Pre-Release News Timeline - Page 3
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Page last updated: May 7, 2024
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Click on all images to enlarge.
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January 12, 2024 // Cookie Contest Honorable Mentions
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This post from January 12th of 2024 features honorable mentions from the 2023 Cookie Contest. However, the real significance to this post is the background. It hasn't yet been confirmed what it is an image of, but it is from Mystery of the Seven Keys.
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January 29, 2024 // HeR Interactive Discord Launch
To celebrate National Puzzle Day, HeR Interactive launched their brand-new official Discord channel. It's open to everyone and can be accessed via this link: https://discord.com/invite/35gVBSUW Inside of the Discord, HeR has setup and announced a new community challenge: create a puzzle similar to past puzzles that have been used to market Mystery of the Seven Keys. This puzzle will be completely fan-made and each person who contributes will be credited in the post when it launches. It is still unknown how the solution of this puzzle will contribute to the marketing of KEY.
January 30, 2024 // Website Icon Update
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HeR Interactive updated the Mystery of the Seven Keys page for the first time since October 20, 2023. The change they made was to the icon on the page which hasn't been updated since August 8, 2023. The icon is now a golden puzzle piece that links to the HeR Interactive Discord channel.
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March 5, 2024 // KEY Icon Teaser
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HeR Interactive launched a new Trivia Tuesday series on their Instagram story which included a teaser for a future post. The background of the posts featured a grassy field with a blue sky and clouds. The green folders and app are designed to resemble a computer screen. The default game cursor for KEY can be seen in the bottom right of the screen.
There are 6 folders on the desktop each with different names:
The subject matter of the Trivia Tuesday revolved around game icons which was a teaser for the next big reveal about the game. |
March 6, 2024 // KEY Game Icon Reveal
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At 1:34 PM Pacific Time, HeR Interactive launched their latest reveal for Mystery of the Seven Keys. This video featured a look at a laptop screen which revealed the desktop game icon for ND34. The description of the youtube video reads 🗝️💻🗝️💻🗝️💻🗝️💻🗝️💻🗝️💻🗝️. There are 7 keys and 6 computers. The video itself is 34 seconds long.
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March 8, 2024 // March Newsletter
At 11:34 AM Pacific Time, HeR Interactive sent out their latest newsletter featuring various Mystery of the Seven Keys-related images, graphics, and backgrounds.
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To match the last newsletter, the header resumes the lighter color scheme which is inverted from previous newsletters. The only difference is that this header reads March instead of February.
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The first graphic advertises International Women's Day. HeR is celebrating with a 50% off sale on all their games through to March 11th, 2024. The background of this image is a downward angled shot of St. Vitus Cathedral.
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This section features the promo code for the sale with some details on the sale.
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The next graphic shows off the new game icon for KEY and links to the video highlighting the reveal. It also makes a point of showing how far along the download is from being completed.
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Brittany Cox (voice of Nancy Drew) and her husband, Ryan Ricks (composer for MID and KEY), both got interviewed a couple years ago about Nancy Drew. This interview has been re-edited for the purposes of this celebratory day. The image links to the video. The background of this image is of St. Vitus Cathedral with a pink hue on top.
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This graphic shows all the female voice actors from Nancy Drew: Midnight in Salem and how they talk about women in videogames and Nancy Drew. This video is reused from February of 2021. The background of this graphic is too blurry and covered up to get an inkling of what it may be.
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The next graphic highlights the HeR News page featuring articles about Women in Videogames and STEM. The background of this image is quite blurry but appears to be of the courtyard at St. Vitus Cathedral.
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Finally, this graphic shows off the video that has all the Valentine's Day entries from fans. The background of this image appears to be an area of the courtyard of St. Vitus Cathedral, however some fans speculate it could also be Golden Lane in Prague.
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The footer of this newsletter remains the same as the previous newsletters without any changes.
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March 13, 2024 // KEY Game Page Update
Screenshot taken on March 28th, 2024.
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HeR Interactive made a minor update to the game page for Mystery of the Seven Keys. Almost everything is the same with the exception that the puzzle piece icon no longer is gold, but magenta. It also no longer links to the HeR Interactive Discord server. The bottom of the website now features an icon stating that the webpage is GoDaddy verified and secured. When clicked, this opens a pop up with a web certificate about HeR Interactive's identity and domain control. The certificate can be seen below.
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March 15, 2024 // Women's History Month Press Release
At 9:53 AM Pacific Time, HeR Interactive sent out a press release via EIN Presswire to various news sites around the United States about Women's History Month. This press release contained statements from Penny Milliken, the CEO of HeR Interactive, and Suzy O'Hara, the Chief Creative Officer of HeR Interactive. The press release once again confirmed that Mystery of the Seven Keys will be releasing in 2024, but didn't give an exact release date. The following is the press release in full.
