Murder Mystery Theme -- "Ho Ho Ho.... Murder at the North Pole!"

“Ho Ho Ho…. Murder at the North Pole!”

It was a sad, sad day in Santa City at the North Pole when the body of Jolly JoJo, Chief Elf and toy designer, was discovered by Ebba Sneezer Scrooge, in the main toyshop. Pool Jolly was found standing on one leg in a bucket of hardened cement. He had been blindfolded and duct tape had been wrapped around his mouth. And oddly enough, his arms were straight in the air… and his hair stood on end!! My goodness, Jolly was quite the sight, he looked like he had quite the fright… and he certainly must have ticked someone off – big time!!

Tell us more…

For decades, Jolly JoJo had been an employee of Claus Enterprises and was in charge of toy design. He began his fabulous career with the creation of “Mr. Zucchini Head” which proved to be incredibly popular with children all over the world. Jolly then went on to invent “Darbie”, the first doll ever designed with an hour-glass figure and an “out of this world” wardrobe. After “Darbie” came “G.I. Jose” and an array of other action figures quickly followed. He was there at the infancy of computerized video games and the rest is history. His genius and adaptability to the new venue of entertainment was astonishing… and his most amazing success, the creation of the action packed hand-held computer game series featuring “Volcano Vinnie”, won him universal fame… so, it’s no wonder, Santa adored him.

So what Happened?

It was Christmas Eve and Santa had just left for his annual, around-the-world toy distribution trip. As a long time North Pole tradition, all residents of Santa City gathered in the Town Square, waved goodbye to Santa and then headed off to the Candy Cane Cabaret to celebrate another successful season. Everyone was having a grand old time… when Ebba Sneezer Scrooge, toyshop foreman, noticed that Jolly JoJo was nowhere to be seen. Scrooge decided to hightail it over to the toyshop and lo and behold, there he found Jolly… who wasn’t looking very jolly at all, in fact he was quite dead.

Some guests include Frostbite and Snowflake Snowmanelli (toy inventors), Holly Berry (greenhouse supervisor), Ebba Sneezer Scrooge (toyshop foreman), Don Blitzen (stable keeper), Noel Angelino (JoJo’s guardian angel), Bob Humbug (Santa’s navigational coordinator), Sweet Wings (sugar plum fairy), Kirby Marlow (Ghost of Christmas Past), Ginger Snap (cookie baker), Capt. Pistachio (nutcracker) and of course, the Clauses.

So now it’s time to decorate the tree, wrap the presents, whip up some eggnog, and get ready for an evening of yuletide mayhem, masquerade and Murder!!!!!!

The Butler Didn’t Do It! Games FAQ

Q. How is the game actually played?

A. The game is played in four rounds. At the start of each round, the host will announce the names of two of the “main suspects” (there are 8 main suspects in each game and only the host knows the identity of these characters). The suspects will then read a brief script together. After each round, everyone, including the main suspects will deliver clues, either by reading them or acting them out via pantomime. The rounds are broken up by dinner courses (optional), viewing the crime scene, and other activities. At the end of round 4 everyone votes, the votes are tallied and winners’ certificates are awarded.

Q. How are the Butler murder mystery party games different from the other mystery games?

A. The Butler games are different because they not only offer a mystery to solve; there are also other activities. These are fun games full of surprises such as prop quizzes, dance contests or other similar activities depending on the theme. And most importantly, you and your guests won’t just sit around and listen to your fellow players read from dossiers or reports. No one will have to take notes or questions each other.

Q. How many character descriptions are included?

A. There are 16 characters, 8 female roles and 8 male roles. Most of the games also come in a larger version for 24 guests, 12 female and 12 male. The roles are assigned to individuals or couples. Teen game “Murder in Metropolis” has 12 characters, 6 female and 6 male roles, and the teen version of “Murder at Kool Kat High!” was written for teenage girls and has 12 characters but has an additional 4 male roles for male cousins, brothers, friends, etc. We also have a teen version of “Murder at the Groovy A Go~Go!” which accommodates 16 characters, 8 female and 8 males.

Q. What about the host(s), can they play along?

A. Absolutely. Though the host will know who the 8 main suspects are out of the 16 possibilities, the solution is sealed and should not be opened until the end of round 4.

Q. How will the guests know what happened?

A. The basic facts regarding “the crime” are noted on the invitation and a complete suspect list is also included. With this information your guests will know who the victim was, a brief description of the crime, and a description of all the other characters.

Q. What happens if I only have, for example 12 guests, instead of 16?

A. No problem. As long as you have your 8 main suspects, only the clue cards will be affected. In this case you would have 4 extra clue cards so all you have to do is simply give out those cards to anyone who’d like to read them as well as their own… or the host can read the extras. It doesn’t matter who reads the cards as long as they all get read. Another idea would be to simply display them where everyone can read them while mingling between the rounds.

Q. What if one of my “main suspects” cancels out at the last minute?

A. Again, no major problem. The host, even if playing another role, can assume that suspect’s identity and read his/her script… just switch name tags for that period… or you can ask for a volunteer.

Q. What if my guest list is a little larger and I need more character descriptions than 16?

A. Most of the games also come in a larger version for 24 players. If you have more than 24 guests our “Supplemental Guest Packet”, will accommodate 8 additional “generic” guests and if they dress in the era of the game they should fit in quite nicely.

Q. How long does the game take to play?

A. It depends on a lot of factors… how many guests are playing, if you will be stopping for dinner courses, if your guests partake in the optional pantomime clues (some prefer to just read their clues) and whether or not you want to conduct the extra activities included. All in all, it’s a fun-filled evening like any other party.

Q. How will my guests know how to dress?

A. In most cases, once your guests read their invitations and a get a feel for the era/story line, they won’t have any problem deciding what to wear. Some of our games do offer costume suggestions.

