Posted on 27 January by Jade Tidy – Producer, Relentless Software

Blue Toad Murder Files, Episode 3

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This is our third visit to the PlayStation.Blog to give you some news and hang around afterwards to chat about it. Other than announcing the game this is probably the most exciting thing we’ve said – on Thursday 25th February Episode 3 of Blue Toad Murder Files will be available on the store free for one month. You (and many of our colleagues) might think this is crazy but we’re really proud of this episode and want as many people to play it as possible. You’ll need Episode 1 already installed to play Episode 3.

I know we had a few comments from Australian gamers about the lack of Blue Toad on their store – we’re sorry for the delay but we’re pleased that you will be able to play Episode 1 to 3 from 25th February too. And don’t worry you’ll still be able to take advantage of the third episode free as long as you purchase one first!

We’re around to answer your questions now so let us know whether you think this is genius or barking.

Thanks,

Jade

Tagged: blue toad murder files, relentless software

Filed: PSN Games

Score:

33 Comments 5 Replies Add Yours

Posted on 27 January, 2010 at 5:09 pm by perspexorange

Great stuff!

As someone who has bought the first two episodes, I’m pleased to get the third free. Thanks very much.

I’ve only played the first episode so far, but it was very nicely done and I enjoyed it. Quite a unique game on the PSN.

Posted on 27 January, 2010 at 5:11 pm by CodeMonkey_UK

All good news.

I can appreciate the reason why, but the lack of replay value did concern me. That said i enjoyed the first 2 episodes and had to replay to get full trophies.

One little suggestion… Can you make skipping through the story elements possible on subsequent play throughs please. On the first play through the last thing you want is to accidently skip a crucial bit of story but when we’re whoring trophies it’s a pain. Especially when you get one wrong near the end because you’re impatient like me and have to start again

Bravo for revisiting the value of the product, hopefully little riddle (or another story) goes beyond episode 6. It’d be nice if at least a few dynamic puzzles were thrown in too.

Posted on 27 January, 2010 at 5:16 pm by Berae

Will this game be available in North America soon?

Posted on 27 January, 2010 at 5:19 pm by Jade Tidy

We’re really happy to hear you enjoyed playing the first two episodes! We can’t change the code on this series but it’s a good suggestion if we make another Blue Toad series. Keep them coming

Posted on 27 January, 2010 at 5:23 pm by steven_dutch

Awesome. Thanks.
Looking forward to it. I really enjoyed the first two episodes.
Murrrrderrrrrrr…..

Posted on 27 January, 2010 at 5:24 pm by Jade Tidy

Hey Berae, we should be out in N.America soon, we’re working with SCEA at the moment to agree release dates and get the game through their testing process. I would hope we could announce dates in the next couple of weeks.

Posted on 27 January, 2010 at 5:36 pm by somethingatt

Nice.
I’ll be honest, I feel a bit ripped off after 100%ing the first 2 episodes.

Lucky for you, this makes up for it

Also you guys should look into making a more adult themed puzzle game.
The puzzles were great, the 6 year old target in presentation, not so much.
That actually confused me how a couple of puzzles were so hard yet the game seemed to target kids at the same time (or maybe I’m a little slow ).

Anyway, thanks for the free episode and the good bundle.

Posted on 27 January, 2010 at 5:49 pm by Jade Tidy

We tried a few different art styles in pre-production and the one we finally chose was what we felt looked great and was accessible to a wide range of people and suited the tone of our storytelling.

Posted on 27 January, 2010 at 5:38 pm by fanpages

Thanks for the free offer period.

I have not purchased either of the first two Episodes due to cost. A reduction in price would entice me though.

I am presuming I can download the Episode 3 content within the first month & leave it on my PS3 hard drive in an uninstalled state ready for my purchase of (at least) the first Episode. Is this reasoning valid, or does Episode 1 have to be installed first before a download is possible?

Finally, do you have any plans to release the full set of Episodes on a physical Blu-ray Disc format in the future?

I prefer owning tangible assets to digital ones.

Thanks again.

BFN,

fp.

Posted on 27 January, 2010 at 5:57 pm by Jade Tidy

Good questions! It seems to make sense that you could download Episode 3 when it’s released and only install it once you’ve also bought the first Episode. Better answered by the store team though Question for Mike!

We don’t have any plans to release a Blu-ray at the moment. We’re primarily a developer, and have only been able to self-publish this game as PSN makes it so much easier to get the game out to you guys (no disk printing factory in the basement unfortunately).

Posted on 28 January, 2010 at 9:06 am by Mike Kebby

Did I hear my name mentioned Jade?

fanpages – you will be able to download Episode 3 and leave it on your hard drive until you buy the first episode yes…we’re great like that you see (and so are Relentless for coming up with the idea of making Episode 3 free)

Posted on 27 January, 2010 at 5:40 pm by Lewis815

I hear that the final 3 episodes will be bundled together for £9.99.
Therefore, as someone who will be getting them all at these prices, its good value for money if you enjoy a good murder mystery
(I got episode 2′s suspect correct on the first play through go me! )

Posted on 27 January, 2010 at 6:09 pm by cedequak

Hi! I adquired two first chapters in pack firt time. The idea of the game is great but puzzles are no replayable and the culprit is always the same.

Other question is the lenguage, it is not translated to spanish so many of the puzles like the grandmother and her blue bag I couldn’t understand anything and had to choose something to complete the quest.

Then the duration of each chapter is only 1 or 2 hours. I think is expensive and sorry but I think the correct price for this game would be 3,99 or similar. Good game but short and not replayable.

I don’t know if I would adquire the third chapter because I’m sure in some months the game is in offer.

