With all eyes on Germany this week for the Games Convention in Leipzig, the biggest adventure news in recent memory comes quietly from a most unexpected source. More specifically, from Chris Jones and Aaron Conners, creators of the beloved Tex Murphy series, who have now provided Adventure Gamers with the first details of their brand new adventure, Three Cards to Midnight.

To the initial (but short-lived) chagrin of longtime Tex fans, the new game is not another adventure for the affable private detective. In fact, Three Cards to Midnight will feature a female lead in a modern day adventure whose "tone and style pay homage to classic episodes of The Twilight Zone." With the same emphasis on deep, intriguing storylines as their earlier titles, Jones and Conners are promising a game that shares a structural similarity to The Usual Suspects, as "the story is revealed by unlocking flashbacks which come together to form a compelling narrative tapestry."

While little has been revealed about the gameplay at this point, Three Cards to Midnight should share many of the same distinctive qualities we've come to expect from the acclaimed developers. According to Conners, the game will feature multiple levels of difficulty, a non-linear structure, and a variety of gameplay elements that will "offer excellent replayability and a unique experience for everyone who plays."

Along with the first game details, the pair have also released a teaser which can be streamed directly or downloaded from the forums at the Unofficial Tex Murphy website. The dark, atmospheric trailer shows no in-game footage, but hints of its "story of lost memories" that can only be resolved through a sequence of tarot cards.

As if the news of a new Jones/Conners game isn't cause enough for celebration, better yet is the fact that Three Cards to Midnight is already well along in development, and the team is "confident" it will be ready for release some time in November. Looking even farther ahead, the game is only the first in what the developers hope will be an ongoing game franchise.

Although not yet currently active, we've been told that the official website will go online in early September, with more trailers and an interactive demo leading up to its November release. Adventure Gamers will also have an upcoming interview for more details, but in the meantime, Chris Jones and Aaron Conners will be guests next week at a call-in interview on Blog Talk Radio at AlternativeReel.com, where they'll answer questions about the new title and their storied careers.