Q. What about guest “interaction?”

A. This question suggests a bit of a “serious” nature to mystery games and it is important to know that the comical Butler series has been designed to be played in a “party atmosphere” with music and the usual mingling conversations one would normally find at such a gathering. When the host announces the start of a round, the guests gather and begin – listening to the scripts and delivering their clues. These mystery games were created to be easily played and enjoyed. Some guests really get into the story, like to ad lib, and exaggerate their characters. Others are on the shy side, so personalities should be taken into mind when assigning parts. As far as interacting with each other, interrogations or questioning periods, that can be done after each round, but it’s really necessary… that’s up to you. In any event, all will have a good time and the main thing to remember is not to take this game or any game so seriously that it loses its entertainment value.

Q. Are the games suitable for teens?

A. We now have a game that has been written exclusively for this age group entitled, “Murder in Metropolis! – The Superhero Homicide.” Though “murder” is the theme, the victim, a robot, that hasn’t been actually “murdered.” The robot has been de-programmed in a comical, non-violent manner. All guests come as “superheroes” and all have a strong motive for wanting “Robo Ga!” out of the picture. In addition we now have an ALL GIRL version of “Murder at Kool Kat High!” and a teen version of “Murder of the Groovy A Go-Go!” for 16, 8 female and 8 male roles.

Though the storylines of the other murder mystery party games have been written for adults and some of the character names are a bit risqué, the dialogue and clues are perfectly innocent. In fact, daytime TV is far naughtier. One thing to note is that every game includes a menu and recipes – including a recipe for “spirits”, an alcoholic beverage. This, obviously, would need to be excluded if teens were participating.

Q. Once I place my order, how long does it take to receive the game files?

A. We check our order line four times per day, seven days a week at 7:00 A.M., Noon, 3:00 P.M and 10:00 P.M. (EST) so in most cases, you will receive your game the same day you place the order.

Q. What credit cards do you take?

A. The credit cards we accept are VISA and MasterCard.

Q. What is your return policy?

A. Just as most companies, The Butler Didn’t Do It! Does not offer a refund for their downloadable products. Due to the nature of the files, we have no way to prevent a customer from using the game, once the files have been sent. However, we are happy to answer any questions once you receive your game.

If you still have any questions, feel free to e-mail us at info@murdermymysteryparty.com. We check e-mail frequently throughout the day – 7 days a week. You may also leave a message on our answering machine at 207-778-5608 and we will gladly return your call as soon as possible

…and remember, the Butler Didn’t Do It!... did you?

Hosting a party can be MURDER! Thinking about adding a little pizzazz to your next celebration? You can be the “Death of the Party”, all it takes is a Butler game and some friends who want to have the time of their lives… or perhaps, their demise!

Our games are now strictly downloadable. Purchasing a downloadable game will save you postage and you will receive your order the very same day, if not within a few hours as we check our order line frequently. We can now send our product world wide and remember, these games were created in the USA! (Large files, NOT for dial-up)

Once you place an order, you will receive an automatic confirmation. Please note that we check our order line four times a day – 7:00 A.M, Noon, 5:00 P.M. and 9:00 P.M. (EST) and more frequently during the Halloween and Christmas season. Once we receive your order, you will receive a second confirmation, easy download instructions and password.

Be sure to double check your email address to avoid delays.

More downloadable murder mystery parties are coming soon, so add us to your favorites.

The Butler Didn’t Do It! Is a series of original downloadable murder mystery games with a unique format and comedic flare, designed for home or office parties. Just buy a game, then download and print! The storylines are full of wacky characters from bygone eras, the present, and even the future. There’s a lot of participation for your guests, such as pantomime, quizzes, anagrams to solve, and dance contests (depending on the game).

Why choose The Butler Didn’t Do It! over the others? The answer is very simple. These murder mystery party games are designed for fun-loving partiers who want to be entertained, want to laugh, and want the opportunity to participate in a “crime” and portray another, if just for an evening. These games are easy and fun to play. There’s no interrogation involved, no note pads required, and definitely NO pressure. Also – A party agenda is included in every game which will tell the host what to do and when to do it, so that the game runs smoothly. Everything has been prepared for the host and guests and all that’s required is to “dress up in costume” for the occasion and be ready to have a great time!

The murder mystery games are designed for 16 players and some of are available in larger versions that can accommodate up to 24. Each downloadable game includes equal number of female and male roles. We have also revised several of our games for teens. In each storyline, there are 8 main suspects and only the host/s knows their identities as he or she will assign the parts. The hosts can also play along by simply having an envelope ready, print out the solution and seal the envelope until the party. The invitations will include the list of characters, but the main suspects will only be revealed on party night.

For larger groups we offer a “Supplemental Packet” that includes an additional 8 “generic” roles that will fit into most of the themes that focus on “murder.”

The games are composed of several files including a hosting guide which you should read first. It is not necessary to print out the entire guide. Files that you will want to print are the clue cards, scripts, name tags (on light weight card stock if possible), voting ballots, solutions, and award certificates. Some games also include additional evidence in the form of letters, newspaper clippings, diary excerpts, anagrams, etc. A suggested menu and recipes are also included, some of which are named after characters in the storyline.

The invitation is written in Microsoft Word so that you can simply fill in the blanks and email them put to your guests, thus saving on time and postage.

What is the cost of the games?

All teen games and games for 16 guests are $29.95. The larger version for 24 guests is $44.95. The Supplemental Packet is $17.50.

Disclaimer: It is not the intention of “The Butler Didn’t Do It!” to offend or insult any one person, group, nationality, religion race. These games have been created to be enjoyed with an open mind and a sense of humor… for what is life without laughter?