"With Every Nerve in a Twitter" [TWIS]

By now most of you have probably heard of Twitter. Between the likes of CNN, Ashton Kutcher, Oprah Winfrey and others using the online service, it's finally made its way into mainstream culture, along with Facebook. Yes, the era of online social networks for Sherlockians is clearly here to stay.

I've mentioned Twitter previously on the blog - as early as March 2007 - but it probably didn't mean anything then. Over the past two and a half years, I've used the service here on the blog and on the BSI Weekend site to provide short, real-time updates of what's gone on during the festivities (and I'll continue to do so).

Here's an interesting phenomenon: as part of the mainstreaming of Twitter, the service becomes a barometer of what's being done and said in popular culture at any given moment. There are "trending topics" that are the most popular, but you can also search the service for pretty much any phrase. As you can imagine, with the advent of the new film, the public's awareness of Sherlock Holmes is greater than ever, and services like Twitter are helping to play a part of the dissemination of conversation.

You may have noticed that the right rail of this site has a section called "Every Nerve in a Twitter." This is a widget I've set up that captures every mention of Sherlock Holmes on Twitter. Watch it for a few moments as it continuously updates. Much as the Canon has never been out of print, it seems that "Sherlock Holmes" never leaves the collective conversation of millions of people around the world.

If you'd like to set up a similar widget on your site, just go to http://twitter.com and click on "Goodies" at the bottom. From there, select "Widgets" and select the option that works for you. I used the "Search" widget. From there, you can build and customize your own to share information about the corner of the world that's important to you.

Oh, and if you're interested in following related people, entities and characters on Twitter, you might check out these folks: @S_Holmes, @Dr_Watson, @Prof_Moriarty, @JohnHWatsonMD, @MaryRussell, @221BBakerTweet, @holmesnews.

Do you know of any other characters or fun entities to follow? Drop their names in the comment section and I'll gladly add them to a list.

"Now, That Shows Real Application" [STOC]

The latest multimedia news related to Sherlock Holmes to cross my inbox is that of a new iPhone application called The Sherlock Holmes Guide to London.

For those unaware of the technology, Apple's iPhone and iPod Touch both allow downloads of applications (which users call "apps") to add to the functionality of the devices. Apps can range from the sublime to the ridiculous, but many have practical uses. There are a variety of Sherlock Holmes iPhone apps, but most are simply electronic versions of the stories. In this case, the Sherlock Holmes Guide to London app provides tours of landmarks that would be of interest to Sherlockians, including Canonical locations.

There are plenty of photographs of the locations and attractions. For example, the first 40 locations from Leicester Square to Baker Street cover four miles and include walking directions as well as Tube stops and other transportation.

I highly recommend this app for anyone who has a passing interest in Holmes, whether or not you plan to be in London. The $2.99 download price is a little higher than the entry-level free or $0.99 app, but in my opinion, it's worth the extra money for the practicality, if not the novelty of the program.

Download the Sherlock Holmes iPhone application here:

Created with Admarket's flickrSLiDR.

A tip of the old deerstalker to Charles Prepolec and the Societe Sherlock Holmes de France.

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What Remains for You? [SIGN]

For those of you who remember the 1960s, you may recall a television series produced by the BBC that starred Douglas Wilmer, BSI ("The Lyceum Theatre") and then Peter Cushing, each with Nigel Stock as their Watson.

Unfortunately, only five episodes remain for us, as the BBC eliminated the originals some years ago. However, there seems to be a silver lining. A few years ago, these were made available on video. Now it seems that they're available on DVD. You can pre-order your set from Amazon right now and save 25%.

The episodes you'll find on this 3-DVD set include:

The Hound of the Baskervilles

The Sign of Four

A Study in Scarlet

The Blue Carbuncle

The Boscombe Valley Mystery

The DVD is due to be released on December 15. Hopefully they'll expedite shipping in time for Christmas. Other Sherlock Holmes DVDs can be found below as well.

Hat-tip: Charles Prepolec, of Sherlock Holmes News - another blog worthy of checking out (and incidentally listed in the "This Is a Case for Langdale Pike" section of the sidebar of this site).

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"It Is a Bust in Wax" [EMPT]

News today comes from London that Madam Tussaud's, the famous emporium of wax figures that is just steps away from Sherlock Holmes' residence on Baker Street, will unveil a statue of Robert Downey, Jr. as Holmes this holiday season to coincide with the release of the new film.

