Sinking Island

Scenario:

Walter Jones, a billionaire, is found dead at the bottom of a huge Art Deco tower that he had built on a tropical island. The hotel that he had hoped to turn into a holiday resort for the international jet set turned out to be his last resting place.

You play the role of inspector Jack Norm. While a storm is raging, you have three days to find out the truth behind this mysterious death.

Accident or premeditated murder?

Which of the ten people on the island at the time of the death might have reason to want Walter Jones dead?

Highlights:

The new game by Benoît Sokal: the master of point & click adventure returns to the universe that earned him a reputation as a major comic book author: Detective stories!

Sumptuous décors: from the idyllic beaches to the exaggerated proportions of this extravagant tower, discover a rich environment and great graphics.

A heart-racing scenario: hate, resentment, treason and intrigue on a tropical island.

A Noir novel in a video game: the game is divided into ten simple questions that you have to answer one after the other to make headway in the investigation.

A full and accessible enquiry solving system: thanks to your personal assistant, you can confront the different suspects, compare their statements to evidence and move on in the enquiry by using your sense of deduction.

A race against time: as a storm rages, the tower is progressively sinking into the water… You only have 3 days to clear up this affair before all clues and the guilty party disappear forever.

2 game modes: in expert mode, it’s a race against time and you won’t have a second to lose! In adventure mode, you can go through each place at your own pace, enjoying the wonderful décors.

Source:

Official Website

ENCORE ANNOUNCES UPCOMING PC MYSTERY ADVENTURE LINE

Encore proudly announces the upcoming release schedule of its initial products in the new Mystery Adventure line featuring titles from Microïds, and the launch of their new website www.mysteryadventuregames.com. Game settings range from the dark regions of Transylvania to a mysterious island, and characters ranging from a mass murderer to a legendary prophet, the new adventure games for PCs will include Dracula 3: The Path of the Dragon and Sinking Island in August 2008, Nostradamus: The Last Prophecy in September 2008 and Still Life 2 in Fall 2008. More information about these games can be found at www.mysteryadventuregames.com.

Sinking Island

The creator of Syberia, Benoît Sokal, returns with a gripping detective story that combines suspense and intrigue. As an investigator sent to a luscious tropical island to solve the murder of a multi-billionaire hotel developer, players must sort through 10 suspects to the crime as a storm rages on the island. In Sinking Island players have only three days to solve the mystery before the island and the mystery disappears into the ocean. Sinking Island is scheduled to be released in August 2008 on PC with an anticipated ESRB rating of Teen. Watch the game trailer and get more information at www.mysteryadventuregames.com.

A game by Benoît Sokal, produced by Microïds and White Birds Productions, developed and designed by White Birds Productions.

Source:

Encore Press Release (July 2008)

SINKING ISLAND

WHO KILLED WALTER JONES?

You play the role of a private inspector Jack Norm, who is asked to find the truth behind the death of Walter Jones, at the foot of his last dream - a beautiful gateway on a tropical island. The only suspects are 10 people who were on the island at the time.

Due to a raging tropical storm, there is only 3 days to clear up this affair before all of the clues, the island and the guilty party disappear into the ocean forever.

10 suspects, 1 death and 3 days... and you to solve the case.

Features include:* Benoit Sokal, the creator of Syberia, returns in a compelling detective story that combines suspense and intrigue! * Discover rich environments from the idyllic beaches to Walter Jones' last opulent masterpiece * Captivating characters with unique psychological profiles that evolve throughout the investigation * 2 game modes bring hours of intrigue: In adventure mode, you investigate the island at your own leisure. In expert mode, it's a race against time and you won't have a second to lose to solve the death of Walter Jones!

Source:

Encore Software website

MYSTERY ADVENTURE GAMES LINE LAUNCHES FIRST TITLES -DRACULA 3 AND SINKING ISLAND FROM ENCORE RELEASED

LOS ANGELES – Aug. 25, 2008 – Encore, a wholly owned subsidiary of Navarre Corporation, announced today that the first titles in their Mystery Adventure Games line, Dracula 3: The Path of the Dragon and Sinking Island have shipped to retail. Dracula 3: The Path of the Dragon is the newest installment in the original Dracula series and makes it’s North American debut with a $29.99 MSRP and rating of “T” for Teen by the ESRB. Sinking Island brought to life by acclaimed game maker Benoit Sokal hits US shelves for $29.99 MSRP and a “T” for Teen rating by the ESRB. More information, assets and trailers for these games can be found at www.mysteryadventuregames.com.