EIN Presswire | Newsmatics
Celebrating Women's History Month: HeR Interactive Continues to Advocate for Women's Voices in the Video Game Industry
NEWS PROVIDED BY
EIN Presswire
Mar 15, 2024, 11:53 AM ET
EIN Presswire
Mar 15, 2024, 11:53 AM ET
Female-led video game company prepares to launch highly anticipated new Nancy Drew game
RENTON, WA, USA, March 15, 2024 /EINPresswire.com/ -- A legacy in gaming, HeR Interactive, the award-winning video game developer and publisher behind the critically acclaimed mystery adventure game series Nancy Drew, continues to empower women in the gaming industry and pursue its ongoing commitment to inclusivity and diversity. Megan Gaiser, the company’s CEO from 1999-2011, built HeR Interactive into one of the longest-running game series that appeals to all audiences. Since its first video game in 1998, where players step into the detective’s shoes and play as Nancy Drew, the company has relentlessly pursued its mission to elevate women through games.
Penny Milliken, CEO of HeR Interactive, remarked, “We are immensely proud of the strides HeR Interactive has made in bridging the gender gap in gaming. Most women working on our current game have been playing Nancy Drew games since they were young. Now, they are game creators and marketers at HeR Interactive. Our female team brings a distinct perspective and passion, allowing us to craft games that resonate with our audiences.”
The upcoming release, Nancy Drew®: Mystery of the Seven Keys™, slated to launch this year, not only signifies the continued success of HeR Interactive but also reflects the increasing participation of women in the gaming industry. In parallel with Women’s History Month, now is the perfect time to celebrate women’s contributions to the gaming industry while focusing on the female-led contributions made daily to HeR Interactive and the Nancy Drew series.
“We are incredibly excited about the upcoming release,” said Suzy O'Hara, Chief Creative Officer at HeR Interactive. “Our goal is to continue to make great video games by supporting and creating an inclusive gaming environment. It has been a privilege for me to collaborate with such talented teams and, specifically, highlight the many amazing women at every level working on this game.”
With each new game release, HeR Interactive continues to cement its position as an inspiration for aspiring female game developers. By challenging stereotypes and proving that women can create, lead, and thrive in the gaming world, HeR Interactive is reshaping the industry's future, one mystery at a time.
For more information on HeR Interactive and their upcoming title, Nancy Drew: Mystery of the Seven Keys, please visit https://www.herinteractive.com/.
Jared Nieuwenhuis
HeR Interactive
[email protected]
RENTON, WA, USA, March 15, 2024 /EINPresswire.com/ -- A legacy in gaming, HeR Interactive, the award-winning video game developer and publisher behind the critically acclaimed mystery adventure game series Nancy Drew, continues to empower women in the gaming industry and pursue its ongoing commitment to inclusivity and diversity. Megan Gaiser, the company’s CEO from 1999-2011, built HeR Interactive into one of the longest-running game series that appeals to all audiences. Since its first video game in 1998, where players step into the detective’s shoes and play as Nancy Drew, the company has relentlessly pursued its mission to elevate women through games.
Penny Milliken, CEO of HeR Interactive, remarked, “We are immensely proud of the strides HeR Interactive has made in bridging the gender gap in gaming. Most women working on our current game have been playing Nancy Drew games since they were young. Now, they are game creators and marketers at HeR Interactive. Our female team brings a distinct perspective and passion, allowing us to craft games that resonate with our audiences.”
The upcoming release, Nancy Drew®: Mystery of the Seven Keys™, slated to launch this year, not only signifies the continued success of HeR Interactive but also reflects the increasing participation of women in the gaming industry. In parallel with Women’s History Month, now is the perfect time to celebrate women’s contributions to the gaming industry while focusing on the female-led contributions made daily to HeR Interactive and the Nancy Drew series.
“We are incredibly excited about the upcoming release,” said Suzy O'Hara, Chief Creative Officer at HeR Interactive. “Our goal is to continue to make great video games by supporting and creating an inclusive gaming environment. It has been a privilege for me to collaborate with such talented teams and, specifically, highlight the many amazing women at every level working on this game.”
With each new game release, HeR Interactive continues to cement its position as an inspiration for aspiring female game developers. By challenging stereotypes and proving that women can create, lead, and thrive in the gaming world, HeR Interactive is reshaping the industry's future, one mystery at a time.
For more information on HeR Interactive and their upcoming title, Nancy Drew: Mystery of the Seven Keys, please visit https://www.herinteractive.com/.
Jared Nieuwenhuis
HeR Interactive
[email protected]
March 20, 2024 // Women's History Month Press Release Part 2
This is a very minor update. On this day, HeR Interactive uploaded the press release from the previous week to their website. It can be viewed and read at this link: https://www.herinteractive.com/about-us/news/celebrating-womens-history-month-her-interactive-continues-to-advocate-for-womens-voices-in-the-video-game-industry/
April 1, 2024 // Official Cover Art Reveal
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At 10:34 AM Pacific Time, HeR Interactive revealed the official cover art for Mystery of the Seven Keys. It was initially announced in a 15-second video, then later posted in a high resolution to social media.
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This is the official cover art in full. It sports a brand-new rendition of the logo, and has a new purple/orange color palette which differs from the gold/blue color palette that has been used thus far.