Madame Tussauds Studios London has been making wax figures for over 150 years. Each masterpiece takes four months, and a team of 20 dedicated sculptors, to create. According to the release, the wax figure will be revealed on Boxing Day. The creative team used information and over 300 precise measurements gathered at a sitting with Downey Jr. in Los Angeles and cost £150,000 to create.

This updated Holmes, according to Madam Tussaud's, is a "strikingly modern image created for the film, with a penetrating stare, tousled hair and dapper black and grey suit, waistcoat and cravat." Because we all know how Holmes is known for his tousled hair. ;-)

For those of you in London for the holidays, you can pre-order your tickets. Prices to Madame Tussauds are from £12.50 for adults and children (4-15 inclusive) when you pre-book at www.madametussauds.com/London. Priority access tickets can also be booked on 0871 894 3000.

If you do see it, we here at the Baker Street Blog would appreciate some photos.

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"Many Thanks to You" [NAVA]

Today was the Thanksgiving holiday in the United States, and accordingly, many of us spent time with family, friends and other loved ones sharing a meal and giving thanks for what has been afforded us.

I was listening to a simple, yet moving piece: Aaron Copland's suite from the film Our Town. The 1940 movie brought to life Thornton Wilder's classic play, which highlighted the importance of appreciating the little things in life and demonstrated that even a small town isn't completely immune from the influence of the rest of the world.

"It goes so fast. We don't have time to look at one another."

The quote is from "Our Town," but it can apply to our busy lives today just the same. With so much happening, we should remember to take stock of who we are, where we came from, and who helps us be the people we are in our respective communities. And to recognize that our communities are far-reaching - well beyond our geographic location.

So thank you to all of my faithful readers. The last year or so has seen me neglect this fine blog for a while. I'm hoping to return to my roots and spend more time here, as well as to make a return to the podcasting world.

In the meantime, to show my thanks, here's a link to some amazing deals being had on Amazon right now as part of the post-Thanksgiving shopping fest known as Black Friday. Please feel free to browse and enjoy as you prepare for the coming holiday season.

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"Funds of the Society Were Raised" [REDC]

For some years now, the Baker Street Irregulars have made the Dr. John H. Watson Fund available to all Sherlockians (BSI membership is not required) who wish to travel to New York for the annual Baker Street Irregulars weekend but who may not be able to afford to otherwise attend.

The Watson Fund is a self-exhausting fund - that is, each year the fund is depleted and kindly souls make cash donations in order to replenish it for the following year. Outright cash donations are collected, but there's also an annual raffle as well. Usually a high-value item is donated as the raffle prize and money is raised in that fashion. In addition, there's an auction held on Saturday afternoon at the BSI Annual Reception each year. It's always lively and includes a live auction of many additional items, with the proceeds going to the Watson Fund.

This year, in order to pique some interest early, the BSI is previewing some of the items up for auction. Please have a look at the Baker Street Journal page with the featured auction items. There you'll find the following:

1. Five medals from the Curious Collectors of Baker Street
2. A medical school diploma signed by Joseph Bell's father
3. Pillow commemorating "The Abbey Grange"
4. A fine Madeira with glasses and a book on wine

The significance of each of these items, as well as photographs of them can be found on the BSJ site. You must be present to bid on the items in New York, or you may send a proxy in your place.

Happy bidding!

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"The Irregulars Are Useful Sometimes" [RETI]

Peter Blau always has his finger on the pulse of what's happening in the Sherlockian world. Indeed, it has been said that "If Peter doesn't know about it, it isn't happening." With the proliferation of online content thanks to self-service blogs, social networks and the like, it's easier than ever for the multitude to create their own homage to the Great Detective. Of course, it's also more difficult to track.

Indeed, Holmes himself realized the folly of trying to track the steam launch Aurora when we was on the trail of Jonathan Small and Tonga in The Sign of Four:

"My dear fellow, it would be a colossal task. She may have touched at any wharf on either side of the stream between here and Greenwich. Below the bridge there is a perfect labyrinth of landing-places for miles. It would take you days and days to exhaust them if you set about it alone."

As in A Study in Scarlet, his solution was to employ the "Baker Street division of the detective police force" - the irregulars:

"There's more work to be got out of one of those little beggars than out of a dozen of the force," Holmes remarked. "The mere sight of an official-looking person seals men's lips. These youngsters, however, go everywhere, and hear everything. They are as sharp as needles, too; all they want is organization."

