Happy news for Janeites and gaming fans…
The venerable BBC, who have brought us the monumental mini-series of Pride and Prejudice in 1995 and 1980 and many other classic film adaptations, announced today that they will be releasing a new Jane Austen-inspired interactive game, Rogues and Romance, for Facebook next month.
Developed in partnership with Legacy Interactive, the game will re-create the world of Austen’s novels “allowing players to take part in an imaginative adventure that follows the path of Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy after they are married.”
I had the pleasure of meeting Legacy Interactive CEO Ariella Lehrer last December at the JASNA Southwest’s Winter Symposium in Los Angeles. She is a true Janeite and thrilled to translate her secret obsession into a fun social game. “We are determined to deliver an experience that passionate Austen fans will love, as well as gameplayers who know of Austen but have never read her novels.”
Robert Nashak, EVP, BBC Worldwide Digital Entertainment & Games, explains, “Social interaction is at the core of Austen’s work and we felt that was a concept we could explore that had a natural synergy with Facebook. Rogues and Romance is a fun romp of a game that celebrates the world of Jane Austen.”
I think it is a brilliant notion and if you do to, Legacy Interactive is giving Austenprose readers an incredible opportunity to be one of the first group of players to experience Rogues and Romance first hand during a “closed beta” testing period.
You will have the opportunity to “test drive” the new interactive game “which takes Pride and Prejudice as its starting point following the newly married Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy on a hidden object adventure with an intriguing twist. Players will be able to take their place in society leaving calling cards, attending and hosting receptions and pursuing courtships. Each player will have their own manor house and be able to indulge their penchant for fashion with a choice of Regency-era costumes.” 
Your feedback will only make this game even better before its official launch next month.
Yep, you heard it first on Austenprose, so do visit the official website for Rogues and Romance, and then email betatester@legacyinteractive.com with the email address that you use for your Facebook account if you are interested in participating. Please put in the subject “Jane Austen Facebook game beta test.”
We shall see who really knows their Jane Austen, and who needs a refresher course.
Enjoy!
Cheers,
Laurel Ann
© 2007 – 2012 Laurel Ann Nattress, Austenprose
Austenprose 
If those are examples of the illustrations, they are beautiful and the whole idea looks like FUN.
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This may be the only FB game I play, but, of course, I’m going to test drive it! Glad a Janeite is at the helm of its development.
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Cannot wait! However this could seriously cut into my writing time… But I’ll just say it’s ‘research.’ :)
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I can’t wait!!!
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I agree with janegs. This would be the only FB that I would play. I can’t wait for it to launch. It looks fabulous.
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Who would have guessed?! You know, I’ve never been a gamer, but this might be the thing that changes that for me.
Thanks for keeping us so informed!
Have a wonderful weekend!
Paula
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I am so excited! Not only am I a janeite, but I’m getting my master’s in instructional design. The class I’m taking right now is instructional gaming – what a deleriously happy Friday it is! :)
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I have a game to play on FB! Sooo lookingn forward to it! Thanks for sharing!
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WOW I can’t wait!! I am so excited for this :)
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I’m so glad they finally announced the game publicly!!
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I’ve never played any of the facebook games (I confess I block most of them) but I absolutely plan to give this one a try!
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Love it! Thanks, Laurel Ann!
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I’m no game player but this I will try.Though might have to get a bigger data plan… My kids always want me to play their wii or nintendo DS… I would try/ buy an Austen game too if someone were to take that on.How could I not?
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Laurel Ann, I’m not on Facebook, but I’ll tell all my friends about this game. (I seem to be the only person on the planet still not on Facebook!) Maybe I’ll get a chance to play on theirs.
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Cannot wait! Do they need any more “testers” ??
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Thanks for all of your enthusiasm and support! We really want to hear from all of you in terms of what you like (and don’t like) about our new Facebook game. We will need “beta” testers for the next few weeks (before we go “live”), so please contact betatester@legacyinteractive.com if you’d like to participate. We are also working with the wonderful ladies at http://www.pemberley.com, who have helped us to add relevant Austen quotes, etc. to the game.
Ariella
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