I am of two minds regarding Byzantine: The Betrayal. Initially, the fuzzy photographs, lousy acting, and mediocre writing turned me off. And the game's gimmick - in which you must tour virtual reconstructions of historical locations - seemed a bit weak. But as I continued my way through this murder mystery with its hi-tech angle and foreign intrigue, it began to grow on me. Not enough to get an unqualified endorsement, but enough to recommend it to those looking for a challenging and informative adventure. You play a journalist who travels to Istanbul to help a college buddy solve a potentially dangerous mystery. You arrive only to be met by local police who say your friend is not as innocent as you think and that by implication you are under suspicion of smuggling valuable archaeological artifacts out of Turkey. The cops let you off with an admonition to keep your nose clean and out of their business which, of course, you ignore by immediately rummaging through your friend's apartment. Gameplay ta
