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WOO! Can't wait! Disney-esque    

[two BRAND NEW behind-the-scenes features]

It's never too late to revisit a classic. And revisiting classics is what we do around here right?

Let's start 2010 with a look back at "Al Emmo and the Lost Dutchman's Mine" and two BRAND NEW behind-the-scenes features I've brought back with me in the time machine.

It's time to start visiting the forums again if you've been away. Something special is brewing in the cauldron at AGDI and I'm getting all mushy inside just thinking about it!

Happy Holidays from the AGDI and Himalaya Family. Keep the spirit of the adventure game alive!

Are you ready? Let's take a ride in the time machine!

[HAPPY BIRTHDAY CHRIS!!!]

Ahh.. another true graphic adventurer at heart. To the talented... OPINIONATED (Thank God.), Hard working, and only team member who managed to bring me down to earth and ruffle my feathers in the process last year (not an easy thing to do!)..

HAPPY BIRTHDAY CHRIS!!!

[Graphic Adventure Game Goddesses]

To one of the most talented and DRIVEN women on the planet... one of the only rare, true, and modern "Graphic Adventure Game Goddesses" keeping the tradition alive.... and someone who could probably kick my ass in a boxing match now....

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BRITNEY!!

You are an inspiration to me.

[my]

Tribe! It's always nice getting props from another team. It's great to see you here.

On a personal note, I have been watching the TSL project for quite some time. (I have nearly every background and concept art piece saved on my HD!) You've got some very talented artists. I'm a huge fan of one in particular - the illustrator who draws really refined, almost Disneyesque character concepts (I'll have to post one of the pix here in a bit... maybe you can tell us more about him/her.)... I'd like to steal 'em away for my game project!  j/k

Any team that can attract the kind of fan following and press attention that you have deserves an award. Congrats yourself!

To continue, I absolutely loved the narrator in Sins of the Father.  Her creole drawl was brilliant in my eyes.
And all things voodoo, I loved Naomie Harris in Dead Man's chest, as well.  Awesome.  Just wanted to throw that out there.

I agree. The narrator in Gabriel Knight 1 was superb. Totally fit the game. I haven't completed it so I'm not sure if I would grow to dislike it but I don't think so.

Which character was Naomi Harris in Dead Man's Chest? (Pirates of the Caribbean right?).. was she the voodoo lady in the swamp? OOOH that was a great character. What a great film that was. Those FX were out of this world.

;P

I have been playing the game and the voice has grown on me. I didn't like it in the beginning but as the game progresses you warm up to the character and the voice just... fits. All the voices work really well. My personal favourite? VALERIE THE SHEMALE!!! As my friend Craig pointed out... the REAL highlight is that Chris Warren, who also co-designed the game, did BOTH voices. LOL. Now THAT is range.

omg that would be so cool. I am compiling a little book of everyone's photos. I want to remember this time in my life.

Would love to see the big Sierra collection behind you too. My copy hasn't arrived yet but I'll be sure to take one too.

You have got a lot of really great games there. Al Emmo is in good company on that shelf.  Thanks for showing us!  

"variations" on old western themes is not what I thought the music in this game sounded like at all. I'm not a big fan of "old west" music myself but this soundtrack had that special something that made the tunes infectious. I thought it was fantastic Tom. If I can spin something for more than a week (almost a month!) while I'm working, it's gotta be good.

You mean you're heading to Anozira!

[WIN AN "AL EMMO" COLLECTOR'S PACKAGE!Last Chance to Enter Himalaya Studios "Al Emmo Wild Website Giveaway Contest"September 17, 2006—Himalaya Studios, developer and publisher of the new, classic-style adventure game for the PC, "Al Emmo and the Lost Dutchman's Mine", is gearing up to choose the official winners of the Wild Website Giveaway Contest! Himalaya Studios is giving away a large number of valuable prize packages, chock full of collector's items, to celebrate the release of their first game. Contest entries will be judged based on the creativity of the entry—the more creative, the better! "The prize package includes some incredible items that you can't even purchase elsewhere", explains Britney Brimhall, Chairman & CEO of Himalaya Studios, LLC. "This includes a gorgeous poster which has been signed and numbered by game artist, Eriq Chang. Additionally, winners will receive not only a signed Collector's Edition of the game, but also a signed version of the soundtrack as well!"Fans determined to win should send a single email, as soon as possible, to www.alemmo.com.]