Peter's role within the Baker Street Irregulars is as our secretary, but as part of his own initiatives, he publishes the monthly Scuttlebutt from the Spermaceti Press, which contains all the information, gossip and current events that he finds interesting. [Side note: in the past, I've included a summary of links that he produces in his newsletter (I haven't quite had the time of late).] It's worth at least following online, if not subscribing to via mail.

One of the items that Peter has kindly passed on is information about a new blog for the Sherlock Holmes movie, appropriately called the Sherlock Holmes Movie Blog. There are some interesting links there worth checking out - including a Sherlock Holmes movie online community, created in the Ning platform. This is the same platform that is behind the Sherlock Holmes Social Network, which is flourishing with over 350 members at last count.

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"Back to London Again!" [HOUN]

Part of the allure of the Sherlock Holmes stories is how Conan Doyle managed to fuse his writings with the city and countryside that was familiar to his readers. More than creating real, sympathetic, and heroic characters that Strand Magazine readers could envision, Doyle placed them in locations that were well known and familiar, thus setting the stage for a melding of reality and fiction that's sometimes difficult to discern even to this day.

Over at the Londonist, they've mapped out all of the London locations in the stories and created a custom map to show and describe each one. According to the map, there are 206 locations marked, including:

- 3 Pinchin Lane - where Watson collected Tobey [SIGN]

- 7 Pope's Court - the location of the Red-Headed League [REDH]

- Alpha Inn - the location of the "goose club" [BLUE]

And they note what each marker signifies:

Key: Green = precise location; red = imprecise location; purple = real-world Holmes-related sites; blue line = route taken by Holmes. Page numbers refer to those in the Folio Society edition.

Another interesting resource is from Google Books, which has taken the locations mentioned in The Complete Sherlock Holmes (Volume 1)and created a worldwide Google map at the bottom of the page.

For other reading related to this subject, you might check out In the Footsteps of Sherlock Holmes and The Sherlock Holmes Walk.

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"An Exact Knowledge of London" [REDH]

Everyone seems to be capitalizing on the press around the new Sherlock Holmes film. There's nothing wrong with that; as Holmes himself once said, "The Press, Watson, is a most valuable institution, if you only know how to use it." [SIXN]

In that case, Holmes and Watson turned to the very victim of a crime for coverage - Horace Harker was a member of the Central Press Syndicate, and a murder was committed on his very doorstep. Holmes used that opportunity to have Mr. Harker write up a sensational piece about the murder, instructing Lestrade:

"Tell him from me that I have quite made up my mind, and that it is certain that a dangerous homicidal lunatic with Napoleonic delusions was in his house last night. It will be useful for his article."

The result was a piece that ran exactly as Holmes predicted, giving the suspect a false sense of security and thus luring him into striking again.

This time around, it's VisitBritain, Britain's national tourism agency. They've cleverly designed a really nice site that highlights locations around the U.K. which were used in the filming of Guy Ritchie's soon to be released cinematic marvel.

The sites that are on the list include: St. Paul's Cathedral, Albert Docks, Manchester Town Hall, Brompton Cemetery, Freemasons Hall, and the Royal Naval dockyard. In addition to those locations, there are a number of other locations that have Canonical connections as well - including filming locations of "The Greek Interpreter," "The Abbey Grange," "The Speckled Band," and more (can you match the manor house / estate to the TV film?). The site is definitely worth checking out.

And you can even book yourself at the Radisson Edwardian Hotel - although I'm sure you get more modern amenities as part of the experience.

In addition to providing a little extra attention to our literary interests, this movie may spur some additional tourism money being spread around. Not bad, given the current state of the economy. And bravo to VisitBritain for being so on top of things!

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"A Great Convenience" [COPP]

Just when you thought the marketing of the new Sherlock Holmes film couldn't get any more deeply woven into our daily grid, comes news of another tie-in, but this time from an unlikely source: the chain of 7-Eleven convenience stores.

Karl Greenberg of MediaPost's MarketingDaily reports on the 'elementary' cross-promotion, including in-store elements and a social media portion - the Facebook game mentioned previously here.

From the food and beverage area inside the stores to the fuel pumps outside, the images of Robert Downey Jr. as Holmes and Jude Law as Watson will be watching patrons' every step. Clever (ahem) phrases will be strewn about, such as "Hunger Solved," "Killer Duo," "It's No Mystery," "Grab Our Killer Deal" and "Get a Clue," will promote various food and beverage sales.

