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Netflix Launches New 'Interactive Shows' That Let Viewers Dictate the Story (thenextweb.com)

Posted by BeauHD on from the viewers-in-charge dept.

Netflix announced that it's launching an all-new interactive format that turns viewers in storytellers, letting them dictate each choice and direction the story takes. "In each interactive title, you can make choices for the characters, shaping the story as you go," according to Netflix. "Each choice leads to a different adventure, so you can watch again and again, and see a new story each time." The Next Web reports: The first two interactive shows that will be available on Netflix are Puss in Book: Trapped in an Epic Tale and Buddy Thunderstruck: The Maybe Pile. Puss in Book launches globally today, with Buddy Thunderstruck slated to make its debut a month from now on July 14. The new experience will be available on most television setups and iOS devices. "Content creators have a desire to tell non-linear stories like these, and Netflix provides the freedom to roam, try new things and do their best work," Product Innovation director Carla Fisher said. "The intertwining of our engineers in Silicon Valley and the creative minds in Hollywood has opened up this new world of storytelling possibilities." Fisher further added that, for the time being, the streaming service will be mainly focusing its efforts on producing interactive content for children -- especially since their research has shown that they already tend to be prone to interacting with the screen.

4 of 104 comments (clear)

  1. Not a new concept by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Insightful

    The BBC produced about 20 of this type of show between 2001 and 2008, using two broadcast video streams, within their 'Red Button' interactive TV service on Freeview and Sky. It stopped eventually because of the cost of producing vs the low viewership. Here's a blog from 2008 about it http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/pressred/2008/07/under-the-bonnet-the-two-stream-quiz.shtml

    1. Re:Not a new concept by ledow · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Angry Birds wasn't a new concept either.
      Occasionally, someone does jump on these things and make them work properly.

      Personally, I think the problem is that you want me to interact. If I'm watching TV it's because I *don't* want to interact.

    2. Re:Not a new concept by gnick · · Score: 3, Insightful

      If I'm watching TV it's because I *don't* want to interact.

      Me either, but I'm guessing we're both adults. From my in-depth examination of the summary, I don't think this is aimed at adults. Children have different motivations watching TV. I would have loved to make a couple of choices for the Thundercats or show Big Bird that I was paying attention.

      --
      He's getting rather old, but he's a good mouse.
  2. All hail the illiterate by GrumpySteen · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Apparently the Choose Your Own Adventure books were just too damn difficult for some people, so we're remaking them as movies.