Ten Little Ni**ers coming to the Wii

5:24 PM on 03.19.2007   |   Niero

48 comments

I wasn't sure whether or not I should let that headline rip, but it's what you might call an well hidden little truth. I know I'm going to get drama over it, but don't worry -- it won't be called that when it hits American shelves. I accidentally stumbled upon the original name when looking for reference material for it. I'm sure nobody is going to want to call them on it for fear of being called a racist, but I couldn't gloss right over that fact. It's what Agatha Cristie and her original publisher decided to call it, so I thought ya'll should know. (Don't shoot the messenger!)

Here's some background info on the original name change:

In the novel, a poem named "Ten Little Indians" served as a prophecy to the guests as they met their doom. In the game, however, this has been changed to "Ten Little Sailor Boys" in order to be politically correct (ironic, since the title "Ten Little Indians" was itself an attempt at political correctness with the original title being "Ten Little Ni**ers"...

Nintendo prides itself for creating a console that nobody gets shot over, so they obviously couldn't have a game with a name like that. Nevertheless, Agatha Cristie's chilling Dix Petits Negres is a 2005 PC-based point and click adventure game with horrible graphics and great voice acting, according to sites like GameRankings that gave it a 67%. This doesn't necessarily mean the new game will suck, as new adaptation by The Adventure Company will feature an overhauled play control system utilizing the Wiimote.  Hopefully this will help remedy what a Wikipedia writer noted as "the most mundane puzzles ever put into a video game."

The actual name of the game will be "Agatha Christie: And Then There Were None" -- an allusion to the ultimate fate of the 10 guests. The game is scheduled for a release date of November 2007 ... so you kind of have to wonder how much work is being put into this baby. So far, I'm not excited. Full release after the jump.

[Via GoNintendo] 

Full press release:

    TORONTO, Canada. March 19, 2007. The Adventure Company, a leading publisher of PC adventure games worldwide, today announced that its popular PC title Agatha Christie: And Then There Were None is under development for the Nintendo Wii®, set to be released in November 2007.

    Written by Agatha Christie, the world’s best-known mystery author and Queen of Crime, this classic story is brought to a new generation on the Nintendo Wii. Appealing to a broad audience, this platform opens the door for adventure games on console.

    Using the Wii’s original “Wiimote®” controller, gameplay in traditional PC adventure games can be taken to a whole new level of interactivity. For instance, players will have the freedom to control their character’s actions, such as using a digging motion to unearth clues, or spinning the handle of a safe using the Wiimote; and the introduction of timed puzzles where, for example, players must race up a set of stairs from a boat docked below.

    “We are very excited to take this new direction with our adventure titles and are certain that our fans will find Agatha Christie: And Then There Were None to be a perfect fit for the Nintendo Wii,” said Richard Wah Kan, President and CEO of The Adventure Company. “Many PC adventure game fans are having a great time with the Wii and we’d like to be the first to deliver them games they love on a console they’ve embraced.”

    The storyline revolves around ten people, all strangers to each other, who are invited to a lavish estate on an isolated island. Through a recording, their mysterious host accuses each of his ‘guests’ of murder and proceeds to exact justice by becoming judge, jury and executioner… The tension mounts and dark secrets are revealed as one-by-one the number of guests systematically dwindles according to the ingenious plan of the unseen killer.