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Mobile Mysteries: Shadow Ranch

This was the first Mobile Mysteries game for HeR Interactive to launch. It wasn't a direct port of the PC game, but rather a mixture of the PC game with the original novel by Carolyne Keene.

Available on: iPod, iPhone, iPad
Full App Store Release Date: February 23, 2011
Lite App Store Release Date: April 4, 2011
iPad Release MSRP: $2.99 USD
iPhone/iPod Release MSRP: $0.99 USD
Current MSRP: N/A
Discontinued: 2014
Game Abbreviation: iSHA
Inspired by/Based on: Nancy Drew Mystery Stories Hardback #5: The Secret of Shadow Ranch

Game Description: Introducing a Story-based Gamebook Series for the iPad/iPhone/iPod Touch!
The Nancy Drew Mobile Mysteries Series, for the iPad, iPhone and iPod Touch, takes the story-based gamebook category to new heights with players choosing their own paths and solving mysteries and puzzles both big and small. Shadow Ranch is an interactive mystery for mobile devices that brings the book to life. As you navigate the mysterious events at Shadow Ranch, you will soon find yourself in a world of long lost treasure, phantom horses, rough and tumble cowboys, and fearsome creatures of the wild desert.
Nancy is off to lend a hand at Shadow Ranch with her two best-friends, Bess and George. But when she arrives, she quickly discovers that Shadow Ranch hides a darker past. A recent rash of ghost sightings and a series of horrible accidents, have been driving customers away from Shadow Ranch in droves, and with business at a standstill, it’s only a matter of time before it closes the doors for good. It’ll be up to you, as Nancy Drew, to piece together the mysterious events at Shadow Ranch, before it’s owners are forced to ride off into the sunset. Play the Story!™
iPod/iPhone System Requirements: iOS 3.0 or later.
iPad System Requirements: iOS 3.2 or later.

Fun Facts:
  • This was the first and only game in the Mobile Mysteries series as the next game, Castle Finster, was cancelled.
  • This game was made in the style of an interactive novel featuring music and sound effects from the Nancy Drew series, but also included some never-before-seen renders from the PC version of The Secret of Shadow Ranch.
  • The lite (free) version of the game featured the first chapter of the game to play before you buy.
  • As players progressed through the game, there would be a plethora of mini games and side stories to explore and play.
  • Technically, this wasn't the first mobile game HeR made. Message in a Haunted Mansion for the GBA was the first, but as a mobile game for tablets and phones, this was the start.
  • As a marketing campaign, HeR created a video series called, "Nancy Drew Radio Mysteries". They also created a short video called, "The Case of the Missing iPad" in which Nancy needs to find her lost iPad which had the new Shadow Ranch game on it.
  • This game was developed by a company called Riptide Games, however it was published under HeR Interactive's name.

  • Image Gallery
  • Characters
  • Walkthrough
  • Soundtrack
  • Extra
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​Image Gallery

​Characters

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Dave Gregory
Dave is the ranch foreman. Always polite, somewhat shy, Dave is a man of business and frustratingly few words. He is truly a “modern” cowboy, into sports, music, and the outdoors. He is not above trying to use his looks to charm his way out of awkward situations.
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Tex Britton
Tex is an old-fashioned cowpoke. His cynical attitude reflects the fact that he feels much more at home with horses and cattle than with humans. He’s a terrible conversationalist (his favorite word is “nope”), and he not-so-secretly enjoys putting Nancy in situations that he thinks she can’t handle. ​
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Shorty Thurmond
The ranch cook, Shorty, is more talkative than the other two ranch hands combined. He also loves to cook, and takes great pride in the food he serves. So criticizing his meals is a recipe for disaster. ​
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Mary Yazzi
This single woman is part Native American and runs a store on land that is adjacent to Shadow Ranch. Mary knows all about the history of the area and she is interested in purchasing the Ranch for herself. Is she trying to scare away the ranch owners so they’ll agree to sell it to her? ​

Walkthrough

Full walkthrough coming soon!
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Soundtrack

App Descriptions

Shadow ranch lite
Nancy Drew: Shadow Ranch Lite
​
Introducing a Story-based Gamebook Series for the iPad™/iPhone®/iPod Touch®!

PLAY THE STORY!™

--- Rated 3.5 out of 4 by USA TODAY! "Let's hope more Nancy Drew mobile mysteries are on the way, as they deliver a fun take on the teen detective story by folding in interactive and multimediaelements." - Marc Saltzman
“Her Interactive focuses on high quality games with humor, stories, and a modern interpretation of Nancy Drew as a character. Overall, I’d say the game book is very well done and is worthy of being labeled a pioneering work.” – Dean Takahashi, VentureBeat

“Shadow Ranch...appears to be the first app that blends a robust young adult book with interactive elements, as well as a variety of story-related mini games.” – Winda Benedetti, MSNBC

Rated a perfect 5 stars ***** by Common Sense Media. "It's all brilliantly put together; a true blending of book and game." ---

Bring the Nancy Drew experience to life in this LITE version of the first installment of the story-based gamebook series for your iPad, iPhone and iPod touch. As you navigate the mysterious events at Shadow Ranch, you’ll soon find yourself in a world of long lost treasure, phantom horses, rough and tumble cowboys and fearsome creatures of the wild desert. Shadow Ranch is an interactive adventure where you choose your own path and solve mysteries and puzzles both big and small. As you navigate the cryptic events at Shadow Ranch, it’s up to you to solve the case before its owners are forced to ride off into the sunset.