The cover features multiple iconic elements from the game. There is a large key which is very similar to the one revealed with the game's desktop icon. Various architectural pieces can be scene including the astrological clock, St. Vitus Cathedral silhouette, and the marionette theater. There is also an open manhole cover implying underground tunnel exploration. |
April 5, 2024 // Cover Art Blog Post
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At 3:34 PM Pacific Time, HeR launched a new Amateur Sleuth Blog post talking about the newly revealed cover art for Mystery of the Seven Keys. In the post, HeR Interactive team members Indy and Brighella discuss the new cover art and reveal that the creator is long-time Nancy Drew cover art creator Mark Tolleshaug. Tolleshaug has been creating the cover art for the Nancy Drew games starting with Nancy Drew: Message in a Haunted Mansion. The blog post also contains a coded message: we heArd you mighT have wanted to sEe an exteNded versIon of thE one we released on sOcial media – so heRe iT is, in square forM! When all the capitalized letters get rearranged, they spell out MARIONETTE which is referencing the Marionette Theater cart on the cover. An extended version of the cover art is also included in the post in a nearly square format. This image can be seen on the left.
You can read the full blog post here: https://www.herinteractive.com/2024/04/unveiling-the-new-cover-art-for-nancy-drew-mystery-of-the-seven-keys/ |
April 13, 2024 // Newsletter Teaser Image
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At 4:34 AM Pacific Time, HeR posted a new image asking people to subscribe to their newsletter. The last time they did this was on March 28th, 2023. That was 2 days before sending out the big April 1st newsletter that began the marketing campaign for Nancy Drew: Mystery of the Seven Keys.
This new image features several KEY-related images and faux news stories. The title of the newspaper is KEY Moment In Time with the subtitle being Unlock The Most Recent Community News. The newspaper costs 34 cents (game 34) and is 7 pages (seven keys). The edition number has a coffee stain surrounding it and reads #97071234 which is the trademark number for Mystery of the Seven Keys. The left panel reads Today with a section on the weather saying Foggy Nights Ahead. There's also an image featuring St. Vitus Cathedral. Below that is an image of Radek with the headline Local Man Becomes A Fashion Icon - One Yellow Sweater At A Time. The middle panel starts with the headline Mysterious Letter Discovered On April Fools Day: This Discovery Has Left Viewers Mystified. HeR references the letter first revealed on April 1st, 2023 in their April 1st newsletter and on social media. Below that and slightly obstructed by the main image text is the headline All You Need To Know About Nancy Drew's Upcoming Case "Mystery of the Seven Keys". This headline means we will be getting a lot more information about the game very soon. The final headline reads Redefining The Anagram One Caption At A Time. The right panel reads Sports Latest with the next headline being "Hans Is Real" The Internet Trend That Started Hans' High-Profile Online. Finally, the bottom of the panel has the header Entertainment with a quote saying "This café is amazing. It's been here a long time!" To end it off, there is a question which reads Is There A ~Secret Menu~ At The Hungerkünstler Café? The Hungerkünstler was originally a short story that originated in Germany and translates to English as The Hunger Arist. |
April 14, 2024 // April 2024 Newsletter
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Just over 24 hours after the initial newsletter teaser, HeR launched the newsletter with some more teasers about the upcoming game. They also changed the header colors back to what they were before the April newsletter.
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The first image holds most of the main teasers. The background is grey with some gold highlights and glitter decorating it. There is also an overlay of puzzle piece outlines. In the top right and bottom left of the graphic are some puzzle pieces. These puzzle pieces are featured as the main icon on the Mystery of the Seven Keys game page as well as at the bottom of the newsletter.
The text in this graphic reads: EVERYONE HAS, IN EACH NANCY DREW GAME,
A FAVORITE PUZZLE THAT PUTS OTHERS TO SHAME SOME PUZZLES ARE COMING MADE JUST FOR YOU EVEN A PUZZLE MADE BY THE CLUE CREW TAKE SOME TIME SOON TO SOLVE A FEW MORE TO SEE WHAT HER INTERACTIVE HAS IN STORE! Certain letters in the message are a very light shade of yellow. They are RASDPOWS which, when rearranged, spells out PASSWORD. The text in the bubble below announces a new puzzle coming soon.
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To promote the new cover art reveal, HeR included a graphic which linked to the video reveal of the cover art from two weeks prior on April 1st, 2024.
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This graphic features the cover art as it will appear in box and poster form and linked to the Amateur Sleuth Blog post in which HeR revealed the cover art in a square, uncropped format.
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This final graphic features various, limited time pre-release merchandise for Mystery of the Seven Keys. When clicked, the image linkd to the HeR interactive Teespring store.
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The footer of this newsletter has a slight alteration to it. This version includes a tiny gold puzzle pieces at the bottom. When clicked, it linked to nothingtosee.here which is a dead link. Instead, it was referring to the KEY game page.
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In order to compliment the newsletter release, HeR updated the game page for KEY to make the puzzle piece golden again. This time, the icon linked to an old page HeR used for puzzle reveals a year ago. This new password protected page can't be solved until the latest puzzle launches. The link to the page is https://www.herinteractive.com/nothingtoseehere/
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April 15, 2024 // KEY Puzzle Palooza Day 1
Puzzle #1 - Scavenger Hunt Puzzle
Following suit with the teases in the newsletter, HeR Interactive launched what they're calling Puzzle Palooza. During this time, they're launching multiple Nancy Drew puzzles that will all contribute to unlocking the password protected page from yesterday. HeR Interactive did not state how many puzzles there will be or when these puzzles will end.
