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"If you're into ghosts, you'll love digging into this haunted adventure mystery...the presentation is one of a kind...Overall Rating: Great" - Cheat Code Central

Travel with Nigel Danvers to an eerie seaside town on England's east coast. Learn to use advanced techniques used by real paranormal investigators, and uncover an ancient mystery and treasure. But, beware, not all of the towns residents will help in your mission, whether they are alive or dead.

Inspiration from the haunting works of Charles Dickens, M.R. James, Arthur Conan Doyle, and E.F. Benson combines with real ghost-hunting gadgets to bring this frightening story to bone-chilling life. Success or failure in locating wandering spirits depends on your skill as an investigator. With nerves of steel, and wits to match, you will soon discover long lost secrets, previously known only to the dead!

Visit the Wesite now and begin your Ghost Hunting adventure!

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The Lost Crown re-found in New York City!
THE GHOST-HUNTING GAME CASTS A FOREBODING SHADOW ACROSS TIMES SQUARE, MARCH 14th 2008.

Darkening the day, like only a good ghost story can, The Lost crown casts an eerie ochre light across Times Square, as the game is unveiled to the American public. News of UK, EU and Worldwide publishing will be announced shortly.

Image 1 / Image 2

"...The Lost Crown truly is HUGE. If I had to draw comparisons to movies, I’d say The Lost Crown is part Village of the Damned, part The Wicker Man (The original one), and a heavy dose of Poltergiest. There is so much mystery and suspense in the game that your thoughts will run from one end of the spectrum to the next..."
- Score: A+ - justadventure.com

"...a delightful tapestry which entices the game player on a romp in search of lost treasure. Prospective ghost hunters will be thrilled with this how-to guide, collecting evidence of the extraordinary utilizing “tweaked” modern day gadgets -- all set into a very entertaining story (Boakes’ strength). Fans of his game Dark Fall will not be disappointed with this long awaited entry into their hands for many hours of gaming enjoyment..."
- Score: A - Gameboomers.com

"...you can use a digital camera, a night-vision video camera, a multi-camera surveillance rig, a handheld tape recorder, and an EMF reader to collect evidence. Yes, it's just like the show Ghost Hunters on the Sci-Fi Channel, and it's pretty awesome...Dark shadows, spectral figures, near constant mist, and chilling sounds are bound to give most folks an uneasy feeling about playing the game at night in a dimly lit room..."
- Score 4/5: Great! - CheatCC.com


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15/02/07: In-depth Interview with Adventure Classic Gaming
This detailed, well executed and thoughtful interview was conducted by the well respected adventure website, and features illustrations from several of the games produced by Jonathan Boakes and colleagues. Adventure Classic Gaming also includes reviews, previews and further interviews with adventure devloper 'stars' such as Roberta Williams, Charles Cecil, Jane Jensen and Ragnar Tornquist. View the full article here.

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03/11/06: Korea Focuses on Indie Hit 'Dark Fall'
Post Independent Gaming conducts this sparky interview Jonathan Baokes, and asks questions about game production, self publishing and the process of game creation. The website includes both the original English version, and a localised version for gamers in Korea. View the full article here.

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06/06/06: Jonathan Boakes & Matt Clark in Business.
The Western Morning News features both Darkling Room and Shadow Tor Studios in the business section of the popular newspaper. The article features an interview held in Cornwall's The Olde Salutation Inne (Looe), as well as images from Barrow Hill. View the full article here.



24/04/06: Barrow Hill is ready to explore!
Darkling Room were thrilled, and excited, to help Shadow Tor Studios build their pagan thriller 'Barrow Hill'. Adding vocal talents, offering guidence with scripting and publishing, Darkling Room are happy to boast that the game is one of the best point&click adventure games available. Click the images above to learn about the games creation, or buy the game directly from the developers here.

Here's a few quotes from a recent review:

"...there is a decided mysterious and menacing atmosphere to the game...."

"A fascinating interactive screenplay, which poses thematic questions of what and where, while allowing the gamer to formulate his or her theories as to why."

Click to view.
04/02/06: GAME.exe: Popular Russian print magazine 'Game.exe' published a huge six page interview with Jonathan Boakes in Spring 2006, the article featured illustrations from the up and coming adventure game 'The Lost crown: a ghosthunting adventure'. Some of the images were exclusive to Game.Exe. Click the banner, above, to view preview pages and read a complete transcription. (With illustrations).

