Check out Caitlin Burns’ review of 221B, the transmedia extension of the Sherlocke Holmes film. It’s over on The Social Robot.
221B is a groundbreaking, immersive game that should be emulated as an example of social media applications, transmedia narrative and interactive gaming.
The story follows eight related cases that Holmes and Watson must solve using clues found in videos, articles, flash games, virtual searches of rooms, and asks players to deduce the solution to cases that lead directly into the mystery the film. The game offers character introductions and “Easter Eggs,” tidbits from the game that the feature film will reference, validating the fans’ participation in the property. The game’s production design is fantastically executed: its aesthetics are beautiful and engrossing, allowing the player to play the game for hours without a jarring exit from the page. Even the branded mini-games from the sponsors are aesthetically and thematically consistent while still getting their brand’s messages across to the targeted consumer.
The social media rollout of Sherlock Holmes is carefully executed (despite the occasional questionable in-store poster for taquitos) the transmedia program has even managed to integrate Twitter. Mrs. Hudson, Holmes’ housekeeper at 221B Baker Street tweets gossip about the cases as they are released and The Society Spy reports on the more tawdry and scandalous news stories of fictional London Society. When one gets over one’s initial aversion to the idea of Victorian characters on Twitter, the narrative bits that are expanded in the twitter feed seem more and more charming. With the help of yet another sponsor, The Tweetdeck Telegram Co. preserves 221B’s aesthetics and once again, shows how a consistently executed production design can bring an audience member into a fictional world.
Congratulations to Sophie Sampson who penned @mrshudsonsdiary.
Has anyone played 221B? I’d love to hear what you think.
Gamer 18548
I was going to play it… then it kept asking me to rope in a friend to play Watson.
I hate Facebook apps that demand I involve my friends, because I have no interest in your Mafia Wars or your Vampire v. Werewolf battle. If I want to play a game, I should choose to do so without requiring to bug my cousins in Houston and my friends from grade school to play as well. So when “221B” demanded I add a friend to the game in order to play it, I clicked off the page and forgot about it. Maybe I missed an option to play alone, but I did not see one.
So I respectfully disagree with Ms. Burns’ review – please do NOT emulate that requirement in transmedia narrative and games!
admin
A similar thing happened to me and prevented me from playing. I did invite a friend, but never got it together to play the game with him.
I did hear that there was a way to play solo, but you are right. This is not an aspect to emulate.
Kelsey
Thanks for the shout-out about The Social Robot! 🙂 I’m glad you liked the article.