Adapting Linear Content toInteractive Games

The Wonderful Wizard of Ozby L. Frank Baum

• A well known brand• Has international appeal• Has a compelling story• Involves strong characters• Is age appropriate• Is available• Has Cross Media potential

Oz – The Magical AdventureThe Challenge

• To create two distinct interactive productsthat appeal to the global market

• Design so can reuse assets, recordings etc

• To make a familiar linear story non linear

• To appeal to either gender

• To have a clear narrative but have agency

• To work for a pre-literate audience

• To be totally replayable

• To be educationally sound

Oz – The Magical AdventureAppealing Characters

Oz – The Magical AdventureAn Immersive World

Oz – The Magical Adventure The Interactive Storybook

• Interactive reader for children age 2-5

• 220 page novel simplified to 16 pages

• 3 levels of reading ability

• Two modes – read to me, read bymyself

• Clickable definitions of key words

• Rich 3D animation

• Clickable animations and audio

• Contents page for easy navigation

• Extras – stationery, invitations

Oz – The Interactive StorybookReading Mode and Level

Oz – The Interactive StorybookContents Page

Oz – The Interactive StorybookEasy Level

Oz – The Interactive StorybookHard Level

Oz – The Interactive StorybookWord Definition

Oz – The Interactive StorybookExtras

Oz – The Magical AdventureCD-Rom Adventure Game

• Quest based game for ages 4-7

• 1st of series of 3 classic adventures

• Rich 3D characters andenvironments

• Play to learn educational approach

• 2 hours play time with tracking

• 3 levels of difficulty

• Replayable activities

• Clickable puzzles and surprises

• Customised certificate to print out

Oz – The Adventure GameGame Narrative

Dorothy has been kidnapped by thewinged monkey and you the player,must rescue her. To do so, you mustcollect the nine jewels that are missingfrom the witch’s medallion, which isthe key to the witch’s castle. To do so,you must play nine educationalactivities and negotiate the world andinteract with the characters of Oz.

Oz – The Adventure GameGame StructureQT Seq

BookTitles

ChooseLevel

QT SeqEC.

QT SeqWizard

GateExit

RegisterName

111QT Seq

YBREC Gate

Entry

131 131

StillImage

Tornado

2111

StillImage

Dorothy

2112

StillImageS’crow

2113

StillImage

Tin Man

2114

StillImageLion

2115

StillImageYBR

2121

WalkdownYBR

2122

WingedMonkey

2123

ThreeWatch

2125

Dorothyand Toto

2124

CUScarecrow

2126

311

GateOpens/Track

3211WS

Wizard

3311

CUScarecrow

3313

CUTin Man

3314

CU Lion

3315

MSWizard

3312

3152

Glinda

2127

Land of the Munchkins

Hub

Wind Vanes

WhirlyFlowers

Juice-A-Rama

ScarletPoppies

Country of the Quadlings

Hub

ItchyBugs

Water Pipes

Toadstool Hop

RockBalance

VolcanoMemory

Hide andSeek

Humm-ing

Bird

DrawBridge

EchoBird

Crossthe Lake

Sun-flower

Raven’sEye Spy

FlyCatcher

Ice Climb

Orch.

7.0Land of the

Winkies(no hub)

4.0 On the Road

Transition Screens

TrickyTrees

VolvanoTunnel

CrossRoads

RowAcross

RopeLadder

341

4612

4611

5112

5111

5311

551

541

CU Screen

561571

581

5211

5212 6111

6112

6211

6212

ViewingTower Winkies

Dorothy

631

651

661

641

741

751

761

6712

6711

7112

7111

Castle QTThree walk up to

Witch’s Door

721

771

8111

7812

7811

4111

4112

4311

4312

4411

4412

451

4513

4515

CU Fire444

UpStairs

QT SeqThe

Tower

Arrival,find

Dorothy

WitchArrives

8312

Medallionin door

DoorOpens

Witch’s Castle Door

81138112 8211Hall toTower

8214

8311

QT SeqWitch’sDefeat

WitchMelts

Scarecrow

with Hat

8316

8314

QT SeqReturnto EC

CUWizard

913

Wizardtells

qualities

Order ofOz

915

914

All wavegoodbye

Map

161

916

WingedMonkey

8316

Wizard,Lionroars

912

Oz – The Magical AdventureWhirly Flower Game

Oz – The Magical AdventureRock Balance Game

Oz – The Magical AdventureWater Pipes Game

Adapting Linear ContentKey Questions

• Who is my project for? Is this medium the most appropriate formy target audience?

• How will adapting this content compete/compliment the originalbrand and how will the fan base perceive this iteration?

• What is the story at the heart of my project? Is it compelling,original, entertaining, and is it mine to adapt?

• Who are the characters inhabiting the world of my story? Arethey well developed, do I know what they want/need and howthey relate to each other?

• Is this the best medium in which to tell this story? Whatadditional mediums could further enhance the whole storyexperience making it more holistic?