Mystery Case Files: Ravenhearst
Encyclopedia
Mystery Case Files: Ravenhearst is an adventure-puzzle casual game
developed by Big Fish Studios, and distributed by Big Fish Games
. It is the third installment in the Mystery Case Files
series. The game is available exclusively at Big Fish Games website. The Mystery Case Files franchise is the number one brand in casual games and has sold more than 2.5 million units to date.
have circulated for decades. The Queen of England
has enlisted your help to solve the mystery behind the ghostly apparitions in and around Ravenhearst manor. You are provided with the recently acquired diary
belonging to Emma Ravenhearst which holds the key to unraveling the history of this unsettling place, yet some pages are missing. You must venture into Ravenhearst, find the missing pages, and solve the mystery.
As the player collects the pages of the diary, the story reveals itself. Emma Ravenhearst, a young girl from Iowa
, arrived in Blackpool, England on August 24, 1894 after having been graduated from a teacher's college. She is hired at a local school and boards with the schoolmistress, also helping with household taks.
At a community autumn party on September 10, 1894, Emma meets a handsome, wealthy young man named Charles Dalimar. He is smitten by Emma. Several months later, on March 16, 1895 he proposes to Emma.
After thinking about the fact that she has, as she says in her diary, just begun her life, she declines the proposal. Charles is hurt, but two weeks later on April 5, 1895 he visits Emma again, carrying roses. He tells her that he has purchased a tract of land and is building a manor.
A workman, Frank Williams, falls while working on the house in May 1895.. He leaves behind a wife and two children. At the funeral, Charles mutters to Emma something about being forever alone at his "bedevilled" manor.
On May 23, Emma gets a letter from her sister back in America telling her that their father is seriously ill. She makes plans to leave, but then falls ill. As she worsens, Charles moves her into the manor and cares for her.
He hires a woman named Rose Somerset to take care of Emma. Emma, despite her condition, continues to write in her diary and she and Rose become friends. (Note: source for edits to this point come directly from the diary in the Ravenhearst game.)
Unfortunately, Emma's health keeps on failing. She starts having nightmares where she is wearing a white bridal dress. She has not heard anything from her family. Charles behaviour has become suspicious & he has taken to reading the books of black magic
& necromancy
. Rose is finding the situation creepy. When Rose discovers a dress similar to the one Emma wore in her nightmare, the duo believe that Charles is trying to harm them. This also happens to be the second last entry in Emma's diary.
The last entry to the diary is dated "Today", and is written by the ghost of Emma, who haunts the manor. It urges the player to find seven skeleton key
s hidden throughout the manor, and visit the cellar to open the cellar door with them. When the player accomplishes this, an upright casket is found, which, when opened, reveals the remains of Emma, dressed in the wedding gown. It is heavily implied that Charles has murdered Emma in fear of abandonment. The skeleton dissolves as Emma's spirit is freed from the manor.
contraptions. An unfortunate glitch found only in the retail version of the game (as opposed to the downloadable version) occurs during the door puzzle in the third mission. Solving the puzzle requires a game of Tic Tac Toe to be won; the glitch prevents you from seeing Xs or Os as they are drawn on the board although it is still possible to win.
, where it has remained in their top 20 since.
Mystery Case Files: Ravenhearst was "the third-best-selling PC title in the United States for the week ending in the annual Black Friday shopping splurge" selling 100,000 copies in six weeks.
, at the last part of the Game, Charles Dalimar kills Madame Fate and you, the Detective, talks to the Queen of England. You must then return to the Manor to discover more mysteries that lies within.
On October 22, 2008, Big Fish Games announced at their blog that there will be a second game for the story-arc of Ravenhearst entitled, Mystery Case Files: Return to Ravenhearst
. Return to Ravenhearst
was released on November 27, 2008 exclusively at Big Fish Games
.
, you soon discover that the spirit of Charles Dalimar, Emma Ravenhearst's murderer, is on the loose and desperate because Emma is now free of the Manor's curse. He is actually the one responsible for Madame Fate's death stating that your rescue of Emma was pointless, for Rose Somerset, Emma's nursemaid in the first game, was his "true love".
You again return to the manor, but then you soon discover that there are more to the mansion than meets the eye: there is still a section of the manor unexplored, and some parts that you have already explored has been refurbished by Charles' tormented spirit. You must now uncover the secret of what happened to Charles after he murdered Emma, and put a stop to his psychotic obsession.
