Leadership
Gamers are challenged to treat and contain unknown biological threats before they become global catastrophes in an exciting, multi-leveled online game, “Wildfire Lab,” the Andromeda Strain Online Game. The game, created by Boston-based Pod Digital Design, is a promotion for A&E® Network’s original television event, THE ANDROMEDA STRAIN, which premieres in High Definition on Monday, May 26 from 9-11 PM ET/PT and Tuesday, May 27 from 9-11 PM ET/PT.
The Andromeda Strain Online Game, Wildfire Lab, which launched on May 5 on http://www.theandromedastrain.com/, features four levels with a new, fictitious virus introduced each week. In order to unlock the final level – The Andromeda Strain itself – players must answer a password question correctly based on clues found in the first nights premiere.
Each level of the game is comprised of storyline videos that establish the back-story for the fictitious diseases, followed by a series of lab themed "mini-games." Players are challenged to complete unique scientific procedures inspired by the futuristic technology and forensic procedures featured prominently in A&E's THE ANDROMEDA STRAIN . Gamers are challenged weekly by solving each of the mini-games on a level before moving on to the next week’s disease, a pass code and launch date is then given for the next, more difficult level. The multi-leveled game is comprised of 20 mini-games, 25 storyline videos, 3D renderings and extensive animation.
The goal for the game was to create an episodic experience that would create buzz and involvement with the audience leading up to the Memorial Day premiere of the television event.
The challenge for the games creators was to create an experience that could run weeks ahead of the launch of the broadcast, without divulging any plot information from The Andromeda Strain, requiring them to create entirely original storylines and scenarios, based on the concept of the Wildfire Lab.
"The Wildfire lab provided us with an ideal setting to create a series of crises that would escalate as we get closer to the launch of the film," said Steve Curran, founder and Creative Director of Pod Design. "In order to keep the solutions for each outbreak a mystery, we had to create fictitious diseases and back stories surrounding their outbreaks".
The game marks Pod's most ambitious production to date and involved the talents of numerous game programmers, writers, 3D artists, voice-over actors and broadcast designers.
THE Andromeda Strain Online Game, Wildfire Lab, marks the second time that Pod Digital Design has worked with A&E Television Networks (AETN) on the creation of a multi-week, integrated campaign between online and on-air entertainment. In 2006, Pod created a four week episodic game, Crack the Case, for the launch of AETN’s Crime and Investigation Network™ in the UK, which featured clues given on-air that helped players solve the online version of the mystery. The game was the recipient of multiple national and international awards including awards from Promax, BDA, and MITX.
Founded in 2002, Pod Design is an integrated production company that produces games, viral marketing campaigns, and branded interactive entertainment for companies, for clients in television, film and consumer goods. Pod has produced award winning games and viral marketing campaigns for clients including AETN, The Biography Channel®, The History Channel®, Warner Brothers, Starwood Hotels and Resorts, Yahoo! and many others.