Features Include:

•Choose your own path and explore each mystery the way you want
•Solve puzzles and word scrambles to earn collectibles and unlock mini-mysteries
•Find all the clues in fun hidden object games
•Navigate challenging mazes and play horse racing games
•Track your progress and revisit past cases

--- “Nancy Drew Mobile Mysteries: Shadow Ranch represents a new type of app that could be a big part of the future of leisure books for kids. Shadow Ranch is not quite like other interactive books out today, as it is more like a hybrid between a book and a full-fledged video game.” – Adam Balkin, NY1

“The game is a hybrid storybook and adventure game, incorporating plain text with mini games, some of which flow directly and logically from the story and others which seek to relieve the boredom younger users might feel when confronted with prose.” – Christina Nutt, Gamasutra

“Using text inspired by the original books, the app creates an interactive story for readers. You don't have to imagine you're on the case with Nancy Drew, now you can be part of it as well.” – Michelle Castillo, TIME ---

Get the Full App Today!

Coming Soon! Nancy Drew: Ghost of Thornton Hall

TELL A FRIEND: Spread the word and “Tell a Friend”

STAY INFORMED AND BE THE FIRST TO KNOW:

•VISIT US: www.herinteractive.com
•EMAIL US: feedback@herinteractive.com
•FOLLOW US: twitter.com/herinteractive
•LIKE US: facebook.com/nancydrewpcgames
•WATCH US: youtube.com/herinteractivegames
shadow ranch
Nancy Drew Mobile Mysteries®: Shadow Ranch

Introducing a Story-based Gamebook Series for the iPad™/iPhone®/iPod Touch®!

PLAY THE STORY!™

--- Rated 3.5 out of 4 by USA TODAY! "Let's hope more Nancy Drew mobile mysteries are on the way, as they deliver a fun take on the teen detective story by folding in interactive andmultimedia elements." - Marc Saltzman
“Her Interactive focuses on high quality games with humor, stories, and a modern interpretation of Nancy Drew as a character. Overall, I’d say the game book is very well done and is worthy of being labeled a pioneering work.” – Dean Takahashi, VentureBeat

“Shadow Ranch...appears to be the first app that blends a robust young adult book with interactive elements, as well as a variety of story-related mini games.” – Winda Benedetti, MSNBC

Rated a perfect 5 stars ***** by Common Sense Media. "It's all brilliantly put together; a true blending of book and game." ---

Bring the Nancy Drew experience to life in this first installment of the story-based gamebook series for your iPad, iPhone and iPod touch. As you navigate the mysterious events at Shadow Ranch, you’ll soon find yourself in a world of long lost treasure, phantom horses, rough and tumble cowboys and fearsome creatures of the wild desert. Shadow Ranch is an interactive adventure where you choose your own path and solve mysteries and puzzles both big and small. As you navigate the cryptic events at Shadow Ranch, it’s up to you to solve the case before its owners are forced to ride off into the sunset.

In Shadow Ranch, Nancy is off to Arizona and the rustic homestead run by Bess and George’s Aunt and Uncle. But when she arrives, she quickly discovers that Shadow Ranch hides a darker past. Legend has it that notorious outlaw Dirk Valentine's faithful ghost horse has been haunting Shadow Ranch, forever cursing all those unlucky enough to witness its eerie presence. A recent rash of ghost sightings and a series of accidents have been driving customers away from Shadow Ranch in droves. With business at a standstill, it's only a matter of time before the ranch closes its doors for good. As Nancy, George and Bess piece together the mysterious events at Shadow Ranch, they have one shot to discover the secret of Dirk Valentine's ghost before it's too late. Play the Story!™

Features:
•Choose your own path and explore each mystery the way you want
•Solve puzzles and word scrambles to earn collectibles and unlock mini-mysteries
•Find all the clues in fun hidden object games
•Navigate challenging mazes and play horse racing games
•Track your progress and revisit past cases

--- “Nancy Drew Mobile Mysteries: Shadow Ranch represents a new type of app that could be a big part of the future of leisure books for kids. Shadow Ranch is not quite like other interactive books out today, as it is more like a hybrid between a book and a full-fledged video game.” – Adam Balkin, NY1

“The game is a hybrid storybook and adventure game, incorporating plain text with mini games, some of which flow directly and logically from the story and others which seek to relieve the boredom younger users might feel when confronted with prose.” – Christina Nutt, Gamasutra

“Using text inspired by the original books, the app creates an interactive story for readers. You don't have to imagine you're on the case with Nancy Drew, now you can be part of it as well.” – Michelle Castillo, TIME ---

COMING SOON! Nancy Drew: Ghost of Thornton Hall

GIFT THIS APP: Click the “Buy App” arrow on the iTunes® App Store

TELL A FRIEND: Spread the word and “Tell a Friend”

STAY INFORMED AND BE THE FIRST TO KNOW:

•VISIT US: www.herinteractive.com
•EMAIL US: feedback@herinteractive.com
•FOLLOW US: twitter.com/herinteractive
•LIKE US: facebook.com/nancydrewpcgames
​•WATCH US: youtube.com/herinteractivegames
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