Community

We interviewed our Lead Tester, Jeanne!

Her Interactive: What do you do as Lead Tester?

Jeanne: In a nutshell, it’s my job to make sure when someone plays their game; the only thing they focus on is solving the mystery. To help make that happen, the test team analyzes everything that impacts game play – art, sound, design, install, story, character, logic, navigation, compatibility and puzzles, just to name a few. I also participate in design walkthroughs where I gleefully try to be as difficult as possible to catch early logic and motivation issues, create test plans and test cases, hire and work with talented testers, and spend a ton of time in the game finding, reporting and regressing bugs.

Her Interactive: What do you do in your spare time? Any hobbies?

Jeanne: Travel and birding. Using birding as an excuse to visit places I want to see. Traveling to see new birds. It’s nicely symbiotic.

Her Interactive: If you could have a super power or super skill, what would it be and why?

Jeanne: Telekinesis, no doubt about it. There’s even flying potential if you’re clever enough.

Her Interactive: If you received an anonymous threatening note after exploring a suspicious location, what would be your first reaction?

Jeanne: Well, that depends. Is anyone else around? When did I receive the note? Am I still on site? Did I make it home first? Is the note hand written? Typed? Collaged? Does it address me by name or was it intended for someone else? What’s the threat level? Severe? Mild? Laughable? The tester in me just can’t answer definitively without pushing back for variables.

Her Interactive:  Name one memorable bug you found in Tomb of the Lost Queen.

Jeanne: This bug was actually found by one of our testers, but it’s definitely the most memorable bug for me, even if it wasn’t a show stopper: Dylan has no leg hair. Such a short description, but so vivid and trust me, once it was pointed out, it was all I could see every time I spoke with Dylan. Fortunately our art team was able to get this fixed so Dylan appears nice and rugged in the game.

Her Interactive: What is your favorite kind of puzzle or challenge in-game?

Jeanne: Give me a logic puzzle any day. I’d argue that testing is one big logic puzzle, which suits me just fine.

Her Interactive: If confronted with one of the following options, which would you choose?

A) Expose and catch a criminal

B) Sleep in a haunted place

C) Hunt for treasure in a dangerous location

Jeanne: It’s absolutely C) Hunt for treasure in a dangerous an exotic location. I’m always looking for travel opportunities.

Her Interactive: Which Nancy Drew game character would you say you are most like?

Jeanne: I’m going with George. She’s intelligent, independent, creative, resourceful and loyal. Those are all traits I hope people use to describe me someday.

Her Interactive: Do you like Easter Eggs and enjoy putting them in fellow team mates’ drawers?

Jeanne: For the record, I’ve been exonerated of this crime. It’s also too understated for me. I’m more of a ‘leave a clue in the drawer to draw the victim away from her desk on a prolonged scavenger hunt, ultimately leading back to her desk which is now filled floor to ceiling with Easter Egg grass and plastic eggs which all need gathered and cracked open to expose a multitude of tiny jackalope figurines you must painstakingly piece together in order to reveal the final solution’ kind of girl. You just remember that…

Her Interactive: What is your favorite TV show?

Jeanne: Firefly. Though it’s been said before, there is no other answer here (Tim and I utterly agree on this).

Her Interactive:  What is your favorite movie?

Jeanne: Firefly. Oh wait, this is the favorite movie question, not TV. Sorry, I meant to say Firefly.

Her Interactive:  How come you are so adverse to texting?

Jeanne: B/C @TEOTD I prefer to be AFK, or SLT. Besides, I can’t read any of it without a translator.

Thanks Jeanne for all your hard work!

Tomb of the Lost Queen pre-orders are now live! Head over to purchase your copy and receive the *Bonus Edition. The Bonus Edition includes these fun features:

• An extra Metagame award at the end
• Cell phone games
• Extra translation hotspots
• Cell phone charms
• Ability to call S.P.I.E.D. (Strange Phenomenon Inspectors: Extraterrestrial Division) for secret recorded messages

Pre-orders begin Tuesday, April 3, 2012. Pre-orders end Monday, May 7, 2012 at 12:00PM PST.

*Physical pre-orders are only available while supplies last.

If you order your copy after noon on May 7th, you will receive the standard game.

The official release date for Tomb of the Lost Queen is May 8, 2012. It will be in all major retail outlets then.

Shipping Options:

Physical pre-ordered games will ship out no later than April 30, 2012. Digital Download pre-orders will be available to download on April 30. If you ordered multiple items (other than TMB) they will ship at the same time as TMB does if you ordered them with the pre-order.

Depending on the shipping method you choose and your location, you may receive your game earlier or later than your friends. Physical games are shipped out of Minnesota, USA. Here are your shipping methods:

Within the US:

• USPS (Standard Post Office)
• Next Day
• Ground
• 2^nd Day

International:

• Post (International Post – No Tracking Available)
• UPS

(Some international orders can expect delays up 3 weeks or more due to varied customs and delivery regulations.)

