[Oscar]

There have been a number of games with almost the same intro - choppy black and white film, viewed from within a car, and a woman's voiceover reading a message. The woman doing the voice is the same in each game, (I think) the voice of Emma Harry in Barrow Hill. The games are:

Barrow Hill - Curse of the Ancient Circle
Rhiannon - Curse of the Four Branches
Baron Wittard - Nemesis of Ragnarok

Here's an example to show what I mean: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=haqY1gpYioE

Is there a story behind this? They are all from different developers (all British) so I doubt it was intentional but to have such a similar intro with the same voice can't be coincidence. I thought it might have been a joke or conspiracy by all three, or a sort of benchmark or tradition within the first person horror genre.

It's a great style of intro by the way, very atmospheric. Does anyone know any other games with the same intro?

[Fien]

The bit about Emma Harry is not true. Three different games, three different women. Check it yourself if you don't believe me.

EDIT: Hey, you forgot Amber. Ghost story, starts with a car too. I don't think Emma Harry had been born yet, though.

[Oscar]

Wow, really? I could have sworn it was Emma Harry in Baron Wittard.

I think Amber has a guy voicing the intro, doesn't it?

[Fien]

I haven't played Baron Wittard, but mobygames.com is your friend. Someone called Posy Brewer and a Helana Hunting played the part of Kate in Baron Wittard and Jen in Rhiannon respectively. I do agree that their voices are a bit similar, although Emma Harry has a rather distinctive accent. IMO.

I hadn't noticed the prominent car intros, but so many 1st-person Mystian adventures start with a phone message, a fax, a letter, an email. Not just the 3 you mentioned, lots and lots more. Must be another time-honored tradition.

[cbman]

Anyone else think 'Emma Harry's' voice is extremely sexy? I wouldn't mind if she was in more games.

I believe the same person also voices Lucy Reubans in the Lost Crown and I think the girl in Dark Fall: Lost Souls and very possibly other female voices in the dark Fall series. As far as I can make out she is a friend of Matt Clark and Jonathan Boakes, rather than a proffessional voice actress, but I think she does a great job.

[Oscar]

Originally Posted by cbman

Anyone else think 'Emma Harry's' voice is extremely sexy? I wouldn't mind if she was in more games.

I believe the same person also voices Lucy Reubans in the Lost Crown and I think the girl in Dark Fall: Lost Souls and very possibly other female voices in the dark Fall series. As far as I can make out she is a friend of Matt Clark and Jonathan Boakes, rather than a proffessional voice actress, but I think she does a great job.

Yes, definitely sexy but mostly because she lives in a small caravan in a deserted swamp!

I didn't know she played Lucy Reubans, and also Nancy Brewer and Emily Travers. That's quite some talent! I must really suck at recognizing voices, especially since Fien thinks she has a distinctive voice

[Oscar]

Originally Posted by Fien

I hadn't noticed the prominent car intros, but so many 1st-person Mystian adventures start with a phone message, a fax, a letter, an email. Not just the 3 you mentioned, lots and lots more. Must be another time-honored tradition.

I would be delighted if you could provide me with more of these games, I can't get enough of them! I'm aware of the Dark Fall series, Scratches, Amber, Blackstone, The Filmmaker, 7th Guest, Shivers and obviously the 3 I mentioned but not much beyond that. I love these games

[Fien]

EDIT:
List deleted. As of now, I refuse to spend time on finding links and trying to help people who don't bother to answer a simple question.

[Collector]

Lighthouse begins with messages on an answering machine, followed by a car scene during the intro.

[Fien]

Yes, lighthouse.