Adeventure Gamers: You are an active "ghost hunter" that goes on paranormal investigations, correct? Do you have any memorable encounters that really stick out in your mind to this day?

Jonathan: There's quite a few!

Ghost-Hunting is such a bizarre and esoteric thing to get involved in. I can't say that I am totally convinced by the existence of souls wandering about around us, but I like to keep an open mind. There are so many dodgy photos out there, claiming to show a ghost or spirit, but closer scrutiny reveals the 'ghostly' content to be a camera strap, a cloud of breathy condensation or just a good ol' optical illusion. Most people can see that, straight off, so the ghost-hunting activity is seen as pointless and... well... a bit daft! But, in its defense, I will say that ghost-hunting is a fun (most of the time), intelligent and thoughtful pursuit. You get to look around great locations, after dark, in places that few people get to see. Part of my interest stems from a desire to learn about human fear... fear of the dark, or the loud noise, or the voice on the breeze... it has proven to be great research, and adds fuel to an already fertile imagination.

Of the spooky encounters I have had, the most startling occurred when making The Lost Crown, and not while actually 'ghost-hunting' in a team. I was photographing the inside of Duloe Church, Cornwall, for a nocturnal sequence seen in-game (TLC fans will remember the scene where you place 'Old Nick's' hands back on the statue). I should add that it wasn't actually night time, but a dull afternoon in March. The ravens were quieter that day, keeping to themselves, so all was peaceful and still. I wasn't thinking about ghosts that afternoon, but I often carry the ghost-hunting gadgets with me in my camera bag, so the EMF Meter was hidden in there, somewhere. The EMF is a simple device that detects and pinpoints a disturbance in the electro-magnetic field around us. The device activates near sources of electro-magnetic energy, which includes anything electrical.

The church, as you can imagine, has very few sources of electrical current; the lighting is simple, basic and outdated... like many rural churches... so I was more than a little alarmed while photographing 'Old Nick' to hear the EMF screaming out, from the bottom of my bag, a good few metres from where I stood. I've only ever heard the thing react like that if near a microwave oven, electricity meter or some other powered-up source. There really was nothing that could be causing such a violent and unexpected reaction! I moved away from the statue, towards the camera bag, only to hear the EMF 'cut out' as quickly as it had started. What had caused the reaction? A moving form of energy? What sort of entity, creature or force could do such things? Suddenly the church felt slightly less welcoming, and lonely. I began to feel as if someone, or something, was in the ancient building with me. The EMF had acted as some sort of trip wire, alerting me to the presence of another.

So, with some nervousness, I plucked the EMF from the bag, and wandered that little corner of the church, with the EMF unit in my hand. The thing crackled occasionally, indicating localised power sources, but there was nothing significant... until, that is, I moved back towards the statue. The thing went mad! Just like before. It's a horrible sound, a full EMF reaction; it's a kind of squeal, high pitched and uncomfortable. It made me jump, and I could feel my nerves beginning to stir. Then, once again, the thing went dead. I was left alone, in the quiet, in the now peaceful church. I don't know what set off the meter, and wouldn't dare hazard a guess, and this is not the scariest story. Instead, it's the most alarming. I depend on technology in pretty much everything I do, so there was something very surprising, and unexpected, about a simple gadget reacting so strangely. I believe a power source, a paranormal force, passed through that corner of the church that dull afternoon in March. Which is, in all honesty, creepy enough for me!

AG: Have any of the cases you experienced influenced story ideas in the games?

Jonathan: Yes. Like the above tale. That was an interesting turn of events; reading Man-Size in Marble as a child, finding 'that' statue in Cornwall, and then including it in the story for The Lost Crown. Having a 'strange' encounter while filming the statue finishes my mission, and adds a paranormal flourish. I don't know, or can't say, whether there was some form of precognition involved, or whether it was coincidence (finding a real handless statue), but it certainly sticks in the mind. The statue in Duloe Church does seem to fascinate people, and I often find myself giving tours of the church, and talking about the statue. Each of the tourists pay a donation to the church, which is in dire need of repair and restoration. Many of the places featured in The Lost Crown may not be with us in ten years time. They will become 'ghosts' of their former selves.

AG: Care to share your personal views on what ghosts really are, and why they linger?

Jonathan: Linger? Saying 'linger' suggests there is some choice in the matter, which is interesting. Like any mortal being, I like to think there is something (anything!) after death, but have no idea if it is true. I only have my faith, I guess. Do the souls of our nearest and dearest really hover around us, watching our progress through life? It's a lovely idea, but ghost-hunting can never confirm that fact, no matter how many flamboyant 'mediums' claim to converse with the dead. Personally, I suspect there is a huge technical advancement waiting to be made, involving supernatural / paranormal forces. Phenomena is only paranormal before it is explained, and accepted as truth. I always like to use the microscope example when talking about these things. Bacteria and viruses were invisible to mankind before the microscope, but people were able to witness the effects of the bacteria and viruses, without knowing what or why the effects were occurring. Primitive cultures would have blamed some deity or god-like being. But, of course, the reality is far less esoteric. I believe a gadget, a machine, or a technique, will reveal what causes certain paranormal phenomena, but that doesn't mean to say it will be any less strange, or frightening. After all, we can now see a virus, but it doesn't make them any less terrifying, as they mutate, and evolve, to threaten our existence. Perhaps ghosts would be revealed to have a similar agenda.