According to Greenberg, "the branded coffee-cup sleeves contain a clue and the URL to the 7-Eleven microsite, wherein players who successfully complete a fingerprint-matching game will get clues to a mystery, the solution of which offers up the film's opening scene and a hint to the 7-Eleven promotional partnership with Warner Bros. Pictures."

One interesting side-note: one of the clues to the game is a vintage newspaper that features a front-page ad for "Joe C. Thompson's Coffee Emporium - Open from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m." One Mr. Joe C. Thompson Jr. founded The Southland Ice Company in 1927, which later went on to become none other than 7-Eleven.

You can see my other posts on the interactive game here:

"The Game's Afoot" [ABBE]

"I Knew the Game Was in My Own Hands" [STUD]

And all coverage of the movie on this blog can be found by clicking here.

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"The Game's Afoot" [ABBE]

You may recall that I recently wrote about the new online game that supports the new Sherlock Holmes movie.

Here's a trailer that helps tease it a little more:

Have you joined yet? Click here to get started.

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"Equal to the Task" [SHOS]

News today via the BBC indicates that veteran actor Edward Woodward has died in Cornwall.

He was known on the small screen for secret agent Callanand later the cult classic The Equalizer, Woodward brought a grittiness and panache to the roles he inhabited in the spy and mystery worlds. Sherlockians may remember Woodward (and his intrepid toupee) as he took a turn as Sherlock Holmes in the 1990 made-for-television movie Hands Of A Murderer, with John Hillerman as his Watson and Anthony Andrews as Professor Moriarty. Interesting casting, to be sure.

The plot revolved around Moriarty escaping the gallows and kidnapping Mycroft Holmes in order to discern some state secrets. Add to that a femme fatale who specialized in hypnotism and, well... you've got a CBS television movie. It actually did quite well in the ratings when it first aired, achieving a 9.5 rating with a 15 share, according to the January 1994 issue of Scuttlebutt from the Spermaceti Press.

Of note was that it was written by Charles Edward Pogue, who also penned the television movies The Hound of the Baskervilles and Sherlock Holmes - The Sign of Four which starred Ian Richardson. Both of those are highly recommended.

Whether or not his time beneath the deerstalker was a success or a failure, we do have to hand it to Woodward for passing away in a Canonical fashion, "in peaceful Cornwall." [DEVI]

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"For Which My Friend Existed" [VALL]

You know your hobby is more than a hobby when the general public is interested. The fact that 221B Baker Street has been receiving letters since Conan Doyle's time and that children today still ask the same question is testament to the longevity and realism of Sherlock Holmes.

The Straight Dope, a myth-busting website whose motto is "Fighting Ingorance Since 1973 (It's taking longer than we thought)" published this question on April 8, 2008:

Did Sherlock Holmes really exist?

The author goes on to answer the question in great detail, examining how the stories came about and the cult that grew around them, including the seminal work on Sherlockian scholarship, Father Ronald Knox's "Studies in the Literature of Sherlock Holmes," which is embedded here for your benefit. Feel free to browse, download, print or otherwise share this document.

Studies in the Literature of Sherlock Holmes - Ronald Knox

Along the way the columnis heartily recommends some reading, namely: The Complete Sherlock Holmes, which contains all of the original Canonical stories and The Annotated Sherlock Holmes by William S. Baring Gould. Of course, these days, we'd recommend The New Annotated Sherlock Holmes by Leslie Klinger instead.

Feel free to make some of these selections below from Amazon - make it a very Sherlockian Christmas or other winter holiday for yourself or those you love.

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"Passed Along the London Road" [SIGN]

One of my favorite phrases as it relates to the Sherlock Holmes stories is from Edgar Smith's early Baker Street Journal essay in which he wrote:

We love the times in which he lived, of course, the half-remembered, half-forgotten times of snug Victorian illusion, of gaslit comfort and contentment, of perfect dignity and grace. And we love the place: the England of those times, fat with the fruits of her achievements, but strong and daring still with the spirit of imperial adventure.

Here then is a remarkable piece of video footage from 1927 - the year the last Sherlock Holmes story was first published - taking us on a tour through London in colour. What's particularly striking to me is that despite the obviously dated vehicles in the film, this is footage that could have been shot yesterday, as the buildings, uniforms, and daily activities of its inhabitants are all very much the same.

From the YouTube posting:

London is the last stop in an epic trip across Britain filmed in remarkable early colour.

London was the final stop in a marathon journey around Britain filmed as a series of cinema travelogues. Pioneering filmmaker Claude Friese-Greene brought these picture-postcard scenes to life with a specially-devised colour film process.

