The 39 Steps on Your PC

We don’t usually cover video games here at Cult Britannia, but as an interesting lead-in to a new sister site that is set to be launched in the next few weeks we thought we’d give this new multimedia adaptation of John Buchan’s classic thriller The Thirty Nine Steps a mention.

Following the text of the original book with images, audio, video and interactive elements, the game is set to be released on PC, Mac and iPad and offers an opportunity to explore the world of the First World War spy thriller.

The game features the vocal talents of Nick Underwood, whose screen appearances include Coronation Street, Hollyoaks and Emmerdale, alongside radio and theatre appearances, as protagonist Richard Hannay. Greg Hemphill, known from the sitcom Still Game, appears in a cameo role, lending his voice to The Old Shepherd. Ian Hanmore, who starred in the Doctor Who episode “Tooth and Claw” in 2006 and played Pyatt Pree in Season 2 of the HBO series Game of Thrones, acts as Whittaker in The Thirty Nine Steps. Robin Laing, who worked with Tom Hanks in the HBO mini-series Band of Brothers, playing Edward ‘Babe’ Heffron, and acted as Renton in the UK tour of the theatre adaption of Trainspotting, lends his voice to Sir Harry. He also acted together with Benny young in BBC’s drama Garrow’s Law.

Donald Pirie, Richard Addisson, Mark McDonnell, Beth Marshall and Billy Mack also provide voices, directed by theatre director Guy Hollands.

Written by John Buchan and originally published in 1915, the novel The Thirty-Nine Steps is one of Britain’s first spy thrillers and is termed a classic of literature. It gained worldwide fame in 1935 when the book was adapted by visionary film-maker Alfred Hitchcock. Since then it has been remade several times, most notably in the 1978 film starring Robert Powell. A game version can certainly bring something new to the tale, although what this is remains to be seen.

The Thirty Nine Steps is slated for release in Spring 2012.