Game Description

Circle of Blood, released in Europe as Broken Sword: The Shadow of the Templars, puts players in the role of the vacationing American George Stobbart, who finds himself at the center of a mystery after surviving a bomb blast outside a Parisian café. With screens designed by the renowned Don Bluth Studios, this animated film-like adventure features a soundtrack by composer Barrington Pheloung, who produced the music for the feature film Nostradamus, and a capable cast of voice actors engaging in humorous and smart dialogue.

Utilizing a "smart-cursor" click-and-point interface, players collect objects and inventory items, deal with dozens of NPCs (friendly and antagonistic), search out clues and hints, accumulate phone numbers and conduct interviews as they try to unravel the plot involving a sinister manuscript associated with the medieval Knights Templar. In true Indiana Jones style, George's adventure will take him to the sewers of Paris, museums, exotic ruins and more as he becomes embroiled in a quest to save the world from megalomaniacs who want to use the manuscript for nefarious purposes. ~ Michael L. House, All Game Guide

Roots & Influences

Circle of Blood was released in Europe under the developer's original title Broken Sword: The Shadow of the Templars. ~ Michael L. House, All Game Guide

Production Credits

Company 1: Revolution Software Ltd.

Director: Charles Cecil

Project Producer: Steve Ince

Scriptwriter: David Cummins, Jonathan Howard

Lead Programmer: James Long

System Programming: Tony Warriner, James Long

Technical Programming: Paul Porter

Game Tools: David Sykes

Animation Director: Steve Oades

Support Programming: Andrew Walrond, Jeremy Sallis

Music Composition: Barrington Pheloung

Paper Animation: Keith Grieg, Dan Whitworth, Premier Films, Mark Povey, Electric Spectacle, Des Duggan

Character Design: Red Rover, Mat Taylor

Coloring: Jane Stroud, Andi Forster, Matthew Drake

Sprite Animation: Steve Oades, Paul Humphreys, Andi Forster, Linda Smith, Michael Ryan, Mark Povey, Jane Stroud, Mike Green, Steve Ince, Martin Povey

Background Layouts: Eoghan Cahill, Neil Breen, Tony Pulham, Steve Ince

Background Colorist: David Swift, Steve Oades, Jane Stroud, Electric Spectacle, Helen Jones

Sequence Animation: Red Rover, Keith Grieg, Mark Povey, Celine Ciernan, Noel Ciernan, Ros Allen

Sequence Composition: Steve Ince, Jane Stroud

Story and Design: Charles Cecil, Dave Cummins, Jonathan Howard

Story Consultant: Noirin Carmody

Script Editor: Alan Drury

Marketing: Noirin Carmody

Actor: Rolf Saxon, Rachael Atkins, David Bannermann, Rosy Clayton, Hazel Ellerby, Jack Elliott, Steve Hodson, David Holt, Peter Kenny, Don Macorkindale, Richard Mapletoft, Matthew Marsh, Colin McFarlane, Gavin Muir, Paul Panting, Andrew Wincott

Sampling: Jonathan Howard, Dave Cummins

Business Affairs: Noirin Carmody

In-House Testing: James Long, Charles Cecil, Dave Cummins, Jonathan Howard, Matthew Drake

Sound Effects: Hackenbacker Studios

Music Performed by: The London Metropolitan Orchestra

Special Music Assistant: Heather Lovejoy

Mac-Conversion: Digital Amusement

Company 2: Virgin Interactive Entertainment Europe

Producer: Michael Merren

Assistant Producer: Tony Byus

Product Manager: Sarah Ewing

Test Manager: Gary Foley

Lead Product Analyst: David Isherwood, Jonathan Stocken

Project Analyst: Al Perch, Ron Festejo, 00-Malka, Frazer-1, Haydn Wright, David Corless, Tony Byus, Mike Merren

Quality Assurance: John Martin

Sampling: David Isherwood, Richard Hewison, Tony Byus, Jonathan Stocken, Michael Merren

Story Consultant: Sean Brennan, Dan Marchant

Business Affairs: Julian Lynn-Evans

Marketing: Sarah Ewing, Doug Johns

Legal Affairs: Pam Dolton, Sally Mudd

Scheduling: Paul Whipp

Gaffer: Tim Chaney, Sean Brennan

Company 3: Virgin Interactive Entertainment USA

Vice President External Development: Eric Lux

Producer: Chris Dudas

Associate Producer: Norm Karns, Ken Love

Technical Director: Tim Page

Quality Assurance Director: Dave Maxey

Quality Assurance Supervisor: Bijan Shaheer

Lead Analyst: Richard R. Bruno

Analyst: David Walsh, Wallace Wachi Jr., Tim Tran, Khanh Nguyen, Tuan Bui, Gary Mountain, Matt Orlich

Vice President of Marketing: Russell Kelban

Director of Marketing: Jane Gilbertson

Product Manager: Nancy Feiner

Manual Editor: Lisa Marcinko, Sarah Tringali

Director of Production: Gail Hetland

Manual: Mark Ramshaw

Templar Booklet: Steve Jackson

Packaging Creative Direction: Shawn Markert

Package Design: Michael Osbourne Design

Package Illustration: Griesbach/Martucci ~ Michael L. House, All Game Guide