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The first puzzle launched featured 4 slides to give fans everything they needed for the first step of this scavenger hunt. There are multiple icons and clues hidden in these images which can be broken down further in the following images. The description of this post is 🧩 get reAdy for puzzleS 🧐 indy’s Back with a new code to crack 🖥️. The capitalized letters spell out ASB which points towards the Amateur Sleuth Blog. That is critical for the step after translating the code.
The sticky note above the word Prague is the coded version of Prague using Indy's code. This image also contains 2 music notes: GG |
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Indy left this note for Brighella and Roo which says that she created her own code to hide a message. The coded text on the sticky note can be translated to Carolyn Keene, the pseudonym for the writers of all the Nancy Drew books ever published. Following the logic of this clue, the other codes around the puzzle can be solved.
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The code in the bottom left of this image can be translated to the word old which is fittingly placed in front of Town Hall as a reference to Nancy Drew: Alibi in Ashes.
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This is the full message to be decoded. The message can be translated as the following:
IN INDIANAS ARCHIVES SECRETS HIDE
FIND THOSE OF TITUSVILLE TAKE THEM IN STRIDE COMMENTS HOLD KEYS SO YOU MUST FOLLOW THE CLUES TO UNRAVEL THE MYSTERIES This riddle is telling fans to look in Indy's category archive on the Amateur Sleuth blog for her first post called The Secret of Titusville. There was a new comment posted on the blog from Ms. Iz Pelouza Thyme (Mrs. Palooza Time) which reads to find your way, the first letter’s T, stay on the blog and find brighella’s first log. This is instructing fans to find the first blog post from Brighella.
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Upon finding the next post, Ms. Iz Pelouza Thyme made another comment: the second letter’s B, now you know, to solve the puzzle, let your curiosity grow. seek roo’s blog where the stage was walked with grace, there lies the last piece, perfectly placed. This is leading into a third comment which was made on Roo's post about graduating college: with T, B, and now 3, the puzzle’s done, until the next adventure has begun.
These 3 comments include the first part of the password solution for the password protected page: tb3
These 3 comments include the first part of the password solution for the password protected page: tb3
Puzzle #2 - Clue Crew Community-Created Puzzle
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At 7:34 PM PST, HeR published the second puzzle for Puzzle Palooza. This puzzle is the one that was created by fans to be used in the marketing for Mystery of the Seven Keys. The first slide features the names of all the fans who work on the puzzle in some way, shape, or form. The fans who helped are (in order on the slide):
The post description said did you miss this bLast from the past, Tino balducci? 🤩 check out this puzzle crEated by our wonderFul community! 🔍 with the capitalized letters spelling LEFT. This is a clue for later in the puzzle.
The background of the image is from Mystery of the Seven Keys, but has not yet been revealed. |
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The first slide features a picture of Tino Balducci from Nancy Drew: Last Train to Blue Moon Canyon calling Nancy's cell phone. He's asking Nancy to help him find his fax password in a book that he sent to her. This puzzle also makes reference to Nancy Drew: The White Wolf of Icicle Creek, the second game that Tino appeared in.
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The majority of this puzzle features an updated version of Tino's survey from Icicle Creek. Each row and column must be filled in based on the information available, then the numbers will signify which letters to place where in the empty spaces along the bottom. The four games that were chosen for this puzzle are the same 4 that had images featured in the early café teasers. When completed correctly, the solution is:
TWO ONE SIX FOUR
MREGAN MRSDRAKE DONAL CORRINE WICKFORD PENVELLYN MALLOY HALLOWELL DRUMSTICKS CAKE CROWSNEST COOKIE After all the correct solutions have been found, the letters at the bottom can be filled in. They spell YEAR OF THE FIRST GAME. This is in reference to the year the first Nancy Drew game released which was 1998. That is the key to the next part of the puzzle.
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This slide features a book from Tino called How to Be A Detective which is intended to help Nancy become a better detective. Around the border of the right page is a bunch of Morse code which can be translated to say Red Herring, which is also known as something that is meant to be misleading. It doesn't offer anything to the puzzle other than a little more fun.
The music notes at the top read GGGA. |
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The final slide for this puzzle features a close-up of the sticky note from the previous slide. The note has the logo for Minette's House of Design on it which alludes to the M380 decoder used in Nancy Drew: Danger by Design. The idea with this puzzle is to take the capital letters from the description (LEFT) and the number from the survey puzzle (1998) and use the Caeser shift cipher in order to decode this clue. Each letter must be shifted to the left either 1 space, 9 spaces, or 8 spaces depending on where the numbers fall. In this case, the U would shift 1 space, Q 9 spaces, N 9 spaces, V 8 spaces, then loop the 1998 pattern until each letter is shifted properly. When completed, the solution says THENEWPASSWORDISLOCK or THE NEW PASSWORD IS LOCK. LOCK is the next piece of the password for the password protected page on HeR's site.
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April 16, 2024 // KEY Puzzle Palooza Day 2 and Trailer and Release Date Reveals
Puzzle #3 - Shape Cutout Puzzle
At 12:34 AM PST, HeR released the third puzzle for Puzzle Palooza. This one involved multiple black shapes needing to be rearranged in order to create a shape that would provide the next part of the password. This puzzle features several Nancy Drew Easter eggs. The description for this puzzle says staRt your tuEsday With a chaLlengE 🕯️ dOn’t miSs thE DetaIls! 💍 with all the capitalized letters spelling O WISE ELDER or ELOISE DREW.
