It’s about a company that hit on an exciting game concept and rode that concept for nearly two decades, but then realised that its games were no longer as sharp and inviting as they’d been in 1999.įinancial hardship paired with apparent mismanagement whittled away at Her Interactive until it became what it is today: a studio that is, at best, a shell of its former self. The story of Her Interactive is that of a warning. This account is based on interviews with six former Her Interactive employees, some of whom spoke anonymously in the interest of protecting their careers, as well as an interview with Lani Manella, the longtime voice of Nancy Drew in the games. The company’s relationships with the fans has deteriorated. Over three years later, Her Interactive still hasn’t released its long-delayed next game, Midnight in Salem, despite the studio’s repeated promises. “ really did feel like a family.”īut Mamarked the moment that the once-predictable studio began to grind to a halt. “We were all very invested in the game and in our fans,” said another staff member who was laid off. The Nancy Drew mystery titles had become a constant in the lives of both the developers and the fans. Since 2001, the studio had stuck to a strict production schedule, releasing two Nancy Drew games per year, and a couple months later, the studio was due to release its next one, Sea of Darkness. The games featured Nancy herself solving puzzles and untangling mysteries by finding clues and investigating suspects.
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Since its founding in 1995, Her Interactive had released 38 games, most of them based on the mega-popular mystery series Nancy Drew. This came as a shock, since many of Her Interactive’s employees had worked there for a decade or longer. “One person went down at a time, and every time they came back up, they’d start packing up their boxes.” At the end of the day, 13 employees – over half the company – no longer had jobs. “But Penny had booked the conference room downstairs, and there was an HR person we’d never seen there before,” said an employee who was there. That morning, they had something more pressing to think about, though: they couldn’t log into their computers. Are the ghosts real? Has Salem’s dark history come to life, or is there someone else to blame? Time is short, and Nancy must find the answers before the clock strikes midnight in this first ever Steam specific and feature rich Nancy Drew game.On March 25, 2015, the weather in Bellevue, Washington was just warming up enough to play hacky sack, a favourite activity of the employees at the game development studio Her Interactive. As Nancy races to uncover the truth behind the arson, she discovers connections to the house’s past with the Salem trials and finds herself drawn into a struggle with supernatural events that she simply can’t explain. The ongoing investigation has turned up little evidence but concerned citizens have accused Mei Parry of arson and are pressuring the police to arrest the secretive teenager. When Tuttle passed away, the estate became city property and while the mayor was seeking a manager to oversee the estate the home burst into flames. The Hathorne House was originally constructed by Judge John Hathorne, inquisitor of the infamous Salem witch trials and the final home to 102-year-old Frances Tuttle, his last direct descendant. Nancy Drew unexpectedly finds herself in Salem, Massachusetts investigating an arson on the Hathorne estate. Nancy Drew®: Treasure in the Royal TowerĪvailable Now! Play the all-new Nancy Drew mystery adventure! Nancy Drew®: Last Train to Blue Moon Canyonĥ. Nancy Drew®: Warnings at Waverly Academyģ. ğollow ancient clues to find Marie Antoinette’s legendary secret!Ģ.Read between the lines to expose a killer!.Ĝatch a train – its your ticket to solving a century-old mystery!.Ğnroll in a school plagued by suspicions and lies!.Venture into the past and outwit a criminal before time runs out!.Genre: Mystery, Adventure, Casual, ActionĪre you, as Nancy Drew, game to solve these classic mystery adventures? Play all 5 Nancy Drew classic games before the release of our new title – Nancy Drew: Midnight in Salem! In this all new bundle you will:.