Guilty Parties - murder mystery party news
Guilty Parties - the murder mystery party news blog
My Guilty Parties News Blog provides up to date news, information, tricks and trivia about murder mystery party games - games you can host yourself.
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February 6, 2005 11:52 - Stickman Murder MysteriesIf you've tried searching for murder mysteries on the Internet it won't have escaped your attention that one of the sites that always seems to be at the top of the results is Stickman Murder Mysteries. But what are they?
Stickman Murder Mysteries is a free online graphical murder mystery game by cartoonist Paul Kinsella in which you play a detective solving murders in the crime-ridden town of Stickville.
In each of the 5 "cases" you solve the murder mystery by visiting the crime scene, talking to witnesses, examining the dead body at the morgue and gathering evidence. Navigation is done by clicking on items. If you want to examine something, you must click on it. In some cases there's a text box to complete - for example, you may need to make a phone call.
It's important to note that Stickman Murder Mysteries is not a game download - you play it online through your Internet browser.
The mysteries themselves vary in difficulty - I had no trouble solving the first case, certainly. (And I'm not the world's greatest detective, not by a long shot.)
Click here to test your sleuthing skill at Stickman Murder Mysteries.
(By the way, if you've ever explored the world of search engine optimisation and keywords, you'll enjoy the interview with Paul Kinsella on the normandcompany home page.)
February 12, 2005 16:21 - New version of Way out West for kidsFreeform Games have now produced a kid-friendly version of Way out West, their murder mystery game set in Cactus Gulch in old-time California.
Way out West was originally written as a family-friendly game, but feedback from people who've run it for groups of kids and younger teens (for birthday parties and the like) has prompted them to write a new game aimed specifically at kids - and they're giving it away free with the standard game!
The basic structure of the kid's version -- character sheets, goals, ability cards -- is just the same as the standard game. (I've found that kids are usually as good as adults at getting to grips with playing freeform characters, if not better!) Freeform Games have removed the more adult themes and characters from Way out West, and taken out some of the more complicated game mechanisms.
February 20, 2005 12:12 - 10 extra guests for Curse of the PharaohFreeform Games have produced an expansion pack for their popular Curse of the Pharaoh murder mystery game, allowing for an extra 10 guests. Curse of the Pharaoh can now be used with 6-19 guests (plus one person hosting the game).
The expansion pack costs £5 if you purchase it at the same time as buying the basic game (which costs £20), or £10 if you purchase it later. The pack contains complete instructions for using the additional characters and includes items and abilities for them all.
Curse of the Pharaoh is set at an archaeological dig in Egypt in 1894, and involves dark magic, English archaeology and, of course, murder.
February 20, 2005 12:35 - Your murder mystery questions answered!News from Mysteries-on-the-Net...
Many of you have asked for it. Now, we're doing it.
On Thursday evening, February 24th, at 9pm ET, you'll be able to talk with other people who enjoy murder mystery events. Mysteries on the Net has spared no cost in arranging a FREE Murder Mystery Teleconference.
That's right, you can share your ideas with mystery party aficionados across the nation - AND I'll be available to answer your most-pressing sleuthing questions.
You'll also be given a SPECIAL MURDER MYSTERY OFFER only available to conference attendees.
Simply go to:
http://www.mysteries-on-the-net.com/mysteries_conference.htm
You'll be able to register for FREE.
* * * * If you've never conducted a murder mystery party before, you'll definitely want to be there. * * * *
I look forward to sharing stories of intrigue and interest with you on Thursday evening. And - a full moon will be out that night.
Regards,
Jack Pachuta
The Chief InspectorSadly, I'm not going to be able to make it (I'm in the UK and the time isn't convenient for me...), but I hope you all sign up and let me know how it goes!
February 24, 2005 17:59 - St Patrick's Day and a Murderous YearMarch 17 is St Patrick's Day and if you want to celebrate it in style, you could do a lot worse than a murder mystery party.
Here then are three St Patrick's Day-themed games:
Murder Most Green - A St Patrick's Day game for 8 to 24 people. Click here to go to the Mysteries on the Net site and learn more.
Death Plays a Role - Both theatrical and Irish, this murder mystery is ideal for both St Patrick's Day festivities and the dramatically inclined. For 8 to 40 people. Click here to go to the Mysteries on the Net site and learn more.
The Luck of the Irish - The King of the Leprechauns has had his pot of gold stolen. For 17 to 90 people. Click here to go to the Merri Mysteries site and learn more.
I've also created a new page detailing the themed murder mystery parties running throughout the year. Click here to go to "A murderous year".
