Big guns behind online whodunit

FANS of crime-scene investigation television shows will soon be able to crack cases themselves through a computer game developed by Dunedin company Clocktower Games.

Heavyweight backers have lined up millions of dollars in funding for the project.

Clocktower chief executive Graham Hambleton says players of Casebook, which will be available for download in a few weeks, help solve crimes and play the role of sidekick to detective James Burton.

Episode one asks players to help solve a kidnapping by examining a crime scene for evidence while Burton conducts an interview.

Mr Hambleton says Clocktower was set up to commercialise technology developed by parent company Areograph.

Rather than using geometry- modelled computer graphics, the company uses thousands of photos from real-life sets to create realistic virtual environments.

The game is made even more realistic as parts of it are filmed using actors, Mr Hambleton says.

"The detective goes into the crime scene, turns to you on camera, and says: 'Hey, I need you to check out a particular room'.

"You interact with real people in real environments. That's definitely the attraction of the game."

Clocktower Games was founded in April last year and has attracted $2 million in funding through Dunedin investment bank Parker O'Connor Trust.

Clocktower director and Areograph founder Luke Reid also established Skinkers, a communication software company in which Microsoft acquired a 10.6 per cent stake.

Other Clocktower board members include former Brierley Investments executive Graeme Wong and associate commerce commissioner and former IBM New Zealand boss Gowan Pickering.

The company, which has about eight full-time staff, is negotiating with a distributor and will release the second Casebook episode – about a murder – in September, Mr Hambleton says.

The first episode will sell for less than US$20 and takes between two and four hours for someone to play.

"This is what falls into the casual game market, for people who aren't hardcore gamers. It's not locking up your life. It takes about the same time as a movie."

- © Fairfax NZ News