Is there anything that strikes you about this video? Leave a comment and share your impressions.

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"A Certain Annual Sum" [SPEC]

It's hard to believe that it's been nearly a year since the last Baker Street Irregulars Weekend. An 2009 has been quite a year, for those not following along. From "Wiggins" annual letter:

The BSI Weekend was followed in early May by "Arthur Conan Doyle: A Sesquicentennial Assessment", a conference at Harvard University honoring ACD's 150th birthday and an exhibition "Ever Westward" at Harvard's Houghton Library which displayed unique items pertaining to Doyle, the BSI and the Speckled Band scion society whose own archives have resided at the Houghton for many decades. The occasion was also a celebration of The Baker Street Irregulars' Archives and the exhibition displayed rare BSI material never before seen by most of the participants. Springtime in Cambridge was a memorable venue and the participants enjoyed superior speakers and a highly entertaining wrap-up banquet with a lively musical program consisting of early 20th-century Sherlockian sheet music loaned by Dan Posnansky, organized by the Al and Julie Rosenblatt with Henry Boote, the BSI's Musical Director, and performed by Henry, Betsy Rosenblatt, Jim Saunders and Scott Monty.

On September 25th a symposium, "The Remarkable Characters of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle", was held and filled to capacity, with attendees from coast to coast, at Indiana University's Lilly Library. The symposium was jointly sponsored by the Friends of the Lilly Library and The Illustrious Clients of Indianapolis. This was an event focused on Sherlock Holmes and other major and minor characters in the Doyle Canon to make the case that ACD's characters compared very favorably to those of his more acclaimed contemporaries. Paired with the conference was a fine exhibition of material from the Lilly's Sherlockian and Doylean collections, including the manuscript of The Red Circle and The Final Problem fragment. The speakers were outstanding and scholarly, and impressed our Lilly hosts and other academicians in attendance.

The last major event in the U. S. in this anniversary year was the running of the Silver Blaze in Chicago on October 31st to celebrate the BSI's 75th anniversary year and the 50th running of the Chicago Silver Blaze. The race day was followed by the traditional BSI brunch and program the next day. 2009 has been quite a celebratory year to savor.... enjoy it while it lasts!

When you add to that the new movie that debuts later this year, it may well signify a resurgence in our little hobby.

But, with the annual letter from our leader comes the announcement of the BSI Weekend festivities which occur in New York in January of each year. If you've never attended, it's the highlight of the year for many Sherlock Holmes enthusiasts - an opportunity for about 300 of us to gather in one place, rekindle old friendships, create new ones, and celebrate our common interest.

As with the past few years, you'll be able to find all of the information relevant to the BSI Weekend available at http://www.bsiweekend.com, from maps to a reservation form, to details on every single event.

I hope to be able to see you there!

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"His Latest Exploit" [HOUN]

As Christmas Day closes in, we're seeing additional trailers for the new movie. Warner Bros. is getting very aggressive in their approach and advertising it in very prominent places, such as on television during the World Series and even during a "Family Guy" special.

Here's the latest version of the trailer:

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"I Knew the Game Was in My Own Hands" [STUD]

I was recently notified of a new promotion for the upcoming film Sherlock Holmes, which integrates the social networking site Facebook as part of a game. Hey, while we're at it, please consider becoming a fan of the Baker Street Blog on Facebook.

According to Adverblog, if you go to the game website (the conveniently chosen URL is www.221b.sh), you'll have an opportunity to sign up and "hire" a Facebook friend to help you out as Watson and start playing. The underlying text reads:

"When the game begins, every Holmes needs his Watson - who will be yours? Sign up today to play 221B and unravel the mystery to play the most exciting game this year."

Presumably, it looks something like this:

However, I just visited the site and discovered that they must still be working out the final details, as I get the message: "We are readying ourselves. We suggest you follow a similar course of action and return here shortly."

Should be pretty interesting. I'll try to keep up with the developments. In the meantime, you might consider becoming a fan of the movie on Facebook as well: http://facebook.com/SherlockHolmes.

UPDATE:

Since publishing the post this morning, the site has gone live. Here's a shot of what it looks like now:

You're then asked to choose which character you'd like to be:

In order to determine whether you're Holmes or Watson, you'll need to answer these qusetions:

1. When solving problems, I prefer to:

a) Go with my instinct.

b) Analyze the facts.

2. In a fight, I am more likely to:

a) Punch you. Hard.

b) Punch you. Scientifically.

