually under the impression that TAC spent a little too much dough on the overall audio component of Murder on the Orient Express. Looking at the credits in my game manual, it appears they went to London and Los Angeles and hired the services of many big post production companies. Add to that Mr. Suchet's paycheck (which one can only guess must have been somehow a little bit heavier than a lesser known voice actor) and I'm left to guess they weren't yet ready to spend that much when the time came to polish Evil Under the Sun. But that's just my gut feeling.

Perhaps David Suchet just decided he had other things to do. And I won't blame him.

Hi Cath Thanks for the news.

I also loved The 3 Agatha Christie games and I am looking forward to the next one to come. The ABC Murders sounds interesting , and hearing that there maybe even another one after that, that is even greater news

Hi Trinny! Nice to meet you.

Hi,Cath

To GameBoomers...

I totally enjoyed playing all The Agatha Christie games...I don't think anything should be changed as far as game play...

The storys were great as well as the interface

I'm still waiting for the first Miss Marple game though...

Hi Darleen!

Gosh, everyone's so nice around here! I'm amazed!

And hi Bernard! I was kind of hoping we'd eventually see Miss Marple as well. She's not in The ABC Murders, is she?

Nope, the ABC Murders is a Hercule Poirot Mystery.

Ah right. Oh well, perhaps she'll be in the fifth game then?