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As these images made it difficult to easily cut these shapes out and move them around, HeR created a separate download that features these black shapes organized in a way that would be easy to cutout and move around. That PDF can be downloaded here: april2024_puzzlepalooza_printable.pdf
The final slide features four more music notes: EDEF# When arranged properly, the shapes create the numbers 1123 which are also the next part of the password. |
Puzzle #4 - Coordinates Puzzle
At 7:34 AM PST, HeR released puzzle number 4. This puzzle involved taking a darkened image and raising the exposure and contrast in order to see hidden text and music notes. The description of the post says ring Ring ☎️ nancy is calLing!! we can almOst hear her say the Words, "i neeD a hint!" 🕵️♀️ with the capital letters being rearranged to spell WORLD.
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When properly adjusted, the image will look like this. There are several coordinates shown as well as some more music notes: GGD
The coordinates are as follows:
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When correctly laid out on a map of the world, this is how the coordinates will appear. They're formed in a way that allows the dots, when connected, to spell out letters: RII. These letters are the fourth addition to the password for HeR's website.
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Puzzle #5 - Tap Code Puzzle
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HeR Interactive launched the fifth and final puzzle for Puzzle Palooza at 12:34 PM PST. This puzzle is a tap code puzzle which involves a code that uses tapping frequencies to spell out letters of the alphabet. For instance, the letter A is 1, 1 which means 1 tap followed by 1 more tap. B is 1, 2 which means 1 tap followed by 2 taps. The description of this post is Time to tAke out your thinking caPs! 🧠 whaT could this messAge Possibly mean? 🧐 with the capital letters spelling out TAPTAP.
To solve this puzzle, the first thing to do is translate all the Roman Numerals into numbers. The translated numbers look like this: 52 – 15 – 33 – 13 –
15 – 43 – 31 – 11 – 43 – 35 – 31 – 45 – 43 – 13 – 11 – 44 – 23 – 15 – 14 – 17 – 11 – 31 – 33 – 11 – 32 – 15 The 17, however, is incorrect and should actually be XLIV / 42 in order to properly complete the sequence.
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Using the tap code table, these numbers translate into this message:
WENCESLAS PLUS CATHEDRAL NAME
All the music notes from the previous puzzles when played in order come from the song Good King Wenceslas which is a song about Saint Wenceslas I, Duke of Bohemia (modern day Czech Republic). The correct order of music notes from the puzzles also dictates the order the puzzle answers need to be in for the password. With that in mind the order is lockrii1123tb3 plus the solution to the final puzzle which adds vitus to the end of the password which makes the final password lockrii1123tb3vitus. This password could be entered into the password protected page at https://www.herinteractive.com/nothingtoseehere/
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When the password got entered into the page, it unlocked a 7-hour countdown with text telling people to subscribe to their newsletter.
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The countdown was set to end at 7 PM PST. After the countdown finished, the following emojis were revealed: 🗞️✉️⏯️🔴 These emojis signified that a newsletter was being sent out via email to all that were subscribed.
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The header of this newsletter is the exact same as the previous April newsletter.
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This graphic announced the reveal of the official trailer for Mystery of the Seven Keys. When clicked, this image linked directly to the premiere of the trailer where fans could watch and comment in real-time as the video played out for live audiences around the world.
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This footer is the same as past footers except without the puzzle piece from 2 days prior.
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At 7:34 PM PST, the official trailer for Mystery of the Seven Keys launched. This trailer showed off all the characters in the game, provided a premise, and displayed several puzzles and environments which were previously redacted or blurred. The end of the trailer also announced the game's release date of May 7th, 2024.
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The final act for the day was for HeR Interactive to reveal the official game page for Mystery of the Seven Keys and to add the game to the "All Games" page on their website.
The tabs for Reviews, Features, Character Bios, and Downloads are all blank with temporary "Coming Soon" text in place. |
April 17, 2024 // KEY Release Date Press Release
HeR launched a new press release to multiple news outlets across the country announcing the May 7th release date for Mystery of the Seven Keys. They also published this press release to their website. This press release states that the game will be launching on HeR Interactive's site on May 7th, 2024 with a Steam launch later this year. They also say that the game will feature a dual-navigation system which allows the player to choose between free-roam and classic point-and-click.
HER INTERACTIVE ANNOUNCES RELEASE DATE FOR NANCY DREW®: MYSTERY OF THE SEVEN KEYS™
HeR Interactive Announces Release Date for Nancy Drew®: Mystery of the Seven Keys™
Latest Nancy Drew Game Releases on May 7, Official Release Trailer is Available Now
RENTON, Wash., April 17, 2024 – Get ready for a thrilling blend of adventure, mystery, and history in the latest installment of the award-winning Nancy Drew game series. Step into the world of detective Nancy Drew as she embarks on a captivating new 3D video game, Nancy Drew®: Mystery of the Seven Keys™. This 34th entry in the long-running favorite amateur sleuth series will be released on May 7, 2024. HeR Interactive has also posted the official trailer for Nancy Drew’s newest case here: https://youtu.be/5B_nRAyXtzQ
This all-new game will transport players to the heart of the historic city of Prague as they assume the role of the iconic Nancy Drew. Tasked with uncovering the truth behind the theft of a client’s heirloom necklace, players will navigate and explore the city’s mysterious old-world environments, encounter challenging puzzles, decode riddles, and discover clues. Players will find themselves entwined with medieval legends, alchemy, lore, and sinister cybercrimes as they uncover the real mystery behind the legend of the seven keys.
