SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--PlayFirst®, Inc., the award-winning entertainment company and creators of the popular Diner Dash® series of games, today announced the upcoming launch of a new, 1920s era hidden object game, Valerie Porter and the Scarlet Scandal™. This new hidden-object puzzle game takes place within a sizzling, murder mystery narrative and introduces an innovative new chaining gameplay mechanic, providing a new fast-paced element to the hidden-object genre. Valerie Porter and the Scarlet Scandal will be available for both Mac and PC download beginning November 2, 2009, priced at $19.99, and at additional sites beginning December 2, 2009.

Cub newspaper reporter Valerie Porter joins the Daily Informer newspaper, assigned to the “woman’s angle” beat by her mentor, Terry Morgan. With her keen eye for clues, Valerie quickly finds herself embroiled in the hottest murder case the town has even seen: starlet Scarlet Velour turns up dead, with eyewitness reports spotting prize fighter Johnny Johnson fleeing the scene. As Valerie is given soft stories to investigate, befitting a female journalist of the time, her hawk eyes find subtle clues that link some of the town’s most illustrious citizens – including the mayor –to a bigger mystery, with an elusive organization known as United Industries at its center.

Searching for hidden clues, typesetting headlines in word puzzles, engaging in memory based activities that are all in a day’s work for a sharp-eyed journalist, Valerie Porter and the Scarlet Scandal features 21 locations to explore, within 11 chapters of pulpy, scandalous story. Infused with the art style, vernacular, and feel of a 1920s newsroom, the game also introduces a new “click-n-string” timed hidden object gameplay mechanic, set in locations including a commuter train car and the police chief’s office; players have one minute to find all like objects, quickly chaining them together with fast clicks, complimenting the fast-paced world of reporting. Completing journalism themed mini-games, players hit the case sniffing for scoop, hot on the trail to launch their career…and solve a murder.

“Valerie Porter and the Scarlet Scandal plays just like a juicy crime novel,” stated Kenny Shea Dinkin, Chief Creative Officer for PlayFirst. “The story line, featuring a reporter hot on the trail of a murder case while making a name for herself, offers a wealth of exciting activities, intriguing puzzles to complete, and hidden object clue-finding that perfectly compliment the fiction. Players will feel like they are curling up with a great mystery book, as the seamless integration of storyline and gameplay makes them feel actively involved as lead detective on a hot case. ”

Valerie Porter and the Scarlet Scandal is developed by BrainGames, and published by PlayFirst. For more information on the game, or any PlayFirst title, visit www.playfirst.com.

About PlayFirst, Inc.

PlayFirst is an innovative entertainment company dedicated to making games appealing to everyone. By creating engaging story worlds that capture the imagination and bringing them to life across popular platforms worldwide, including PC, Mac, mobile, handheld, and console, PlayFirst teams make quality gaming experiences available everywhere consumers want to play. The company's portfolio includes world-renowned titles, such as Diner Dash(R), Wedding Dash(R), Cooking Dash(R), Chocolatier(R), and Dream Chronicles(R). PlayFirst games are available in major retailers and on more than 500 sites in 20 languages. For more information, visit www.playfirst.com

ONE PR Studio
Dana Whitney, 510-893-3271
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