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It seems like Netflix is thinking the same way. Their "Bandersnatch" Black Mirror special (released recently) has a choose-your-own adventure interactivity to

It seems like Netflix is thinking the same way. Their "Bandersnatch" Black Mirror special (released recently) has a choose-your-own adventure interactivity to it. I'd consider it a spiritual successor to the books. https://mashable.com/article/black-mirror-bandersnatch-review/ https://mashable.com/article/black-mirror-bandersnatch-revie...

52-6F-62 8y ago
I just “watched” this the other day and it was my first thought upon seeing this thread. Definitely apropos for HN
- pilsetnieks 8y ago
  It's probably what prompted posting a year old article to HN.
kej 8y ago
They did this for an episode of the Shrek spinoff Puss in Boots series, as well.
naravara 8y ago
This seems like a good direction to modernize some old types of games that kind of disappeared. Those live action games, like “Night Trap” or the Monkey Island type point and click adventures would benefit a lot from radial/branching stories instead of the more bland spot the difference, visual puzzles, or timing based challenges of the originals.
davedx 8y ago
Off topic, but it also has a nifty easter egg in it - the Spectrum loading code actually works... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UBJNXzfZ4pw https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UBJNXzfZ4pw
plorg 8y ago
I assumed this article was either or written by someone watching or reading about the episode. It seemed nearly impossible to not know about it in the internet world I inhabit. For what it's worth, I understood the genesis of that project to be in the series creator's mind, that it was then brought to Netflix who developed a system to accommodate the project. From what I've read I imagine the CYOA conceit leads to the the same kind of tradeoffs relative to more linear storytelling as in the books. The story ends up serving the structure, and the necessity of generating more content leads to a decrease in attention paid to to the stor[y,ies] as a whole. And there's nothing exactly wrong with that, I guess, since many pieces of art are dominated by structure over content. In particular, the interactivity leads to better engagement with the viewer, and may be used to explore concepts such as free will. Or it can allow there creator or viewer to engage in solipsism. Or it can just be a cheap gimmick that gains attention (clicks, hours of user engagement, sales, etc.).
- tialaramex 8y ago
  I don't know for sure, but I don't think Bandersnatch drove the Netflix interactivity work, rather vice versa. Charlie Brooker (whose previous work includes reviewing video games and TV shows, both of which underpin aspects of Bandersnatch, not least the name itself) is an obvious choice for Netflix to approach to see if this has wings, because if Brooker can't do anything with it, then it's not going to come off any better in someone else's hands. Also the Black Mirror anthology style means a misstep is easily forgiven / forgotten by fans. If you hate "San Junipero" (you are a weird person and don't deserve love) that doesn't taint "Nosedive" or "White Bear". If you found "Shut Up And Dance" too awful to think about, you can enjoy "Hang The DJ" or "The National Anthem" despite that. If "Bandersnatch" failed it wouldn't change anything else, at worst fans would be annoyed that time was wasted filming for Bandersnatch instead of some other episode. Netflix had previously landed several less important interactive works in 2018, such as Puss in Boots, before attempting Bandersnatch. And this approach is effective at reducing bootlegging - there aren't existing tools that let "pirates" make an interactive video, so if you want the actual experience you'll be stumping up for Netflix. That means it helps underpin their financials.
- philistine 8y ago

52-6F-62 8y ago

I just “watched” this the other day and it was my first thought upon seeing this thread. Definitely apropos for HN

pilsetnieks 8y ago
It's probably what prompted posting a year old article to HN.

kej 8y ago

They did this for an episode of the Shrek spinoff Puss in Boots series, as well.

naravara 8y ago

This seems like a good direction to modernize some old types of games that kind of disappeared. Those live action games, like “Night Trap” or the Monkey Island type point and click adventures would benefit a lot from radial/branching stories instead of the more bland spot the difference, visual puzzles, or timing based challenges of the originals.

davedx 8y ago

Off topic, but it also has a nifty easter egg in it - the Spectrum loading code actually works... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UBJNXzfZ4pw https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UBJNXzfZ4pw

plorg 8y ago

I assumed this article was either or written by someone watching or reading about the episode. It seemed nearly impossible to not know about it in the internet world I inhabit. For what it's worth, I understood the genesis of that project to be in the series creator's mind, that it was then brought to Netflix who developed a system to accommodate the project. From what I've read I imagine the CYOA conceit leads to the the same kind of tradeoffs relative to more linear storytelling as in the books. The story ends up serving the structure, and the necessity of generating more content leads to a decrease in attention paid to to the stor[y,ies] as a whole. And there's nothing exactly wrong with that, I guess, since many pieces of art are dominated by structure over content. In particular, the interactivity leads to better engagement with the viewer, and may be used to explore concepts such as free will. Or it can allow there creator or viewer to engage in solipsism. Or it can just be a cheap gimmick that gains attention (clicks, hours of user engagement, sales, etc.).

tialaramex 8y ago
I don't know for sure, but I don't think Bandersnatch drove the Netflix interactivity work, rather vice versa. Charlie Brooker (whose previous work includes reviewing video games and TV shows, both of which underpin aspects of Bandersnatch, not least the name itself) is an obvious choice for Netflix to approach to see if this has wings, because if Brooker can't do anything with it, then it's not going to come off any better in someone else's hands. Also the Black Mirror anthology style means a misstep is easily forgiven / forgotten by fans. If you hate "San Junipero" (you are a weird person and don't deserve love) that doesn't taint "Nosedive" or "White Bear". If you found "Shut Up And Dance" too awful to think about, you can enjoy "Hang The DJ" or "The National Anthem" despite that. If "Bandersnatch" failed it wouldn't change anything else, at worst fans would be annoyed that time was wasted filming for Bandersnatch instead of some other episode. Netflix had previously landed several less important interactive works in 2018, such as Puss in Boots, before attempting Bandersnatch. And this approach is effective at reducing bootlegging - there aren't existing tools that let "pirates" make an interactive video, so if you want the actual experience you'll be stumping up for Netflix. That means it helps underpin their financials.
philistine 8y ago