SEATTLE, Dec. 20, 2013 /PRNewswire/ — You can’t have the actual Hope Diamond, but you can take off on an adventure to save it in Big Fish’s “Hidden Expedition: Smithsonian Hope Diamond.” In this first collaboration by the Smithsonian on a video game, Big Fish worked with the world’s largest museum and research complex to create the 6th installment of its popular Hidden Expedition® series. In conjunction with the National Museum of Natural History, Jeff Post, the Smithsonian’s curator of the National Gem and Mineral Collection, as well as game developer Eipix, Big Fish has incorporated the facts and legends behind the Smithsonian’s iconic Hope Diamond into this exciting hidden object adventure game. Now available for download on PC and Mac, “Hidden Expedition: Smithsonian Hope Diamond” extends the Smithsonian experience into your own home and provides adventure and fun along the way.
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The world’s most famous diamond
The Hope Diamond, considered the most famous diamond in the world, is also one of the world’s largest blue diamonds. While we know it today as the ‘Hope Diamond’ it has held many other names over the centuries, including Le Bijou du Roi (the King’s Jewel) and Le bleu de France (the Blue of France). The Hope Diamond is blue to the eye because of trace amounts of boron in the gem. Formed deep within the earth over a billion years ago, the diamond first appears in the written record in the 17th century after it was acquired in India by its first owner Jean Baptiste Tavernier. The history of the diamond prior to Tavernier is unknown, as is the means by which he came to acquire the diamond. Some accounts say Tavernier purchased the diamond, others that he stole it. What we know for sure is that Tavernier brought the diamond with him from India to France where it came to be owned by some of the most famous figures in French history, including King Louis XIV, King Louis XV and King Louis XVI, husband to Marie Antoinette.
While the Hope Diamond is famous for its beauty, it is also infamous for a reputed curse said by some to bring tragedy upon those who own or wear the gem.
A Hidden Expedition adventure
You have been recruited by the “Hidden Expedition” League of Preservation (H.E.L.P) for this mission…to go toe-to-toe with the most dangerous thieves in modern history. You start out on a train in the middle of nowhere, and a band of dangerous thieves demand you tell them where to find the Hope Diamond’s shards! It is clear from eavesdropping on their conversation that one of the thieves’ father is perilously ill. His life seems to be tied to the missing shards of the Hope Diamond. They will stop at nothing until they have traced down these powerful, ancient artifacts and with an infamous target like the Hope Diamond, it is clear these aren’t your average thieves.
But then again, you aren’t the average adventurer! In this exciting continuation of the “Hidden Expedition” series, your journey takes you from the Smithsonian Institution’s iconic castle to the remotest jungle as you track down the missing shards and learn the secret of the Hope Diamond’s fascinating history.
This adventure game has much in store for you, including:
- Search beautiful hidden object scenes that include accurate representations of the Smithsonian
- Hunt for 49 Smithsonian Institution symbols
- Collect more than 20 Smithsonian History Fact Cards
- Find 17 morphing items
- Earn 20 game achievements
- Play a bonus game to undo the thieves’ final legacy
- Replay all the mini-games and Hidden Object puzzles through the bonus menu
- Visit the included game Strategy Guide if you get stuck
Can you brave the dangers of an ancient curse to save the magnificent Hope Diamond?
Contact:
Susan Lusty
206-269-3672
Video with caption: “Big Fish’s “Hidden Expedition: Smithsonian Hope Diamond” is the first collaboration by the Smithsonian on a video game, now available for download on PC and Mac. You have been recruited by the “Hidden Expedition” League of Preservation (H.E.L.P) for this mission…to go toe-to-toe with the most dangerous thieves in modern history. You start out on a train in the middle of nowhere, and the thieves demand you tell them where to find the Hope Diamond’s shards! Find them before they do!” Video available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FeH1oJPagjI
Image with caption: “You can’t have the actual Hope Diamond, but you can take off on an adventure to save it in Big Fish’s “Hidden Expedition: Smithsonian Hope Diamond.” In this first collaboration by the Smithsonian on a video game, Big Fish worked with the National Museum of Natural History, Jeff Post, the Smithsonian’s curator of the National Gem and Mineral Collection, as well as game developer Eipix. Big Fish has incorporated the facts and legends behind the Smithsonian’s iconic Hope Diamond into this exciting hidden object adventure game now available for download on PC and Mac.” Image available at: https://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20131220/SF37056
SOURCE Big Fish