Click to view article.
19/01/06: Just Adventure: The worlds most popular (and busy!) adventure games forum gathers a huge group of independent developers together for a chat about game creation, publishing and up's and downs of the industry. Whether you are a game fan, or potential developer, this large chatty interview is a must. A word of advice, put the kettle on, and make some coffee....it's a long feature!


25/11/05: Adventura Y Cia: The huge Spanish adventure game magazine has published an in-depth interview with Jonathan Boakes. Questions cover everything from ghosthunting, to game production. A great read, with nice illustrations. There are also exclusive clues about the next adventure game, The Lost Crown. Both English and Spanish versions are available: English version / Spanish version

Click to view a screen grab of this event.
22/11/05: Amazon.com: XXv Productions ghostly adventure game, Dark Fall, is still in the top 70 PC games, according to Amazon.com. The game, the first commercial game by Jonathan Boakes, sits happily at number 66 (at time of going to press) between Harry Potter, Neverwinter Nights and The Sims. Big bed fellows indeed! See a screengrab of the chart here.


30/06/05: Destinies: The official website is launched! A selection of screenshots were
also published; alongside soundtrack samples, an introduction to the story. Click the images above, to view artwork by Darkling Room.


28/03/05: A Warning to the Curious: Website launched. Explore the haunting story, by M.R.James, through photographs, video and real ghost stories. The legacy lives on, from Japanese neo-horror, to the existential wanderings of Sapphire and Steel. Enter the website to learn more.


Strata 3D Software features Dark Fall II: The 3D content creation tool, (used to build the Dark Fall worlds), was proud to feature the game and Jonathan in their flashy newsletter and website. Click the image (above) to view the article, or select this link to view the official company Press Release.


2 Weeks after the storm: The online edition of the recent exhibition is now live! This follows successful print exhibhitions in The Bunker Gallery (Central London) and The Smithy in Looe, Carnwall. 23 b/w prints are available to view, from the collection of 50. Jonathan says about the work "such large scale carnage, following a natural storm, is always inspiring. There is a desire to create something worthwhile from the tatters".

Dark Fall in top three! The folks over at the Gameboomers Adventure game forums vote Dark Fall third most recommended game to play, for 2005. Dark Fall 2 was also featured, at number 13. The competition was impressive, with many classics, and newer games to choose between. Visit the Gameboomers page.


SFX says "Website of the Month!": The hugely popular SFX Magazine, devoted to Sci-Fi and Fantasy states that the Blakes 7 website built by XXv Productions and The Anorakzone is website of the month, July 2005. See full clipping.


Aventura: The Spanish adventure zine features an article on the forthcoming horror/adventure games, with mention of the Dark Fall games, Scratches and Barrow Hill. Good company!


This Haunted Land: Ever fancied being a ghosthunter? There are many groups, and organisations to join. The "THL Team" are but one, but we have experienced the unexplainable, and interacted with the otherside. Jonathan Boakes writes up the casefiles, and invites all to explore the paranormal, and judge for themsleves. Not for the nervous.


The stylish PDF adventure-zine "The Inventory" published an interview with Jonathan Boakes in early Summer 2005, here's a quote: "Right now Jonathan is working on his third title, called ?The Lost Crown: A Warning to the Curious?, Our new writer Jordy Tubman talks with Jonathan in the Lounge this month about his future title and adventure games in general". Click the image above to download "The Inventory" for yourself.


Do not adjust your sets!: Dark Fall: The Journal has now been published in Russia, by Akella. Click here to view the artwork, it's surprising stuff, with a mix of B-Movie horror, and classic adventure fiction.


Do not adjust your sets!: "Lights Out" (aka Dark Fall 2) has been published in Russia. Click here to view the artwork, featuring a fisherman monk!


Scratches: The producers of up and coming horror/mystery/thriller "Scratches", mention the Dark Fall games in a recent production interview. The game looks great, with gothic churches and naked trees. Click the image, above, to view the interview, or click here for the official website.


Ghost! Magazine: Large feature on the ghostly Dark Fall games in this premier paranormal magazine. Choose from a feature, or download the complete article here:
Dark Fall 2 Poster
Interview page 1
Interview page 2
Both Dark Fall games reviewed!
Ghost! Magazine front cover


New game announced!: News broke on the Just Adventure forum ("the largest and most visited adventure site on the internet"), regarding the up and coming horror/adventure/thriller known as 'The Lost Crown'. Visit the forum for details. Quote "With a good, and original, backdrop you have a fabulous base from which to work, and unnerve people. The world presented is both utterly normal, and alien in equal measure".


