Big Fish Games Blog

Big Fish Games is set to release the much anticipated Mystery Case Files: Dire Grove in early December, however the MCF team indicates there will be a special release in time for Thanksgiving, exclusively for Big Fish Game Club members.

On November 25th we will launch Mystery Case Files: Dire Grove - Collector's Edition. Why a Collector's Edition? The Mystery Case Files team built this special version of the game to be a one-of-a-kind MCF experience like nothing you have played before. The Collector's Edition launches several weeks early and includes secret bonus levels, additional puzzles, and other intriguing "extras".

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With the release of the Mystery Case Files: Dire Grove sizzle reel, speculation about the game has accelerated dramatically. Every MCF game has had secrets buried within and MCF: Dire Grove is likely no different. The question is, how much was shared in the sizzle reel? Big Fish Games’ Studios is tight lipped regarding what is or is not in the video (they responded to my desperate pleas with slightly evil smiles).

That being the case, it is up to us to contemplate, speculate, conjecture, and guess at what the video is trying to tell us.

I’ve captured the most intriguing posts from the Dire Grove Speculation forum thread for you to take a look at. You’ll be interested to know I ran these by Studios and they looked a little nervous...keep the posts coming!

tunaontoast on Nov 10, 09 1:03 PM

OK, car in the video has a license plate which is...JXH2M6.....any suggestions ????

emmyjayne on Nov 10, 09 1:14 PM

When the grad student is making her presentation it looks like the slide shown on the screen is a grave yard (with Celtic cross headstones). So I wonder if they open a crypt gate that let’s something evil out where it’s been buried...

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"In the Fall of 2009, four graduate students traveled to a small township near Blackpool, England. They were never heard from again."

With these words we begin the latest journey in the Mystery Case Files series. The release of Mystery Case Files: Dire Grove is just around the corner and Big Fish Games’ Studios is proud to share the Dire Grove sizzle reel with you. Head over to the Official Mystery Case Files site to see the video and gain insight into where the Mystery Case Files series is going...or not...

The video is likely as much of a surprise to you as it was to us. Big Fish Games’ Studios is never one to be redundant. Each new installment to the Mystery Case Files game series has taken the series to a new level. This was especially true with Mystery Case Files: Return to Ravenhearst. It appears Studios intends to the same with Mystery Case Files: Dire Grove. The sizzle reel clearly hints at the Mystery Case Files series heading in an interesting new direction by incorporating actual video footage into the game. As always, specific game details are under wraps at this point so we’re not entirely sure, but we’ll try to dig for more information regarding where and how this footage is woven into game play.

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Big Fish Games Studios is proud to announce the release of Mystery Case Files: Dire Grove!

Details are slim at this point, but the first image from the game has taken over the front page of the Mystery Case Files Fan Page. We were able to get our hands on the raw image from Studios and have included it below.

We'll keep you posted as more information becomes available including more game art, trailers, release dates, etc.

Closed for the Season

Prior to the release of Mystery Case Files: Return to Ravenhearst, a press kit was created to help promote the game. This kit was delivered in an official Mystery Case Files satchel and included a version of the real case file featured in the game. This case file was created to give those who had the opportunity to read it a unique glimpse inside the return visit to Ravenhearst Manor.

The content of the case file helps lay the framework for the game as it briefly mentions the events leading up to the return to Ravenhearst Manor. Readers are taken back to Mystery Case Files: Ravenhearst and Mystery Case Files: Madame Fate to help set the stage for the next chapter in the Mystery Case Files series.

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While computer games are a fantastic form of entertainment, many people also enjoy the thinking challenges they pose and the feeling of accomplishment when you complete the game. However, sometimes completing the many puzzles found throughout computer games can be quite difficult.

Big Fish Games Customer Support gets lots of questions from fans regarding how to solve puzzles in games. Unfortunately, Customer Support isn't set up to handle such questions. Thus, we thought it would be fun to share with you ten tips for getting through some common puzzles found in Big Fish Games.

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The final scene in Mystery Case Files: Return to Ravenhearst finds the user in Charles' chamber attempting to put an end to his wicked scheme and free the trapped souls. Poking around in Big Fish Games Studios, we came across the original sketches used to plan this climactic scene. We thought it would be fun to share them with you.

For those who have completed the game, these sketches will give you some insight into how Jeff Haynie developed the look and feel of the chamber.

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With the release of Mystery Case Files: Return to Ravenhearst taking place tomorrow, we thought it would be fun to sit down and talk with Jeff Haynie, Big Fish Games Art Director. Jeff is the driving force behind the artistic direction of the Mystery Case Files brand.

A veteran of the entertainment industry, Jeff has been involved with gaming for over a decade. Having started with DreamWorks, Jeff moved to Big Fish Games two years ago.

Jeff was recently awarded the Big Fish Games Innovator of the Quarter Award not only for his amazing artwork, but also for the amazing influence he has on everyone he works with. Congratulations to Jeff!

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The official release date for Mystery Case Files: Return to Ravenhearst was announced today in the form of a new teaser video.

The game is set for release to the general public on November 27th, 2008 with Big Fish Game Club members gaining access game on November 26th, 2008.

Check out the Official Big Fish Games YouTube channel for the clip, but be warned...you might want to keep the lights on...

Rose is back on Facebook and has released the second in what appears to be a series of Mystery Case Files: Return to Ravenhearst images. The door behind Emma's locket is being removed to reveal whatever lies beyond. We'll continue to keep our eyes on Rose's Facebook page and will post whatever we find here.

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In early September, members of the Mystery Case Files: MillionHeir development team were interviewed for the Developer's Voice series on the Nintendo Channel. Shawn Seavers and Adrian Woods of Big Fish Games were featured in the video as well as Sean Harrold and Elaine Eudy of Griptonite Games. The interview took the better part of the day and gives you a unique glimpse inside the art of game development.

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With the upcoming release of Mystery Case Files: Return to Ravenhearst just around the corner, we thought it would be fun to speak with someone who touches the Mystery Case Files brand on a daily basis.

Joe Shoop works as a designer in the marketing department at Big Fish Games. He is responsible for the Mystery Case Files Fan Site as well as many other marketing initiatives.

Joe sat down with us to speak about his role with the company.

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The latest teaser image from Mystery Case Files: Return to Ravenhearst surfaced over the weekend on Facebook. We grabbed it and are posting it here for you to see. As more images pop up around the internet, we'll be sure to post them here for your enjoyment.

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Today, Big Fish Games announced the next installment in the Mystery Case Files game franchise. Mystery Case Files: Return to Ravenhearst is currently in production and is scheduled to be released in time for the 2008 holiday season.

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We've asked Bill Meyer and Adrian Woods to sit down with us and take a look back at Mystery Case Files: Madame Fate. We'll talk about the development of the game, the storyline, and the future of the Mystery Case Files franchise.

Bill Meyer and Adrian Woods are two of the key individuals responsible for the Mystery Case Files game franchise. Bill acted as the Art Director for Madame Fate while Adrian acted as Game Developer.

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Recently, Nintendo announced the release of Mystery Case Files: MillionHeir for the DS platform. Following Mystery Case Files: Agent X, this it the second mobile Mystery Case Files game. We have asked Big Fish Games Studios Producer, Shawn Seavers to sit down and talk with us about the new release.

Shawn has been in the gaming industry for more than a decade. He spent over seven years with Nintendo and another two working in mobile gaming before coming to Big Fish Games. Shawn served as the producer for Mystery Case Files: MillionHeir.

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