The game is compatible with Windows® PC and Mac® and can be purchased exclusively on www.herinteractive.com on May 7, 2024, and on Steam® later this year. Developed in association with Unity’s Accelerate Solutions group, Nancy Drew: Mystery of the Seven Keys features a new, unique dual navigation system that allows for classic point-and-click or free-roam controls. Additionally, Unity’s real-time 3D engine brings detective gameplay to life with immersive inspections, character interactions, and fearless investigating.
This all-new game will transport players to the heart of the historic city of Prague as they assume the role of the iconic Nancy Drew. Tasked with uncovering the truth behind the theft of a client’s heirloom necklace, players will navigate and explore the city’s mysterious old-world environments, encounter challenging puzzles, decode riddles, and discover clues. Players will find themselves entwined with medieval legends, alchemy, lore, and sinister cybercrimes as they uncover the real mystery behind the legend of the seven keys.
The game is compatible with Windows® PC and Mac® and can be purchased exclusively on www.herinteractive.com on May 7, 2024, and on Steam® later this year. Developed in association with Unity’s Accelerate Solutions group, Nancy Drew: Mystery of the Seven Keys features a new, unique dual navigation system that allows for classic point-and-click or free-roam controls. Additionally, Unity’s real-time 3D engine brings detective gameplay to life with immersive inspections, character interactions, and fearless investigating.
- For more game information, please visit: https://www.herinteractive.com/shop-games/34-nancy-drew-mystery-of-the-seven-keys/
- Rating and availability: Nancy Drew: Mystery of the Seven Keys is rated E 10+ by ESRB and will be available on May 7, 2024, at https://www.herinteractive.com
- Trailer: View the official Nancy Drew: Mystery of the Seven Keys trailer here: https://youtu.be/5B_nRAyXtzQ
About Her Interactive:
An award-winning video game publisher and developer, HeR Interactive designs, develops, and publishes high-quality mystery adventure games and apps for all ages. The company has been a leading mystery-maker and a pioneer of fun and inspiring interactive family entertainment for more than 25 years. With over 30 awards to its name, HeR Interactive’s Nancy Drew games have sold more than 9 million copies. This success, in part, is buoyed by the ever-increasing number of girls and women becoming avid game players. Nancy Drew players now include moms who have introduced their daughters to Nancy, making Nancy Drew one of history’s longest-running, well-known figures spanning generations.
More information about HeR Interactive and Nancy Drew games can be found at https://www.herinteractive.com.
Find HeR Interactive on Facebook, on Instagram, on YouTube, and on X @HerInteractive.
About Nancy Drew:
Nancy Drew books debuted in 1930 and are still going strong. Nancy Drew is a smart, independent, gutsy, and resourceful teen detective who can crack even the toughest case. Published in 22 languages and with more than 100 million copies in print worldwide, Nancy Drew has engaged readers and served as a role model globally for generations.
Copyright 2024 HeR Interactive, Inc. All rights reserved. Mac and the Mac logo are trademarks of Apple Computer, Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries and regions. Windows is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation in the U.S. and other countries. Nancy Drew is a registered trademark of Simon & Schuster, Inc. Licensed by permission of Simon & Schuster, Inc. “Unity,” Unity logos, and other Unity trademarks are trademarks or registered trademarks of Unity Technologies or its affiliates in the U.S. and elsewhere. Other names or brands are trademarks of their respective owners.
An award-winning video game publisher and developer, HeR Interactive designs, develops, and publishes high-quality mystery adventure games and apps for all ages. The company has been a leading mystery-maker and a pioneer of fun and inspiring interactive family entertainment for more than 25 years. With over 30 awards to its name, HeR Interactive’s Nancy Drew games have sold more than 9 million copies. This success, in part, is buoyed by the ever-increasing number of girls and women becoming avid game players. Nancy Drew players now include moms who have introduced their daughters to Nancy, making Nancy Drew one of history’s longest-running, well-known figures spanning generations.
More information about HeR Interactive and Nancy Drew games can be found at https://www.herinteractive.com.
Find HeR Interactive on Facebook, on Instagram, on YouTube, and on X @HerInteractive.
About Nancy Drew:
Nancy Drew books debuted in 1930 and are still going strong. Nancy Drew is a smart, independent, gutsy, and resourceful teen detective who can crack even the toughest case. Published in 22 languages and with more than 100 million copies in print worldwide, Nancy Drew has engaged readers and served as a role model globally for generations.
Copyright 2024 HeR Interactive, Inc. All rights reserved. Mac and the Mac logo are trademarks of Apple Computer, Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries and regions. Windows is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation in the U.S. and other countries. Nancy Drew is a registered trademark of Simon & Schuster, Inc. Licensed by permission of Simon & Schuster, Inc. “Unity,” Unity logos, and other Unity trademarks are trademarks or registered trademarks of Unity Technologies or its affiliates in the U.S. and elsewhere. Other names or brands are trademarks of their respective owners.