RTooney, I know you've been very anxious to hear about the winners. As with any contest there has to be ample time for entries. We have JUST announced the contest end date. Good Luck!

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WIN AN "AL EMMO" COLLECTOR'S PACKAGE!
Last Chance to Enter Himalaya Studios "Al Emmo Wild Website Giveaway Contest"


September 17, 2006—Himalaya Studios, developer and publisher of the new, classic-style adventure game for the PC, "Al Emmo and the Lost Dutchman's Mine", is gearing up to choose the official winners of the Wild Website Giveaway Contest!  Himalaya Studios is giving away a large number of valuable prize packages, chock full of collector's items, to celebrate the release of their first game.  Contest entries will be judged based on the creativity of the entry—the more creative, the better!  

"The prize package includes some incredible items that you can't even purchase elsewhere", explains Britney Brimhall, Chairman & CEO of Himalaya Studios, LLC.  "This includes a gorgeous poster which has been signed and numbered by game artist, Eriq Chang.  Additionally, winners will receive not only a signed Collector's Edition of the game, but also a signed version of the soundtrack as well!"

Fans determined to win should send a single email, as soon as possible, to www.alemmo.com.

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[- Adventure Europe]

Lots of great Al Emmo reviews. Most all of them are glowing! I enjoyed the latest AdventureGamers.com review but I disagree with the bit about the soundtrack.

(from my post on the the AG forums):

Great review of Al Emmo. I agree with most of it. The part of the review I completely disagreed with was the music. During the production of the game, I was sent the soundtrack. I listened to it extensively for about a month late at night (with the cool breeze blowing through my window) while working on the website. Sometimes I felt like I was actually working by a campfire in the desert - totally atmospheric. Calling the soundtrack "fairly negligible" is a disservice to the musicians. The soundtrack was agreed to be made a promotional item towards the end of the project due to overwhelming response from players and reviewers.

Am I going to push the purchase of the soundtrack? HELL YEA. And not only because I designed the lovely packaging ... but because it's truly quite an amazing body of work. From one HUGE Sierra fan to another, If you appreciated all the Roland MT-32 music from the Sierra classics, you owe it to yourself to buy this soundtrack.



"The music of Al Emmo has nothing to be jealous of compared to the music we used to listen to in the classic Sierra games."
- Adventure Europe

"... Superbly done. The original soundtrack really adds a Western atmosphere to the game world at large and punctuates some of Al's predicaments."
-Four Fat Chicks


I LOVE the music! Fantastic job! It's probably one of the best sound-tracks I've heard for any adventure game (and I'm an "old fart" who's played a lot of adventure games) The music set the mood and the feel of each scene and area of the game perfectly and added such a "natural" flow to the pacing of the game and various scenes. Myself being an amateur harmonica-player, I can much appreciate the obvious skill and effort that went into creating the many varied musical scores within this game.
- Don McPherson (aka Barbarian),Hong Kong

The soundtrack was magnificent. Being a musician that plays 4 instruments and sings, I can definitely appreciate it when you can close your eyes and listen to a track from a game, and see everything about the room completely just from the melody. Even down to the pianist hitting the random off note, everything was a masterpiece. I can tell a lot of work went into it, and I know from experience it takes a lot of heart to make music to match ANYTHING. Salut on a fantabulous job.
- Sean Swartzwelder (aka Neodraven), Wisconsin, USA

BUY A COPY NOW!!! IT'S MADNESS! IT'S SIERRA CARPET MADNESS! IT'S MADNESS! IT'S CARPETS! IT'S CARPET MADNESS!