3. I prefer to spend my time:

a) Learning new things.

b) Socializing with friends.

4. If a lady burst into tears in my presence I would...

a) Try to comfort her.

b) Leave.

5. When something confuses me, I

a) Seek further information.

b) I am never confused.

Here's my result:

Then you're given an opportunity to choose your partner - for Watson, the site suggestions "someone on whom you can thoroughly rely."

There is an FAQ about the game available here and reprinted below for your convenience:

What is 221b?
221B is a two-player game immersing you into the world of Sherlock Holmes and Dr.John Watson. 221B takes you through the events leading up to the very first scene of the new Sherlock Holmes film.

How do I play?
You can play with a friend, one as Holmes, one as Watson, or you can even play alone if you like, taking on the role of both characters. Just as in the stories, you and your friend will investigate crimes, sift through evidence and solve mysteries. You'll also have to stake your reputation as detectives on your deductions. Get them right and you'll soon be the envy of Scotland Yard.

What does the game look like?
The game is played through an ordinary internet browser, which we recommend setting to full screen(F11 will toggle fullscreen on and off). It's no ordinary web game - as you'll discover when you sign up, it's a rich audiovisual experience. There are two main areas: an interactive window, and a casebook, which stores all the evidence that you discover as you progress.

How do I sign up?
You'll need a Facebook account to play the game. There is a registration process which uses the Facebook Connect system to link you with a friend, so that you can start playing.

What will I have to do?
The most important thing you have to do is work together. You can't solve the mysteries unless you and your partner share information and ideas. Practically speaking, you'll be...
- reading evidence - witness statements, newspaper reports, letters - that unfold the mystery
- observing key characters - Inspector Lestrade and others appear at the start and end of each chapter, to share important things with you
- investigating locations in the game and collecting evidence you find there
- interviewing characters who you meet in the game
- chasing suspects, breaking into secure locations, and following trails.

Will I have time to do all of this?
221B is designed for busy people so the game fits around your life, not the other way around. If you get stuck, or if you just want to hurry up and find out what happens next, then there is always a way to take a shortcut and move on. Much of the game is designed in bite-size chunks, so you'll always be able to play on a little, even if you only have a short break.

How long does the whole thing take?
The game is played out in a prologue and eight chapters, each with its own mystery to solve. You will be notified by email when each new chapter is available. Once a chapter has launched, you can complete it as fast or as slow as you like. How long it takes depends on how serious you are as detectives. If you read every piece of evidence carefully, sift through all the options, and talk a lot, it might take you a couple of hours to play through the most complex chapter. If you get the game to help you a lot, and bust through everything at high speed, then around half an hour.

Does it matter if I miss a week?
Not at all! The game remembers how far you've got so that if you take a break from the game you can just pick up where you left off. If you start later than other people or fall behind, you can play through all the chapters that have been released until you catch up with the group.

Should I play as Holmes or Watson?
In the original stories by Arthur Conan Doyle - and in the movie - Watson is a man of action and intelligence. Holmes relies on him for many things. The game reflects Holmes and Watson's magnificent partnership; both players have a great deal to accomplish, and one cannot succeed without the other.

There are different journeys for both detectives - when you sign up to the game, you'll be quizzed as to which one we think you should play. But don't take our word for it - read the stories, talk to your partner, and decide for yourself.

Who should I choose to play this game with?
Someone who you like talking to, preferably, as you're going to need to share a lot with your partner to solve the mysteries. As the game is played online, they can be from anywhere in world.

The friend I signed up to play is out of contact for a week or two. What can I do?
You can either:
- wait for them to come back and pick up where you left off,
- kick them out of the partnership and carry on alone or,
- sign up another friend to play on with. It's up to you.

What technology do I need to play this game?
To complete the 221B experience you'll need: Microsoft Silverlight, Facebook Connect and Flash. When you sign up to the game, we'll offer you a one-off download for everything you need.

Are you going to spam my Facebook status updates like certain other games I've played before?
No. You will be able to share your sleuthing exploits with your Facebook friends, but it's always your choice. We will never automatically update your newsfeed from the game.

Personally, I think this is an extremely creative and engaging way to promote the movie - and more importantly - to welcome Mr. Sherlock Holmes to the 21st century. I hope those who are connected via the Web get a chance to see what we bibliophilic Sherlockians have been raving about for many years.

Oh, and my Watson? Thoroughly reliable. And he's got a mustache - even if it does make him look more like Poirot. :-)

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