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Arberth Studios Cancels 'Rhiannon' Publishing Agreement With Lighthouse

by Rainier on Feb. 27, 2009 @ 8:07 a.m. PST

Rhiannon: Curse of the Four Branches is an authentic first-person, point & click adventure with a Celtic atmosphere. This spine-tingling story of the haunting of a lonely, teenage girl blends magic with technology, fact with myth, and horror with compassion.

Created by Arberth Studios of West Wales, Rhiannon: Curse of the Four Branches promises an authentic first-person, point-and-click adventure brimming with Celtic atmosphere. This spine-tingling story of the haunting of a lonely, teenage girl blends magic with technology, fact with myth, and horror with compassion. The game is a feast for lovers of ghost stories, mysteries, legends, and puzzles.

Rhiannon: Curse of the Four Branches, based on the classic Welsh “Four Branches” legends, is set in a mystical place on the Celtic fringes of Britain, a place where myth and magic spill into reality, threatening the sanity of a teenage girl and bringing an ancient battle for revenge to a remote Welsh farmstead. Are reports of unexplained noises and strange visions by fifteen year old Rhiannon Sullivan merely the figments of an overactive imagination? Or does the history of her family’s new home, Ty Pryderi, hold a terrible connection to a timeless struggle between man and magic? Her parents take Rhiannon away, leaving Ty Pryderi to your watch and exploration, but their absence can only postpone an ancient inevitability of revenge and death.

Unless you can stop it!

Arberth has parted company with European publisher Lighthouse Interactive, which hit financial difficulties after the collapse of its UK distributor last year. Lighthouse agreed to cancel the contract after three months of operation.

The independent studio, based in West Wales on the Celtic fringe of the UK, has acquired a sizeable proportion of the remaining stock of 'Rhiannon' and is offering it through a number of outlets, including its own website.

Noel Bruton of Arberth Studios comments: "This is an exciting time for Arberth as we look for another European partner to work with us. Lighthouse announced in December 2008, that due at least in part to the collapse of its UK distributor, it could not meet its financial commitments to us. We took the decision to salvage something from the remains of Lighthouse to ensure continuity of supply."

He continues: "Lighthouse had begun, but not concluded the setting up of various distribution deals in Europe. We were very keen to localise for the Lighthouse territories, and German and Italian translations were well advanced. But development of these is now in abeyance until a way forward can be found."

Key Features :

  • Set in present day, the plot draws from ancient Welsh myths and legends
  • Explore the haunted Welsh farmstead, from the imposing house, to its extensive grounds and buildings
  • First-person, point-and-click with approximately 20 to 30 hours of largely non-linear gameplay
  • Involved, multi-threaded plot
  • Features classic themes such as: magic, paranormal phenomena and technology
  • Interact with a comprehensive inventory of nearly 200 items
  • 1024x768 full-screen graphics
  • Engaging and unusual challenges, mostly plot and inventory-driven
  • A haunting musical score will send chills up your spine
  • Solid chapter structure to the compelling and ultimately uplifting story

Rhiannon: Curse of the Four Branches, rated "T" for Teen, is currently available in North America for $29.99 (USD), and looking for a new European publisher.

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