Casual game
A casual game is a video game targeted at or used by a mass audience of casual gamers. Casual games can have any type of gameplay, and fit in any genre. They are typically distinguished by their simple rules and lack of commitment required in contrast to more complex hardcore games...
developed by Big Fish Studios, and distributed by Big Fish Games
Big Fish Games
Big Fish Games is a provider of Internet media delivery software and game services based in Seattle, Washington. The company was founded in 2002 by Paul Thelen , and currently employs more than 400 people...
. It is the third installment in the Mystery Case Files
Mystery Case Files
Mystery Case Files is a series developed by the internal studios of Big Fish Games. The Mystery Case Files series is known for its ‘Hidden Object’ puzzles where, in order to progress through a game, the player must find a certain number of items hidden somewhere on a painted scene.There have been...
series. The game is available exclusively at Big Fish Games website. The Mystery Case Files franchise is the number one brand in casual games and has sold more than 2.5 million units to date.
Story
Rumors surrounding the Ravenhearst manor in BlackpoolBlackpool
Blackpool is a borough, seaside town, and unitary authority area of Lancashire, in North West England. It is situated along England's west coast by the Irish Sea, between the Ribble and Wyre estuaries, northwest of Preston, north of Liverpool, and northwest of Manchester...
have circulated for decades. The Queen of England
Queen of England
Queen of England may refer to:* Any of the female monarchs of England* Any wife of a male monarch of England who functioned as his official consort during his reign; see List of English consorts...
has enlisted your help to solve the mystery behind the ghostly apparitions in and around Ravenhearst manor. You are provided with the recently acquired diary
Diary
A diary is a record with discrete entries arranged by date reporting on what has happened over the course of a day or other period. A personal diary may include a person's experiences, and/or thoughts or feelings, including comment on current events outside the writer's direct experience. Someone...
belonging to Emma Ravenhearst which holds the key to unraveling the history of this unsettling place, yet some pages are missing. You must venture into Ravenhearst, find the missing pages, and solve the mystery.
As the player collects the pages of the diary, the story reveals itself. Emma Ravenhearst, a young girl from Iowa
Iowa
Iowa is a state located in the Midwestern United States, an area often referred to as the "American Heartland". It derives its name from the Ioway people, one of the many American Indian tribes that occupied the state at the time of European exploration. Iowa was a part of the French colony of New...
, arrived in Blackpool, England on August 24, 1894 after having been graduated from a teacher's college. She is hired at a local school and boards with the schoolmistress, also helping with household taks.
At a community autumn party on September 10, 1894, Emma meets a handsome, wealthy young man named Charles Dalimar. He is smitten by Emma. Several months later, on March 16, 1895 he proposes to Emma.
After thinking about the fact that she has, as she says in her diary, just begun her life, she declines the proposal. Charles is hurt, but two weeks later on April 5, 1895 he visits Emma again, carrying roses. He tells her that he has purchased a tract of land and is building a manor.
A workman, Frank Williams, falls while working on the house in May 1895.. He leaves behind a wife and two children. At the funeral, Charles mutters to Emma something about being forever alone at his "bedevilled" manor.
On May 23, Emma gets a letter from her sister back in America telling her that their father is seriously ill. She makes plans to leave, but then falls ill. As she worsens, Charles moves her into the manor and cares for her.
He hires a woman named Rose Somerset to take care of Emma. Emma, despite her condition, continues to write in her diary and she and Rose become friends. (Note: source for edits to this point come directly from the diary in the Ravenhearst game.)
Unfortunately, Emma's health keeps on failing. She starts having nightmares where she is wearing a white bridal dress. She has not heard anything from her family. Charles behaviour has become suspicious & he has taken to reading the books of black magic
Black magic
Black magic is the type of magic that draws on assumed malevolent powers or is used with the intention to kill, steal, injure, cause misfortune or destruction, or for personal gain without regard to harmful consequences. As a term, "black magic" is normally used by those that do not approve of its...
& necromancy
Necromancy
Necromancy is a claimed form of magic that involves communication with the deceased, either by summoning their spirit in the form of an apparition or raising them bodily, for the purpose of divination, imparting the ability to foretell future events or discover hidden knowledge...
. Rose is finding the situation creepy. When Rose discovers a dress similar to the one Emma wore in her nightmare, the duo believe that Charles is trying to harm them. This also happens to be the second last entry in Emma's diary.
