Earlier in November Netflix released Triviaverse a new interactive title that has players answer trivia questions with their remote. Triviaverse is not in an episode format like previous Netflix interactive trivia Trivia Quest and it does not have much in the way of story like the interactive trivia show Cat Burglar. Triviaverse also is not listed as a part of Netflix’s game options, which is currently limited to their mobile games, no interactive experiences. The Netflix app itself leaves the genre of Triviaverse blank and refers to it as a movie. The way Triviaverse operates is not entirely new, Netflix has other interactive options that are not split into episodes. However, it does raise questions of what something like Triviaverse actually is, a game, a show, something else entirely? Google lists it as a TV Show and calls its November release the first episode. Different review articles call it a “quick-hit trivia experience”, an “interactive game”, “interactive experience”, and one review site states that “Triviaverse is strictly a game and not a show”. The Netflix interactive titles are somewhat reminiscent of the simple games that were part of the extra features on DVDs; Triviaverse is a very simple version of a trivia game, the narrator very briefly mentions how the game works and then the user answers trivia questions in rounds that get increasingly more difficult. Once the rounds are completed, the player gets to see what their rank is and then you either quit or play more rounds. It has one and two player options.
(Image From: https://about.netflix.com/en/news/introducing-triviaverse-new-trivia-experience)
On Netflix it’s labeled “Interactive” in some places and “Trivia” in others and called an “Interactive Title”, its rating is TV-G. Comparatively, the narrator in Cat Burglar calls itself an “Interactive Show” and a title sequence labels it a “A Half-Witted Interactive Heist”. All of Netflix’s interactive options can be found under a category called “Interactive Specials”. If going with the term interactive special then it seems that Black Mirror: Bandersnatch, which was a movie with an interactive element, would be considered as being in the same category as Triviaverse, Cat Burglar and Trivia Quest. While Headspace: Unwind Your Mind, Netflix’s interactive version of the Headspace meditation app, categorizes itself as a documentary/docuseries, which is the same category as the previous, non-interactive, Headspace shows on Netflix.
The somewhat scattered categorizations of the interactive titles raises questions, some that were discussed previously in class, about what Netflix’s plans are. Also new in November, Netflix added a QR code that appeared when you clicked on the TV show Stranger Things, and the QR code led to the Netflix mobile app where you could be redirected to download the updated Stranger Things mobile game, which Netflix acquired when it bought the game publisher that created the game. For a set number of days in November downloading and playing the mobile game got players access to a new fan favourite character from the show in the puzzle game. Stranger Things the show resulted in a mobile app and in an almost opposite set of circumstances Netflix’s Trivia Quest was based off a pre-existing trivia mobile game called Trivia Crack which Netflix turned into an episodic, interactive trivia game.
Netflix appears to be taking multiple routes into gaming and has committed to continuing to offer subscribers gaming options. It will be interesting to see if it continues to build its mobile games section, or its interactive experiences, or something else entirely. Or maybe it will do all of the above.
Sources:
https://www.netflix.com/ca/browse/genre/2869704
https://www.polygon.com/22286070/netflix-interactive-shows-movies-ranked-jurassic-world-barbie
https://www.rd.com/article/triviaverse/
https://www.gamesindustry.biz/what-is-netflixs-game-plan-this-week-in-business (From Lecture)
https://www.businessinsider.com/netflix-gaming-plans-marketing-device-for-engagement-2021-7
https://help.netflix.com/en/node/121936
https://www.whattowatch.com/watching-guides/netflix-triviaverse-everything-you-need-to-know
https://techcrunch.com/2022/11/08/netflix-launches-a-new-interactive-trivia-experience-triviaverse/
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