Gameboomers Interview: Becky Waxman explores the ghost ridden lighthouse, and survives to ask questions. Nice interview with talk of future plans.


Graphics Interview: Derek Lofgreen chats with the Dark Fall creator about game production, and building worlds using the Strata 3D creation package, the software was also made famous by Cyan World's 'Myst' series, and Omni Creative with 'The Riddle of the Sphinx'. The interview includes excellent illustrations, from Dark Fall II: Lights Out.


Gamezone Interview: Louis Bedigian has a fireside chat with Jonathan about ghosts, games and "Lights Out". Here's a snippet: “No two playtimes will ever be the same, as hundreds of random elements have been included to provide a rich and lively ghost hunting experience.”


The game is on shelves! The Second Dark Fall game is now on shelves across the US, and soon to appear across Europe. Take a peek at the box design.


Mystery Spook playing with "Lights Out" packaging design! Official Adventure Company designer says ""someone" has their own ideas of how the packaging should look".


E3 Preview Showing! / Gamespot: Gamespot post impressions after seeing Dark Fall II presented at LA based interactive entertainment expo, the HUGE E3! An additional screengrab is available here.


Computer Gaming World: MYST 4 VS DArk Fall 2 Dark Fall: Lights Out vs Myst 4: Revelation direct comparison. Very flattering, but rather surreal.


Dark Fall : Rencontres avec l'au-delà: While digging through the archived files we came across this oddment. A demo for the first Dark Fall game with full French translation. A curiousity, and could be fun for collectors. The graphic quality isn't great, and the atmosphere is nothing like the full game (with ghosts!), but it's a nice retro addition to our existing Dark Fall material.


Interview / AVault: Top notch interview with Jonathan by Daniel Yu, with lovely illustrations.


Interview / Just Adventure+: Great interview with news about Dark Fall: Lights Out, and Jonathan, with illustrations.

Interview / INTERVISTA: Interview for Italy's "Adventure Planet" / Intervista a Jonathan Boakes, creatore e sviluppatore di Dark Fall.


Trailer: The full screen teaser trailer, entitled Parkers Dream, is now available. Click the image above to download the file. 10.8mbs.


The haunting: Dark Fall creator has spooky first hand encounter with a possible haunting in Oxfordshire, England: "I am not too proud to admit that I got out of that space very quickly, and stood outside wondering what it was that had just occurred."

click to see the feature...
Dark Fall story comes true! : The Times: Ice age cave system found under pub!

See the feature...
Magazine Feature : Computer Gaming World features Dark Fall as a "must-have" game in the January issue. (click to view).

Read the interview...
Adventure Gamers Interview : 14th November: Evan Dickens speaks one-to-one with Jonathan Boakes about Dark Fall II, XXv Productions and other projects..

See party pictures...
Dark Fall is 3 : Party: See photographs of the fabulous "game box" cake, and the celebrations, November 7th, 2003.

Magazine Feature : 101 PCGames included the first Dark Fall adventure both in the printed magazine (click to view) and on the cover disk in Issue 7.

Interview : Newer, post release, interview. Jonathan Boakes discusses the inspiration for Dark Fall, as his on-going motivations.

Interview : An interview with PC Game World, where Jonathan talks about the production of this title, and hints as to what gamers can expect of the title.

Interview : An interview with OZ based adventure webzine “Quandary”. Plenty of news about Dark Fall II : Lights Out, as well as behind the scenes information, Jonathan’s ghostly encounters and some new screenshots.


Strata3D Feature : In May, 2003, the 3D creation software “Strata” featured Dark Fall II on it’s main page. Click to see a screen grab of this event.

Gamers Saga : In June, 2003, Gamers Saga held a 'short and sweet' interview with Jonathan.

GamersPulse : In June, 2003, GamersPulse talked with Jonathan about the release of the first game, Dark Fall : The Journal.

PC Format : In September, 2003, the popular PC software and game magazine featured the Dark Fall demo on the cover DVD and CD's.

About the author : Jonathan Boakes. CV. Biog. Pics. Previous "game" projects and influence. Clicking link will launch new window.


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Other items:


Scrapbook: Oddments and rareties. Enter this area to view short films, technical experiments, tutorials, unpublished articles, rare Dark Fall assets, demos and interactive projects from the past 2 decades.


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