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April 18, 2024 // Facebook Cover Photo Update
HeR Interactive finally updated their social media cover photo with various versions of a banner with the upcoming release date for the game.
Facebook cover photo
X cover photo
April 19, 2024 // KEY Pre-Order Update
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At 1:34 PM Pacific Time, HeR launched a new Amateur Sleuth Blog post discussing pre-orders and physical versions of Mystery of the Seven Keys. In short, there will not be a pre-order period for the game but they are working on getting a limited physical release in order later this year. You can read the full post below.
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Hello Nancy Drew Fans,
Now that we have a launch date for our highly anticipated next mystery adventure, Nancy Drew: Mystery of the Seven Keys, we would like to take a moment to discuss the different way that we are approaching its release.
Unlike previous game launches, we will not be offering a pre-order period.
Additionally, on May 7th, we will offer digital copies of Nancy Drew: Mystery of the Seven Keys on our website for PC and Mac only. However, we have not forgotten about those who prefer physical copies.
It might not surprise you that we have seen a dramatic decline in requests for physical copies of our games. But we know there are longtime fans who like to collect or prefer a physical copy. So, we are working on a special arrangement with our production facility to do a limited run of physical copies after the May 7th launch. More details will follow in the coming weeks.
Your support and understanding mean the world to us as we navigate changes in the gaming industry and adapt to your evolving preferences. Your loyalty is the fuel that keeps us going, and we are deeply grateful for it.
In gratitude,
Team HeR Interactive
Now that we have a launch date for our highly anticipated next mystery adventure, Nancy Drew: Mystery of the Seven Keys, we would like to take a moment to discuss the different way that we are approaching its release.
Unlike previous game launches, we will not be offering a pre-order period.
Additionally, on May 7th, we will offer digital copies of Nancy Drew: Mystery of the Seven Keys on our website for PC and Mac only. However, we have not forgotten about those who prefer physical copies.
It might not surprise you that we have seen a dramatic decline in requests for physical copies of our games. But we know there are longtime fans who like to collect or prefer a physical copy. So, we are working on a special arrangement with our production facility to do a limited run of physical copies after the May 7th launch. More details will follow in the coming weeks.
Your support and understanding mean the world to us as we navigate changes in the gaming industry and adapt to your evolving preferences. Your loyalty is the fuel that keeps us going, and we are deeply grateful for it.
In gratitude,
Team HeR Interactive
April 25, 2024 // Indy's Prague Research Trip Video Part 1
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At 5:34 PM Pacific Time, HeR Interactive posted a new behind-the-scenes look at the development of Mystery of the Seven Keys. Around Christmas time in an unknown year, HeR Interactive sent Indy to Prague for a research trip. This video highlights the various videos and pictures that she took as well as spliced in some messages from other HeR Interactive team members asking for her to do research on specific elements in order to make this game as authentic as possible. This video shows off concept art, research footage and photos, and brand-new in-game footage.
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April 26, 2024 // Dual Navigation Style Highlight Video
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At 11:34 AM Pacific Time, HeR Interactive shared an in-game look at the dual-navigation system they've created for Mystery of the Seven Keys. This is the first Nancy Drew title to feature 2 different styles of navigation: classic point-and-click and free-roam. The point-and-click feature functions just like the first 32 Nancy Drew games where the camera jumps from one shot to the next. The version used in Midnight in Salem wasn't continued after much criticism from fans. The free-roam feature functions just like any first-person game with the ability to move around using the WASD keys. This is also the first Nancy Drew game to use a sprinting function.
This video also shows off more of the UI for the game which has been completely redesigned. The in-game UI is very similar to the one used in Nancy Drew: Midnight in Salem, however it features much more color and style compared to the all-white icons from MID. Nancy also has a foldable phone similar to the Samsung Galaxy Fold and her journal can be accessed from the right-hand side of the inventory bar. Both the phone and the journal have hotkeys for them. Players can press Tab to open the phone and J to open the journal. |
April 28, 2024 // Character Concept Art Reveal
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At 7:34 AM Pacific Time, HeR posted a Happy Birthday postcard for Nancy Drew's 94th anniversary. This postcard featured various Mystery of the Seven Keys references as well as featuring all the character concept art on the front. In total, this game will have 9 characters (excluding phone characters) to interact with.
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April 29, 2024 // 20+ Hours of Gameplay Reveal
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At 11:34 AM Pacific Time, HeR Interactive announced that Mystery of the Seven Keys will have over 20 hours of gameplay. This is based on several playtests from HeR employees as well as various external testing groups. That also includes the amount of time to get all the achievements.
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May 1, 2024 // Indy's Prague Research Trip Video Part 2
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At 11:34 AM Pacific Time, HeR Interactive published the second part of Indy's behind the scene's trip to Prague. In this video, she talks about choosing the food they wanted to include in KEY.
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May 3, 2024 // KEY Specs and Settings Video
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At 2:34 PM Pacific Time, HeR Interactive uploaded a new video highlighting the specs and settings for Mystery of the Seven Keys. They showed off menus and gameplay for the game as well as various loading screens and other artwork made for the game.