“With new game play elements and plot twists, the first two releases should create positive momentum around the entire Mystery Adventure Games line,” said Cal Morrell, president of Encore. “Dracula 3 introduces fans of the series to intriguing new characters and Sinking Island delivers the fast pace, puzzle solving excitement that Sokal fans have come to expect.”

Dracula 3: The Path of the Dragon, a game produced by Microïds and developed by Kheops Studio, is the newest installment in the original Dracula series. Based on Bram Stoker’s universe, Dracula 3 takes players to Europe on a suspenseful quest to discover the reality of vampires and come face-to-face with Dracula. As Father Arno Moriani, players must travel to Transylvania to investigate a potential candidate for sainthood. Along the way players are submerged into a gripping storyline with numerous challenging and engaging puzzles to solve that leads to a final confrontation with Dracula!

The creator of Syberia, Benoît Sokal, returns with Sinking Island, a gripping detective story that combines suspense and intrigue. As an investigator sent to a luscious tropical island to solve the murder of a multi-billionaire hotel developer, players must sort through 10 suspects to the crime as a storm rages on the island. In Sinking Island players have only three days to solve the mystery before the island and the mystery disappears into the ocean. A game by Benoît Sokal, produced by Microïds and White Birds Productions, developed and designed by White Birds Productions.

About Encore:

Based in Los Angeles, CA, Encore is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Navarre Corporation (NASDAQ: NAVR), and a leading retail software publisher. As a result of strategic licensing agreements, the company publishes a broad range of award-winning utility, entertainment, education and productivity software titles. Publishing brands include Hoyle, Marine Aquarium, Family Tree Maker, 3D Home Architect, Advantage, Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy!; as well as the Riverdeep family of brands including The Print Shop, PrintMaster, Reader Rabbit and Mavis Beacon.

Navarre Corporation (Nasdaq: NAVR) is a publisher and distributor of physical and digital home entertainment and multimedia products, including PC software, DVD video, video games and accessories. Additional information is available at http://www.navarre.com.

Source:

Press Release

LEGACY INTERACTIVE SIGNS PUBLISHING AGREEMENT TO DISTRIBUTE MICROIDSVIDEO GAMES AS DIGITAL DOWNLOADS

Dracula 3 and Sinking Island Released Today to Coincide with Retail Launch; Other Games Also Now Available at LegacyGames.com

LOS ANGELES, CA (August 29, 2008) ­ Casual games developer and publisher Legacy Interactive today announced their agreement with Encore, a wholly owned subsidiary of Navarre Corporation, to distribute the popular Microïds adventure video games to all North American portals as digital downloads. The agreement will include the highly anticipated titles Dracula 3: The Path of the Dragon the latest sequel in the Dracula series, as well as Sinking Island by Benoit Sokal, the creator of the renowned Syberia franchise. Both downloads are available today to coincide with the retail release of the games.

Dracula 3: The Path of the Dragon is the newest installment in the original Dracula series. Based on Bram Stoker's universe, Dracula 3 takes players to Europe on a suspenseful quest to discover the reality of vampires and come face-to-face with Dracula. As Father Arno Moriani, players must travel to Transylvania to investigate a potential candidate for sainthood. Along the way players are submerged into a gripping storyline with numerous challenging and engaging puzzles to solve that leads to a final confrontation with Dracula!

Sinking Island is a gripping detective story that combines suspense and intrigue. As an investigator sent to a luscious tropical island to solve the murder of a multi-billionaire hotel developer, players must sort through 10 suspects to the crime as a storm rages on the island. In Sinking Island players have only three days to solve the mystery before the island and the mystery disappears into the ocean.

Also available today as digital downloads is the critically acclaimed Syberia ­ Kate Walker's Adventures franchise that has sold over one million units worldwide, and Still Life. All of the games are now available for download at www.legacygames.com.

