To deliver an unforgettable and immersive digital Christmas for Children’s BBC (CBBC), we envisioned a magical, interactive ecosystem designed to spark wonder and inspire participation. The brief from CBBC was to create and develop their entire online Christmas presence. The project's centerpiece would be a microsite linked to an interactive adventure game, Christmas downloads, and other CBBC content.
Our creative approach centered on building a vibrant, goal-driven point-and-click adventure engineered to fully engage young audiences and invite them into a world of discovery and joy. We created a solid central narrative that could encapsulate the game, the microsite, and all the online content, making for a fully integrated project. The fable, "The Magic Globe," followed our hero, Jacob, a young boy who gets sucked into a snow globe, only to find another world. The story, told across five chapters, was available on the site to read or download as an audiobook.
Our approach was built on the following pillars:
- Create a Central Hub: The snow globe served as the perfect metaphorical and literal container for the experience. It was a visually enchanting setting that housed a simple, yet compelling narrative: finding hidden cogs to save Christmas by restoring Immanuel, the magical snow-blower. This point-and-click format was chosen for its intuitive nature, making it accessible to children of all ages while promoting exploration and problem-solving.
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Extend the Experience Beyond the Screen: The narrative also formed the basis of the interactive game, a point-and-click adventure where Jacob had to collect hidden gears across four whimsical levels, rejuvenating Immanuel's magical snow-blower and bringing snow back to the land. If that wasn't enough, the character illustrations were also developed into free PDF downloads to create cards, decorations, garlands, wrapping paper, and a complete "Magic Globe" diorama. These off-screen activities provided an opportunity for continued engagement and allowed the magical world of the snow globe to spill into the physical lives of the children.
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Build an Emotional Connection: The narrative of bringing snow back to the land tapped into the classic holiday themes of magic, hope, and generosity. By allowing the children to be the heroes of the story, the experience forged a strong emotional connection, making the CBBC Christmas presence truly unforgettable.
Ultimately, the strategy was to leverage a single, enchanting interactive game as the hub for a comprehensive online campaign that was immersive, emotionally resonant, and extended well beyond the digital screen. This approach ensured that the CBBC brand was not just seen, but actively experienced and loved by its audience during the most important time of the year.