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May 4, 2024 // May Newsletter
At 8:34 AM Pacific Time, HeR sent out the final newsletter before Mystery of the Seven Key's release on May 7th.
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The header of this newsletter got reverted back to the lighter style with a white background instead of a darker style with a black background.
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The first graphic highlights the game's official release date of May 7th, 2024. When clicked, the image links to the official game page for Mystery of the Seven Keys: https://www.herinteractive.com/shop-games/34-nancy-drew-mystery-of-the-seven-keys
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This is a reused graphic from past newsletters which links to the official trailer for the game.
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This graphic highlights and links to the video that discusses the specs and settings for Mystery of the Seven Keys. It also features the thumbnail of a short video announcing that the game has 20+ hours of gameplay in the bottom right. The background image is a new, unseen shot of the marionette theater.
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This graphic links to the video talking about the new dual navigation system in Mystery of the Seven Keys. Players can choose between classic point-and-click and modern free-roam.
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Indy, one of the marketing employees at HeR, went on a business research trip to Prague in 2022 and released 2 videos about her trip. When clicked, this image links to the first part of those videos.
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HeR published an Amateur Sleuth Blog post talking about digital downloads, physical copies, and pre-orders for Mystery of the Seven Keys. This graphic links to the blog post which can also be seen in its entirety in the image.
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Finally, HeR Interactive launched a lot of new merchandise products on their Teespring store. This image links to their store.
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This footer is very similar to past footers, however they changed the social icons on the bottom of the footer. Previously, there were black circles with the social icons in them but now there are grey icons with updated styles which link to all HeR Interactive's social pages.
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May 5, 2024 // Indy's Prague Research Trip Video Part 3
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At 7:34 AM Pacific Time, HeR uploaded part 3 of Indy's research trip to Prague. In this video, she talks about various historical things she learned as well as looking for things to include in the game.
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HeR made one more post at 3:34 PM Pacific Time which was a blog post talking about how to purchase Mystery of the Seven Keys on launch day. They said in the post that the game will be available to purchase starting at 9:34 AM Pacific Time on May 7th.
You can view the full ASB post here: https://www.herinteractive.com/2024/05/how-to-buy-nancy-drew-34-mystery-of-the-seven-keys/ |
May 6, 2024 // Physical and Steam Release Announcement
At 3:11 PM Pacific Time, HeR Interactive announced on their social media pages that the physical and Steam releases of KEY will be released in the summer of 2024. As the game releases on May 7th, the first day of summer in 2024 is June 20th. That leaves just under a month and a half until summer starts.
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At 6:34 PM Pacific Time, HeR uploaded one final video before the game launches in May 7th, 2024. This is reminiscent of the very first video HeR Interactive posted teasing Mystery of the Seven Keys.
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May 7, 2024 // Mystery of the Seven Keys Release Day
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Mystery of the Seven Keys was made available for purchase at 9:34 AM Pacific Time for a price of $32.00 USD.
At 11:34 AM Pacific Time, HeR Interactive made a post announcing the game's availability on PC and Mac. At the time of launch, the game could only be purchased from www.herinteractive.com. The posted this graphic as the announcement. |
To end off the posts for the day, HeR Interactive sent out another newsletter at 3:34 PM Pacific Time.
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This header remains the same as the header from earlier.
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This text block initializes the announcement that Mystery of the Seven Keys has launched.
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This graphic announces the availability of Mystery of the Seven Keys. When clicked, this image lead to the game page to purchase the game.
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This text block directed fans to where they can purchase Mystery of the Seven Keys. They also mention that physical and Steam versions of the game will be releasing in the summer of 2024.
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This graphic has been reused since April and links to the official game trailer for Mystery of the Seven Keys.
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The footer of this newsletter remains the same as the previous newsletter.
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Shoutout to the HeR Interactive marketing team for an incredible journey of clues, puzzles, and teases leading up to the release of Nancy Drew #34! Specifically, I would like to celebrate Brighella, Ghost, Indy, and Roo for their fantastic efforts in making this release feel very special and engaging!
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Special thanks to the following people for the help and discoveries along the way:
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Special thanks to the following people for the help and discoveries along the way:
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Calina / StoryRetold
Carter / The Nancy Drew Times Charity / ChazVsJazz GoobaAndJetpack Laura Gabrie Jcat_Ngyuen celeclose SirSick Dazzling-Impact-1947 AmandaKam Blooblis Celeb ssojovelazquez1 KaseyXD Distant Dimensions itsterritime |
DetectiveDrew99
kalimeris Shannon Lane Susanna / LemonPepperCreations Guciroxie HeatherDew bywayofkpc clover.shoppe Mikel Loinik Casey Nickerson The Sleuthy Teacher itslocked. KnightsofSilvr heghog MadisonTM ZigZag |
emiliiss
jesse Svanessa5 Jordan Jenkins GingerHoneyLoveBeet southernsleuth Lenee Fleming siebold_magnolia kate.drew.something HBCMan Tori_ND_Piano CardboardSpaceship SergeySerg ThatBlondeJess MeganBrown Maddy Burkholder |
and the rest of the AMAZING Nancy Drew fans in the community!