video game: Nancy Drew Mystery #23: Shadow at the Water's Edge

In 1930, publisher Edward Stratemeyer created a mystery series based on a fictional character named Nancy Drew. Nancy, a female detective who solves crimes, quickly became a cultural icon. Though ghostwritten by many authors, all Nancy Drew novels remain published under the pen name Carolyn Keene. As of 2013, the series, which contains over 200 books and graphic novels, continues to appear on bookshelves across the world. In 1998, software company Her Interactive released Nancy Drew: Secrets Can Kill, the first in a series of PC games based on Nancy����_��s character. Some of the games take place in already-established storylines, while others follow new fictional plots. The Nancy Drew series contains adventure games in which single players act as Nancy, travelling around a 3D virtual environment questioning suspects, finding clues, and ultimately solving a crime. Players can also change the level of difficulty in order to play multiple times with more challenging clues. If the player makes a ����_�fatal error,����_�� different in each game, they will fail to solve the puzzle. Most of the games target players aged 10 and older, and have been acknowledged for encouraging female interest in gaming. According to its mission statement, Her Interactive strives to be the "undisputed leader in creating high quality, fun and inspiring games for girls of all ages." Former CEO and current Chief Creative Strategy Officer Megan Gaiser earned widespread recognition for her contribution to the gaming industry, including the 2010 Microsoft Women in Games award and a spot on Next Generation's list of the 100 most influential women in the game industry. Furthermore, The Nancy Drew series has won 24 consecutive Parents����_�� Choice Gold Medal awards for best software for their targeted age group.