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Montreuil (France), August 19, 2013. Anuman Interactive’s adventure game label Microïds wins the right to use Agatha Christie’s novels. The development and publishing deal was negociated by Interactive Rights Management (IRM), the interactive rights agency on behalf of Agatha Christie Limited. A series of investigation games based on her work are currently in development.

After releasing two new adventure games - Dracula 4: The Shadow of the Dragon and The inquisitor, Book I: The Plague - in summer 2013, Microïds is planning on appealing once again to the players’ intelligence with the purchase of the Agatha Christie license.

Microïds has experience in developping several adventure games that have become references points in the industry, with the Syberia saga as its benchmark. Headed by Elliot Grassiano, they are taking on the challenge of bringing some of the crime novelist’s most iconic stories and detectives, such as Hercule Poirot, to life. This deal promises loads of surprises, twisting plots, quality dialogue and drama, subtle interrogations and unexpected outcomes for the fans.

Alain Milly, Publishing Director at Anuman Interactive says “Microïds experience in adventure gaming combined with Agatha Christie’s genius whose work goes beyond all generations can only lead to new must-plays for all the mystery and investigation fans”.

Valerie Bozzetto, Joint Managing Director IRM says “Agatha Christie has already proven itself as a great game brand with the huge success we have had with our downloadable games, but we relish the challenge to make more immersive and true adventure–led games with the experts at Microïds”.

Tamsen Harward, VP Sales and Marketing, Acorn Productions Ltd which manages the rights to Agatha Christie adds: “Coming at an exciting time for the Christie brand, we feel this development will deliver a whole new level of experience for Christie’s fans around the world”.

Agatha Christie (1890 – 1976) is the author who sold the more novels across the globe according to the Guinness World Records. Nicknamed the Queen of Crime, she specialized in closed-door thrillers and spying stories. Her 66 novels, 154 short stories and 20 plays were translated worldwide more than 7.000 times. “Ten Little Niggers”, “Death on the Nile” or “Murder on the Orient-Express” are one of the many titles that have been adapted in a movie or on TV.

The first PC/Mac/iOS/Android title of this saga of investigation games will soon be announced.

What more can a Poirot fan wish for, along with the beginning of a new season of a TV show as well?

The only deal breaker is that the previous Microids game Dracula 4 received bad critics.

Excellent news. I really enjoyed the previous Agatha Christie AGs, and would really love to see what Microïds can do with the franchise.

crabapple - 19 August 2013 08:44 PM

diego - 19 August 2013 07:11 PM

The only deal breaker is that previous Microids game Dracula 4 received bad critics.

It wasn’t that bad. It was just short—and a Part 1 where Dracula fans wanted a full game.

I don’t know, it’s not really the short length that worries me - it’s the fact that most reviewers (those on adventure gaming sites) thought the game resembles casuals too much - easy puzzles, little or no animations…

Anyway, making it episodic could work if done right (we’ll see how The Raven will pull it), but I’m sure Agatha Christie format is more suited for a full-fledged game.

fov - 19 August 2013 08:42 PM

I know Microids are French, so maybe this wasn’t immediately obvious to whoever wrote the press release, but referring to And Then There Were None by its original title might not be the best PR move. Just saying.

That title have caused some raised eyebrows over the years, even though there is noting racist about it, and it just comes from a nursery rhyme.

Zifnab - 19 August 2013 10:10 PM

Let’s not fool ourselves: this WILL be like Dracula 4, and just like Dracula 4 it will probably suck.

Or, we can go on fooling ourselves and you’ll all be bitterly disappointed when you all find out I was right. Then you’ll all be saying “gee, I wish we’d listened to you Zifnab. You’re so smart and handsome. From now on we’ll consider you the supreme authority on adventure games!!” 

Yeah right .. Like that is going to happen.
Even if you turn out to be right, then there is a say: Sometimes even the blind chicken finds the corn

Anyway I think I agree with you. My expectations of what Microïds is capable of isn’t very high, and I would be more optimistic if it was being made by someone else. Right now Microïds can only surprise me positively.

I wonder why Poirot (as portrayed by David Suchet) wore a black forest snail on his upper lip..

Microids announced The A.B.C Murders!

Only one concept art so far:

It was from another company, and it was casual. Microids/Anuman didn’t have the license at the time.

First two screenshots for ABC Murders:

Let’s just hope those characters are not the final version.

They definetly need to refine their character shaders, as they do stick out quite a bit from the backgrounds, despite they do seem to strive towards a bit more cartoonish art style in both.