I know several people have posted photos of their copies already but if you have received yours, photograph yourself with your copy for us. I want to remember this time and I dunno about everyone else, but it really gives me a high to see the game somewhere else in the world!

When mine arrives I'll take some photos and post them.

woo! Congrats on getting your copy. I'm jealous!

I am waiting for mine too.

You got one of the signed certificates from Britney and Chris. cool. I want one. Thanks for posting this!

The 50 winners are being selected over a period of time. The first batch of five winners will be announced soon! We will announce them on the website as well as the forums.

omg. WELL SHOW US WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE!!

I want to see somebody's digital photos of their collector's edition. PLEEEEAASE!

Yours came with the saloon card drink ticket collectible right?

Congratulations to a job well done everyone!

I actually have quite a big pile of concept art that we haven't put on the site yet. That will be pushed on the next update. Chris sent me a good zip full of artwork which included some early COLOUR background art done in a very cool almost charcoal/chalk colour style that I really want to post separately on an individual page. It's really neat stuff. There's also a bunch of 3D material I think people will be interested in seeing. All new stuff and more on the next update.

lol. now there's the kind of feedback that makes it all worth it.

YEEEHAW! We've updated www.alemmo.com with a handful of new updates in preparation for the shipping of the game! Surf on over and check them out:

- download a super jumbotron sized haunted new wallpaper in the DOWNLOADS : EXTRAS section

- Check out the "Packaging and Promotions featurette" - a narrated download detailing the creation of the box and promotional materials in the newly opened BEHIND THE SCENES section.

- view the new BEHIND THE SCENES : CONCEPT ART page and see loads of concept art by the team including background sketches, character art, and cut-scene panels by Britney Brimhall, Chris Warren, and Michael Freeman.

- enter the contest! We've had a lot of entries but only a handful of CREATIVE entries so far and there are FIFTY collector's edition games to give away. Now is your chance to win a limited edition poster and game!

- Purchase the game, soundtrack, and collector's editions - everything is slated to finally ship!

Keep up to date on the latest site happenings by clicking on the wiggling "new stuff!" button on the front page. Enjoy!

surprise! Your review is on the site!

and thank YOU for keeping me updated with your wonderful site revision emails Zandar.

the website will be updated today. I'm on it!

Finally, a glowing review where someone actually played the whole demo. Great write up! You should post this at www.adventuregamers.com! I am sure everyone would love to read this.

Am I too late in saying Happy Birthday to one of the most talented guys on the planet? I had this wood engraved with your name on it but, oh my goodness, it looks like the spirits have gotten to it first....

Thanks for considering the addition of the soundtrack to the collectors edition.
It is appreciated.

Brit, I too thought this was a great idea. I think I mentioned to you right before we launched. Seems like the Collector's Edition would have the soundtrack included (as our COMPLETE PACKAGE did).

--Complete Story section--
I think there needs to be a spoiler warning mentioned at the beginning as I almost discovered many of the story events from the game. At least I was able to quickly look away as it seems that it reveals almost all plot points. I thought it was just going to be a summary or highlights of the entire story.

This is being remedied I believe. Someone is supposed to be sending me new text to pop into that section.

[Official Al Emmo website Easter Egg I:]

I posted this over at Adventure Gamers and will be adding a special EASTER EGG section into the site highlighting easter eggs in the game and also all over the promotions....

Official Al Emmo website Easter Egg I:
During the production of the site my friend Craig and I were obsessed with listening to Anita Baker. Don't ask why. LOL. So if you click into the site and go to the ABOUT THE GAME section and then into the COMPLETE STORY, you'll see a sheriff's badge pop up on the left hand side. Click on the LEFT TOP BALL on the badge edge and you'll experience being "Caught Up in the Rapture". LOL.

The poster is limited to 2-50 because I am keeping the first. LOL. So it says "NOS 2-50". Many limited editions are sold this way with the first few being sent to designers or friends. I hope you'll all enter the contest linked from the main page! We have lots of fun stuff to give away.

Thanks so much for all of your compliments. They really made staying up late all those sleepless nights extra worth it.