I love Nancy Drew and Hardy boys and grew up with the characters  and now I love “Midsummer Murders’ , CSI, Numbers , you name it. There was a time when I even subscribed to Astro’s Crime Investigation,  the British and American edition . I find it fascinating to go through the motions of crime solving and understanding the criminal minds. The criminal mind for me  gives  great insights to everyday people on a greatly, greatly reduced scale of intent. It fascinates me how often crime is “facilitated” by victims themselves  by just not paying enough attention to details of course clever criminal minds may master mind meticulously every detail but to not be a victim, do your own due diligence by being careful like don’t leave keys inside cars at  a workshop for instance.

Now , Crime and Investigation Network has brought crime  investigation closer to home with three new shows. Haven’t you ever wondered what it would be like to  know what really happened  when  it happened, to be right smack in the action?

CRIME 360

The new AXN  Crime Investigation channel series CRIME  360 attempts to give insights into actual investigations as they unfold…visit www.citvasia.com, taking viewers into the real work of solving crimes using high tech 3 D solutions. It is like watching CSI but from the inside. You, the viewer  become part of the investigation right from the onset of the show. You will get to experience the crime scene from every angle, and the evidence at microscopic level. As the case develops and the theories change, graphics will evolve culminating in a full blown visualization of what really happened. There is also a web-bnased interactive game called Informer103, to challenge gamers to help solve  a crime  through the call to action, “R u game”? This highly evolved game really challenges the gamers as it is an alternate reality game (ARG) that incorporates real world experiences such as social networking sites, blogs and a dedicated YOUTube channel.

The whole idea is to give an enhance brand experience for a TV channel, which means that TV is no longer  a passive activity, relegated to the ranks of an “idiot box” because the whole experience is really more “holistic” and in tune with the turn of technology and the online future; it has since  graduated from one box to the next.

This show is on Monday nights at 10pm, Astro Channel 732.

Hmm, now that DR.HOUSE is in  a psychiatric ward (last episode cliffhanger)…maybe I should help solve some crimes meantime…

CI Asia

Then there is the Crime Investigation Asia, CI ASIA in short,another interesting program block. This show, consisting of 6 true crime stories in Asia, will be re-enacted to show the “true” circumstances of the cases. The first 3 stories are   directed and produced by local producers like Naguib Razak, Gerard Benedict and Lydia Lubon. Famous and sensational cases cases in Malaysia like the Jean Perera:The Beauty Queen Murder case ; Spellbound:Crimes of The Mind (Pukau), and Al Maunah: The Malaysian Arms Heist, are reopened. Hear from the detectives and police who tracked down the criminals, the forensic scientists who studied the evidence , the witnesses who testified and families and friends who grieved in this riveting crime stories. It is definitely a fresh perspective as TV crime shows like this  has never happened before for Asia, and I hope they stay as true to the case with no sensationalization as possible.

A scene from PUKAU: Be careful when strangers ask for help: a handphone or a touch can be haev hypnotizing effect , not the type you want!

A scene from Ex Beauty Queen Murder: Did her lover take her life?

Al Maunah: Biggest Heist in Malaysia?

As we know it certain accused suspects are still walking free today  despite all the evidence or lack thereof …now you get a chance to “investigate ” on your own and from your own verdict. Guilty or Not Guilty  and just how did they pulled it off…

Watch these special three premier  on CI Astro Channel 732, at 9pm every Sunday night from 6th December to 20th December 2009.

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