Syberia and Syberia 2 ­ Kate Walker's Adventures are third-person adventure titles that follow Kate Walker, a young ambitious lawyer, in her quest to unlock the secret of Syberia.

Still Life is an adventure game for the avid adventure gamer where you play as a Chicago FBI agent and need to solve a gruesome murder.

The digital downloads of Still Life 2 and Nostradamus will also be released at the same time as the retail versions of the games later this year. Additionally, Legacy will be releasing titles from Microïds back catalogue online.

"We are thrilled to be partnering up with Encore to make the Microïds adventure games even more accessible to a larger audience in North America via our download portals," said Ariella Lehrer, CEO of Legacy Interactive. "We look forward to sharing these rich and engaging titles with the download community."

Said Betsi Gijanto, Vice President of Marketing for Encore, "We are glad to be working with Legacy Interactive to distribute Microïds titles to a wider online audience." "We are confident that our relationship with Legacy will be a great success."

About Encore

Based in Los Angeles, CA, Encore is a wholly owned subsidiary of Navarre Corporation and a leading retail software publisher. As a result of strategic licensing agreements, the company publishes a broad range of award-winning utility, entertainment, education and productivity software titles. Publishing brands include Hoyle®, Marine Aquarium, Family Tree Maker®, 3D Home Architect®, Advantage, Wheel of Fortune® and Jeopardy!®; as well as the Riverdeep family of brands including The Print Shop®, PrintMaster®, Reader Rabbit® and Mavis Beacon®.

Navarre Corporation ® is a publisher and distributor of physical and digital home entertainment and multimedia products, including PC software, DVD video, video games and accessories. Additional information is available at www.navarre.com.

About Microïds

Microïds is one of the leading adventure games producers and publishers in the U.S., Canada and Europe. With an ongoing focus on hiring the industry's best and brightest new talents, Microïds is home to the teams that develop and create innovative games and interactive programs. Microïds has one of the world¹s first and largest adventure catalogues, bringing together titles from Index+, Wanadoo Edition and Microïds. International successes include Still Life, Syberia (Adventures of Kate Walker), Amerzone and Dracula. For more information, visit www.microids.com.

About Legacy Interactive

Legacy Interactive (www.legacyinteractive.com) is a leading developer and publisher of casual games. Entertaining customers since 1998, the company has built a reputation for creating intelligent, realistic and engaging games for a broad audience. Located in Los Angeles, Legacy is known for its TV-branded games, such as Law & Order, as well as for its popular simulation games Pet Pals: Animal Doctor, Emergency Room and Zoo Vet. In 2008, Legacy added movie titles to its growing game roster, including the upcoming animated children¹s film Igor. Through Legacy's popular game network at www.legacygames.com, customers can download and try more than 500 casual games plus read and write reviews and share play lists of their favorite games. Legacy's games are distributed worldwide, in more than 12 languages, through its partners Ubisoft, Mindscape, 505 Games, and JoWood.

Source:

Press Release

From the creator of Syberia 1, Syberia 2, experience Benoit Sokal's fifth game.

At the base of a cliff on Sagorah Island, 82 year-old American billionaire Walter Jones is found dead next to his life's work; a massive Art Deco tower he had dreamed would become an elite getaway for international jet-setters. The only clues found at the scene include his wheelchair, abandoned at the edge of the cliff, and multiple scratches on his face. One of these scratches appears to have been made by a woman. Ten people were present on the island at the time of his death, among them the heirs to his vast fortune and legacy. Was his death an accident or murder?

Players assume the role of Jack Norm, a federal agent turned private dectective, who is taking a break in the atolls of the Indian Ocean when an old friend requests his assistance with the case. Jack has just three days to complete 10 gameplay missions, collecting valuable clues and storing evidence in his PPA (Personal Police Assistant). He will interrogate each of the 10 unusual suspects, using his keen deduction skills to determine who among them may have the most to gain from Walter Jones's death.## KEY POINTS:

• An engaging and innovative game.
• Choose between two styles of gameplay to carry out your quest: Time Mode or Adventure Mode
• Another classic adventure game by French author Benoît Sokal
• Interrogate each of the 10 unusual suspects, using your keen deduction skills to determine who among them may have the most to gain from Walter Jones's death.

Source:

Steam Store Description