Relentless Diversifies From Buzz With Blue Toad Murder Files

Buzz! franchise developer Relentless Software is branching out from its quiz-show core, developing an episodic mystery series for PlayStation Network called Blue Toad Murder Files. The new property's official site teases 'mysteries revealed' in September 2009, but according to Eurogamer, which plans to host a playable version at its Expo in October, the first installment in the mystery series will arrive in December. Relentless' David Amor explains of the new episodic series: "People know all about alibis and motives and all this stuff. We don't have to explain it. And I think that's one of the things that made Buzz popular - it was based on the quiz show that people have seen on TV a thousand times too. I hope the same works for us in a murder mystery title." This new property represents Brighton-based Relentless' strides into digital self-publishing, after working solely with Sony's backing on the Buzz! series since 2004. Relentless also tells Eurogamer that it plans to start exploring new platforms like the iPhone -- but that it's unlikely to break ties with its PlayStation-exclusive background to pursue rivals Xbox 360 and Wii. According to the developer's comments, this is in part to avoid jeopardizing its longtime relationship with Sony, and in part to maintain the specialty of its 80-plus staff.