Strategy Guides:

Due to increases in printing costs, Strategy Guides starting with Tomb of the Lost Queen and subsequent games will only be offered as digital versions. Here are the facts and benefits of the digital guides:

• No shipping cost to you
• Guides are in .PDF format
• Can be printed out at home
• High quality resolution
• Unlike physical guides, the digital version is in full color
• Zooming in and out option in .PDF to better read text and view images

If you have further questionsconcerning ordering, shipping, or downloading, check out our Help Page here.

We interviewed one of our awesome 3D artists, Josh!

Her Interactive: How long have you worked at Her Interactive?

Josh: It will be 6 years this July.

Her Interactive: How did you get into the game industry?

Josh: I’ve had a game system in my home since I can remember, so it’s always been an interest of mine. I took every chance I had to work around games. The art aspect always interested me the most, and I loved drawing, so when I had the chance, I decided to move out West and go to art school. After graduating, a friend of mine told me about a possible 3 month contract at Her Interactive for localization. I jumped at the chance to finally work at a video game company, and one thing lead to another. So after the contract, I stuck around!

Her Interactive: What was your favorite environment to work on?

Josh: The courtyard in The Captive Curse is one of my favorites. I just really liked the setting - nice and moody. At least, I hope it turned out that way!

Her Interactive: Is there an environment you’d like to create in the future?

Josh: I have always admired the architecture in London, so maybe a London street during the Victorian period.

Her Interactive: Name one environment and/or object you created and tell us a little about it.

Josh: Well I don’t want to say too much about TMB, but I did make the scene that shows up on the title screen that’s been shown. I don’t want to give away anything, but… things happen in there!

Her Interactive: If you were the main character of a video game, who would you be and what is your story or mission?

Josh: I would probably be a Knight, and have to go on a long quest to save the world! That’s what most video game artists do on their off time.

Her Interactive: If you could travel to any place, either real or fictional, where would it be? What would you do there?

Josh: I’d have to go to one of the worlds from a Final Fantasy game. Once there, I would have to learn some magic and try not to set myself on fire.

Her Interactive: What is your favorite movie?

Josh: Transformers: The Movie, the animated one from 1986. I watched it about 200 times as a kid, and will probably never watch another movie that many times. I also have transformers covering my desk here.

Thanks Josh for creating those awesome environments, we are looking forward to seeing all of your work in Tomb of the Lost Queen!

Nancy has started many of her cases at her desk, her center of operations, where you get to learn about how to play the game and where you first learn about the mystery. Now, with the release of Tomb of the Lost Queen, we are excited to announce a new UI! Check out the before and after shots between the UI in Alibi in Ashes, and the new UI comparison below.

Old Main Screen:

Here is Nancy's Center of operations. How many times have you heard her say that? To begin your game, you had to click on the plane ticket or clue to start your case. Your inventory is accessed by clicking on the brown bag at the far left bottom of your screen, which is next to the journal. Your task list (if you play Junior Level) is in between the journal and your cell phone. Nancy's words (when she's talking to herself or when sound effects are shown) are displayed in the center on the black background. The black background completely surrounds the game play screen. On the bottom right you can find the Options button, the Load game, Save game, and Exit button. Have you ever accidently hit quit before saving?

New Main Screen:

Here is the new main screen that you first arrive at! To show off a cool screenshot, we filled in the screen space, so that there is no black surrounding all sides except for the base where we introduce you to your options. It is more clear and simple to read and understand the game options since they are now in written form, rather than images you need to hover over.

Old Difficulty Screen:

Once you clicked on your ticket, or clue in Alibi in Ashes, you are presented with the option of game play level. The police badges display Junior or Senior level.

New Difficulty Screen:

In Tomb of the Lost Queen, once you click on "New Game" you are taken to the game difficulty options. You have a pair of magnifying glasses to choose from: Junior Level will now be "Amateur Sleuth", after all that is what Nancy calls herself often, and Senior Detective will now be "Master Sleuth." The differences are listed in the charts seen in the image above.

Old Options Menu:

Remember the options menu (clicking on the gear icon) in Alibi in Ashes?

New Options Screen:

We have made a new menu bar where you can find all the buttons you need! By clicking on the magnifying glass "Menu" at the bottom left of your screen, you can save, load, exit, get help, adjust your options, and return to the main menu. No more accidently hitting the "Exit" button!

This new wood grain tool bar at the base of your screen displays, of course, the magnifying glass Menu button, then your cell phone on the left. In the center is your quick and easy-to-access inventory, where you can slide back and forth to see everything you have collected. Above your inventory is a black bar where you can read sound effects and Nancy's words when she talks to herself. To the right on the tool bar is your journal and task list, which rolls upwards for a better view, and then tucks back into the tool bar when you are finished. The task list has a special feature: when you check off a task, the finished tasks gravitates to the bottom, making room for the remaining tasks you have yet to complete at the top.

How do you like the new user interface? Stay tuned for the release of Tomb of the Lost Queen to experience this new update yourself! Happy Sleuthing!