The last entry to the diary is dated "Today", and is written by the ghost of Emma, who haunts the manor. It urges the player to find seven skeleton key
Skeleton Key
Skeleton Key is a rock band based in New York City. The band is the brainchild of bassist and singer Erik Sanko, who is the only constant member of the band...
s hidden throughout the manor, and visit the cellar to open the cellar door with them. When the player accomplishes this, an upright casket is found, which, when opened, reveals the remains of Emma, dressed in the wedding gown. It is heavily implied that Charles has murdered Emma in fear of abandonment. The skeleton dissolves as Emma's spirit is freed from the manor.
Gameplay
Like the Mystery Case Files titles that came before, Ravenhearst relies heavily on the hidden object puzzle. However, players will also run into strange locks, reminiscent of Rube GoldbergRube Goldberg
Reuben Garrett Lucius Goldberg was an American cartoonist, sculptor, author, engineer and inventor.He is best known for a series of popular cartoons depicting complex gadgets that perform simple tasks in indirect, convoluted ways. These devices, now known as Rube Goldberg machines, are similar to...
contraptions. An unfortunate glitch found only in the retail version of the game (as opposed to the downloadable version) occurs during the door puzzle in the third mission. Solving the puzzle requires a game of Tic Tac Toe to be won; the glitch prevents you from seeing Xs or Os as they are drawn on the board although it is still possible to win.
Reception
According to independent tracking site game-sales-charts.com, following its release on December 5, 2006, MCF: Ravenhearst held the #1 sales spot on nearly all casual game distribution sites including its home distribution channel, Big Fish GamesBig Fish Games
Big Fish Games is a provider of Internet media delivery software and game services based in Seattle, Washington. The company was founded in 2002 by Paul Thelen , and currently employs more than 400 people...
, where it has remained in their top 20 since.
Mystery Case Files: Ravenhearst was "the third-best-selling PC title in the United States for the week ending in the annual Black Friday shopping splurge" selling 100,000 copies in six weeks.
Sequel
During the Game, Mystery Case Files: Madame FateMystery Case Files: Madame Fate
Mystery Case Files: Madame Fate is an adventure-puzzle casual game developed by Big Fish Studios, and distributed by Big Fish Games. It is the fourth installment in the Mystery Case Files series. The game is available exclusively at Big Fish Games website...
, at the last part of the Game, Charles Dalimar kills Madame Fate and you, the Detective, talks to the Queen of England. You must then return to the Manor to discover more mysteries that lies within.
On October 22, 2008, Big Fish Games announced at their blog that there will be a second game for the story-arc of Ravenhearst entitled, Mystery Case Files: Return to Ravenhearst
Mystery Case Files: Return to Ravenhearst
Mystery Case Files: Return To Ravenhearst is an adventure-puzzle casual game developed by Big Fish Studios, and distributed by Big Fish Games. It is the fifth installment in the Mystery Case Files series. The game is available exclusively at Big Fish Games website...
. Return to Ravenhearst
Mystery Case Files: Return to Ravenhearst
Mystery Case Files: Return To Ravenhearst is an adventure-puzzle casual game developed by Big Fish Studios, and distributed by Big Fish Games. It is the fifth installment in the Mystery Case Files series. The game is available exclusively at Big Fish Games website...
was released on November 27, 2008 exclusively at Big Fish Games
Big Fish Games
Big Fish Games is a provider of Internet media delivery software and game services based in Seattle, Washington. The company was founded in 2002 by Paul Thelen , and currently employs more than 400 people...
.
Mystery Case Files: Return to Ravenhearst
After the events in Madame FateMystery Case Files: Madame Fate
Mystery Case Files: Madame Fate is an adventure-puzzle casual game developed by Big Fish Studios, and distributed by Big Fish Games. It is the fourth installment in the Mystery Case Files series. The game is available exclusively at Big Fish Games website...
, you soon discover that the spirit of Charles Dalimar, Emma Ravenhearst's murderer, is on the loose and desperate because Emma is now free of the Manor's curse. He is actually the one responsible for Madame Fate's death stating that your rescue of Emma was pointless, for Rose Somerset, Emma's nursemaid in the first game, was his "true love".
You again return to the manor, but then you soon discover that there are more to the mansion than meets the eye: there is still a section of the manor unexplored, and some parts that you have already explored has been refurbished by Charles' tormented spirit. You must now uncover the secret of what happened to Charles after he murdered Emma, and put a stop to his psychotic obsession.