Playgroup | Creativity through play

BBC Launches Robin Hood: Showdown

15 Jul 2009

Playgroup have created an innovative 3D immersive online gaming experience to support the BBC TV series Robin Hood.   

Robin Hood: Showdown is a single player arena combat game where players fight as Robin Hood against the Sheriff's forces in a series of action packed challenges. Each of the four challenges has it’s own unique objective for victory.

Achievements will extend the game’s re-playability by offering players other side objectives outside of beating the level. Once they complete a certain criteria they will earn an achievement trophy to add to their collection. Example achievements include completing all 4 levels in one session and defeating 10 enemies in a row with arrow attacks.

The cinematic feel established in ‘The Outlaws’ Revenge’ - the game supporting the last series (also developed by Playgroup) has been extended. The video cut scenes and interludes enhance this even further.

The Game puts a contemporary twist on the 12th Century arena combat. The narrative and visual environment, although medieval in look, is full of modern-day touches - the stadium is festooned with 12th Century sponsors, resembling a medieval FA Cup.

The objective of the game is to extend the show into an immersive online experience and to provide a way to build audience  loyalty even after the series has finished.. It does this by not only appealing to Robin Hood fans, but a wide demographic and all gamer levels. Easily accessible and free to all from bbc.co.uk, it offers one of the richest experiences around for an online game and is easily shareable with friends.

Built using the Unity platform highly detailed 3D environments and incredible character animations have been possible, enabling a heightened sense of immersion and involvement to players at a level previously impossible on the web. The use of Unity instead of the stilted 2D or faked 3D nature of most current web games means that an outstanding next generation web gaming experience has been delivered.

Playgroup have produced the game in partnership with IMG / Tiger Aspect. Playgroup have developed the game concept, strategy and creative approach and commissioned Specialmoves who have handled the game design, technical build and 3D modeling and animation.

The game is now live. Find it at http://www.bbc.co.uk/robinhood/

Playgroup is passionate about compelling storytelling and user experiences. It has been a joy to translate the unique world of the Robin Hood series into an immersive online 3D gaming experience. The spectacular 3D graphics, bespoke narration and commentary shape the immersive online adventure that will enthrall the audiences.

Johan Brand, Executive Producer, Playgroup

 Multiplatform entertainment is vital to BBC Drama and we’re constantly stretching drama formats and translating them into online experiences full of action and fun. The new Robin Hood Showdown game, launched last week is the most sophisticated and distinctive game we’ve produced  to date. Our ambition was to create a game tightly linked to the TV show, offering the user an immersive online experience that continues the audience’s engagement in the series’ adventures.

Rosie Allimonos, Multiplatform Drama Commissioner, BBC