Please, need translate in a patch or something. Thanks!

Posted on 27 January, 2010 at 6:26 pm by Jade Tidy

We’re releasing the third episode for free for one month, so that’s a great reason to pick it up if you’ve already got the first two episodes After that, you’ll be able to buy the remaining three episodes for £9.99 (12.99 euros).

We’re looking into translating the game this year – quite a task with a lot of our puzzles, as they need to be as challenging in other languages as they are in English!

Posted on 27 January, 2010 at 6:11 pm by cedequak

Sorry I didn’t read that chapter 3 will be free for one month.

Posted on 27 January, 2010 at 6:22 pm by Winckle

Great news! This will make me buy the first two episodes! I wasn’t ready to pay 12/13€ for two episodes because they seemed really short.

Posted on 27 January, 2010 at 6:56 pm by xchris2008x

Will definitely be picking this up on the 25th Feb, i really enjoyed playing episode 1 + 2 any plans off anymore games after blue toad?

Posted on 27 January, 2010 at 7:02 pm by Jade Tidy

I would personally love to make another Blue Toad as it’s been so much fun making this game. We’ve had great feedback and support for the game, so fingers crossed!

Posted on 27 January, 2010 at 7:16 pm by Tridentmorph

Wow, great news loved the first 2. I was looking forward to more news on the releases and bang… The best news possible – that magic word free!

Posted on 27 January, 2010 at 7:30 pm by cedequak

Thanks Jade!

Posted on 27 January, 2010 at 7:38 pm by Bonyman

Nicely done Relentless. I’ve been thinking about getting this and it’s certainly a more attractive offer now!

Posted on 27 January, 2010 at 8:00 pm by kalioon

thanks guys. my wife loved the 1st two. and the 3rd for free is great news!

Posted on 27 January, 2010 at 8:10 pm by almighty-slayer

I loved the first two, thank you very much guys Been looking forward to the 3rd one for what seems like ages!!

It’s brilliant that the 3rd one is now going to be free, but i now feel like i am not paying enough for your brilliant efforts in this game

Well done guys and girls

Posted on 27 January, 2010 at 8:45 pm by Shuya86

Was our most played game over the holidays, thank you looking forward to part 3 “Scum!” lol

Posted on 27 January, 2010 at 8:47 pm by sebsta

Hi, IS NZ getting it the sametime as Australia?

Posted on 27 January, 2010 at 9:12 pm by VitalogyPJ

WOW this is mind blowing Jade and I’m very pleased to hear At first I was a bit suspicious about this game but then I said to myself ‘heck with that I’m on it’ and now I’m a fan :p

I’m really glad that decided to give us a gift, even if christmas is already gone now.

We will make this worth, you bet on it. Thank you Jade, and the rest of the crew too :p

Posted on 27 January, 2010 at 11:48 pm by socoenpo

And the trophies? They go to have new images, or they go to continue thus?

Posted on 27 January, 2010 at 11:52 pm by Prem-aka-Prince

This is an exceptional offer, in the most literal sense of the word… at the time I was looking for a reason to buy this, I mean I really wanted it but I only had the money left in my playstation wallet… 25th of february is a while away, so it may give me time to get a job, pay my debts, and start buying games again. I look forward to it!^^

Posted on 28 January, 2010 at 8:05 am by Yeroon

I bought the first two episodes (which are great), so I’m pleased to get the third one free.

@anyone-who-didn’t-buy-this-game: Buy it! It’s a lot of fun!

Posted on 28 January, 2010 at 9:45 am by KylieDog

These games cost too much, look at the price you pay for all the chapters (even with one free) and compare the amount of content you get compared to a retail game.

It isn’t quite the same price but that is not good value for money. I really like these types of game but the complete lack of replay value they have means the prices for all these episodes is totally unreasonable.

I await a special offer for all bundled, and would need be quite an amazing discount.

Posted on 28 January, 2010 at 10:10 am by vicheous

You guys gonna do another competition on the forums soon? I love you’re t-shirts

“I GOT LOST IN LADY SNOBBISH’s BUSH”

Posted on 28 January, 2010 at 11:23 am by Gulzt

Dear Jade, I could complain about the price of the other episodes, but maybe you can clarify how you decided on the price?

With this free episode I guess I still need to pay 5 x 13 euros = 65 euros for the full game. That’s more than I pay for most my retail games, and honestly every game I pay the full price for has more content and replay value…

I don’t see how this compares to Professor Layton for example. That game is in the same league but offers more puzzles, re-playability of the puzzles for less money…

Posted on 28 January, 2010 at 11:45 am by ryandrews

Cheers Relentless! It’s always good to get something for free, and the game has been enjoyable. I agree with the comment above about being able to skip through the chapters to get to the puzzles. I think I know the script verbatim already!!

Posted on 28 January, 2010 at 1:16 pm by ginjaninja88

it is great to get stuff for free and a great way to encourage people to buy the first 2 episodes inorder to enjoy the third they got for free
im sure i will pick this up at some point

Posted on 28 January, 2010 at 3:04 pm by djreplay

Sweet, i best run through episode 2 again to get the rest of the trophies.

Posted on 28 January, 2010 at 5:31 pm by nemo20000

I won’t be paying another penny for further episodes – the fact that you’ve designed-in zero replay value by having fixed rather than dynamic questions means that this game is by far the most expensive game per play minute I’ve ever bought.

And it’s not good enough to justify that expense.

Considering the “tech level” of the questions, I’m appalled that they are fixed. I’m very very disappointed in you, Relentless.

Posted on 28 January, 2010 at 6:33 pm by Bullitt001