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NDW Blog

ND Media Collateral 2004 Breakdown

3/19/2022

5 Comments

 
Hello fellow sleuths! I'm super excited to finally do a full breakdown of the 2004 Nancy Drew Media Collateral disc that was kindly sent to me from Nancy Drew fan Daniel!
On the disc, there's a file called "index" which, when opened, brings up this page (click to enlarge).​
Picture
Pretty retro, hey? That teal, the banner saying "The Secret of Shadow Ranch, Coming Soon!" I mean, how awesome is that? This was created before SHA released!

Anyways, the page has the following six headings to explore: Packaging and Screen Shots, Press Releases, Product Descriptions, Walkthroughs, Awards, and Corporate Backgrounder. There's a legend at the bottom saying that files marked with the * sign are Microsoft Word documents, and the files marked with the ! are PDF files. Here's a quick rundown of each heading.

Packaging and Screen Shots

These folders contain multiple screenshots that HeR had chosen as official images for marketing the game. It also includes a 3D box shot of the game. Take a look at the reference screenshot from below (click to enlarge).
Picture
These images can all be downloaded as a .zip file by clicking on the hyperlink to download. Makes it a lot faster to view and access them! That's really about all that these pages look like. The rest of the links on the homepage are direct downloads of the files listed.

Press Releases

The press releases are simply an official statement from HeR Interactive announcing the launch of new titles. As each of these files as the * sign beside them, it means they will download as a Microsoft Word document. Once downloaded, they can be opened in Microsoft Word and edited or printed out as you see fit.

Product Descriptions

The product descriptions are mostly Word documents that simply contain information on the game such as the premise, storyline, features, platforms, genre, age range, availability, ESRB rating, developer, distributor, price, and press contacts. I only wish that they contained the exact dates on which the games officially released. They give the month and year, but not the actual day. That's where some of the press releases are much more helpful!

Walkthroughs

This particular section is my personal favorite. All of these walkthroughs are point-form and walk the player through the first nine games correctly every time if the steps are followed very closely. The part that I find the most interesting is that both Secrets Can Kill and Stay Tuned for Danger have walkthroughs, and yet HeR Interactive never officially released PDF walkthroughs for these games, only for Secrets Can Kill REMASTERED. One of the coolest things is the fact that each of these walkthroughs says "confidential" on the bottom, implying they were only meant for internal use. Well, now they aren't so "internal", are they?

Awards

This Word document contains a list of each award won by the Nancy Drew games released by HeR Interactive up until this disc had been made (May 4, 2004).

Corporate Backgrounder

This final PDF contains background information on HeR Interactive as well as product descriptions for the first ten Nancy Drew games.

Now, as I'm sure you've noticed, I haven't included images of each file I've mentioned. I'm also sure that you're wanting to know and see more than what I'm telling you! Well, I'm super excited to announce that you can do all the viewing you please by simply heading to the Downloads page on my website! That's right, I've just uploaded the full .zip file to that page and once downloaded, you'll have full access to everything mentioned in this post! Have fun exploring!

That about wraps up today's post. Until next time, detectives!

Huw
5 Comments
ChazVsJazz
3/20/2022 03:02:03 am

I love how so much of the SHA promotional material mentions the "hidden mineshafts" that ended up being so hidden that they aren't even present in-game! Thanks for releasing these super cool documents!

Reply
Huw Miller
3/20/2022 09:22:35 am

Haha, right? Part of me remembers hearing a while ago that they were supposed to be in the game but they were cut, or maybe it's just my memory from seeing them in the Mobile Mysteries Shadow Ranch game. Would've been amazing to explore the mineshafts!

Reply
Haley (Rianna)
3/20/2022 10:33:19 am

What a perfect way to start my day: It's a sunny, frosty morning, with a cup of hot tea beside me, and flashbacks to great games to read about here. How lovely!

Initially, while reading the fact sheet, I was curious about the "premium item" in the deluxe version of FIN. I assumed it was never added, as that was the version I got as a kid (with a copy of "The Case of the Lost Song" included in the game box). I have no recollection of anything else being in the box. But THEN, I read the press release that mentioned a magnifying glass necklace. I have a necklace, though it looks like a mirror rather than a magnifying glass to me, that has completely confounded me for years. I thought, upon reading the press release, that I had finally solved the mystery of its origin. But upon reflection, I don't think it is the necklace that was supposedly included with that deluxe version. I wonder if it wasn't actually included? I'm a little bummed out not knowing. If only there was a picture for me to confirm one way or the other...

Also, while reading the FIN facts, it brings me back to the message board, as getting stuck on Day 1 is what led me to the forum. Oh man, the memories have surfaced...

I'd also never seen the "Cool without cruelty" line before this. I like it. I think that accurately reflected the games back in the day.

I do have to laugh at the product description for SHA, saying that the game was based on the 1931 edition. Yeah, it's not. It's based on the revised '60s version. I reread them both in February, and the only similarity that the game has with the 1931 printing of The Secret AT Shadow Ranch (versus the 1960s edited version of The Secret OF Shadow Ranch) is the location. But, I guess that was one way to hype the game (which it deserved--it's a superb game). And though we didn't get mineshafts in this game, we did at least get them in TRN.

I love this line from the TRT fact sheet: "When conversing with [the characters], the players’ answers directly affect the consequences and outcome of the game." Would that this was the case in later games. I appreciated the times when there was diversity in our dialogue options, and when our choices actually impacted the direction of the game (be it a minor impact or not, it really felt like we had autonomy as a player).

Also, I'm loving the old HeR logo...

Wow, what a trip, haha. Thanks for sharing the files, Huw. Now, if only someone could track down the necklace included with FIN and post a picture for me. That'd be supremely helpful...

Reply
Huw Miller
3/20/2022 12:23:09 pm

Hey Haley (Rianna)! I'm so glad to hear you enjoyed looking through these files. As far as I know, the necklace/magnifier listed in the FIN press release was a small, black one that had the Nancy Drew logo on it. I have one at home, but I'm currently away for school and won't be back for another 3 weeks. I can take a picture of it and post it on the blog when I get back!

Regarding the differences between SHA and the book, that's very interesting to hear! I haven't read all the books yet, let alone the various editions, so that's something I'll have to keep an eye out for!

Reply
Haley
3/20/2022 12:51:31 pm

If you could share a photo of it, that would be brilliant, thank you! That description does confirm that I did not get the necklace with my copy of the game. Perhaps it wasn't included with all of the editions that also carried the book. The box only advertises the book, so maybe I didn't have a true "deluxe edition."

The two versions of that story (SHA) are also almost nothing alike (save the location and the story of Alice, who is not included in the game). I do find the revised version better, so I think they made the right choice in taking inspiration from that edition.

On a related note, it's pretty neat to compare the source material (books) to the games that were created from them. I'm contemplating rereading the books for each of the games (though I am missing some titles, unfortunately). Anyhow, I digress from the topic of your blog post.

Thanks again for the all of the info!


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