The document describes a system called "TV Play Along" that allows people to play mobile games synchronized to what is happening on television shows, allowing viewers to participate in quiz shows, games shows, and other interactive television programming from their mobile devices or computers. It provides examples of how such a system could work, with viewers installing an app, participating in question rounds along with on-air contestants, and seeing real-time stats on performance. The goal is to increase engagement with television programming through interactive games that extend the viewing experience.

1. TV Play Along
Play A Mobile Game Synchronized To TV
Jeroen Elfferich
GDC Mobile 2008
Ex Machina
Social Gaming Technology
www.exmachina.nl
info@exmachina.nl
+31 20 617 26 85
www.exmachina.nl

2. Ex Machina
• Social Gaming Technology
• Based in Amsterdam, The Netherlands
• Leader in community gaming technology for
mobile and web
• Enabling multiplayer web games since 1998
• Enabling multiplayer mobile games since 2002
• Enabling crossplatform games & communities
since 2006
www.exmachina.nl

3. Julius 4.0
www.exmachina.nl

4. TV Is Magic
4 hours a day (2 months non-stop per year!)
•
At least one TV in 99% of all households
•
2.24 average TV sets per US household
•
TV is turned on 6h47m a day
•
Total hours of TV consumed: 250 billion
•
Percentage of Americans who say they watch too
•
much TV: 49
• Youth – hours in school: 900 behind TV: 1,500
• TV commercials seen per year: 20,000
• 65+ billion $ industry, 7% growth
www.exmachina.nl

5. TV Is In Decline
• Internet will eclipse TV in advertising by 2012
• TV is source for news – ’04 campaign: 68% ‘08
campaign: 60%
• Want to watch video on PC: 82%
• 24% of US households has DVR
• Teens are online more than watching TV
• Interactive digital TV has slow adoption rates
The Achilles heel of television.
“The inherent weakness of television has always been the indirect relationship
between the viewer and the broadcaster. Because there has never been any
way to make individual viewers pay for the parts of the service they actually
watch, broadcast television is based upon a business model which forces
viewers to pay indirectly.”
www.exmachina.nl

6. Or Is It?
• Viewer participation as new source of income &
entertainment
• Triple-play multitasking
• Low distribution costs, rise of the mid-tail
• Balancing DVR & (live) events
• TV Game Shows doing better than ever
Television Web Sites Thrive During Prime Time, According to
Nielsen//NetRatings
“At NBC.com in February, 40 percent of total time spent was during prime
time, making it the No. 1 Web site when ranked during prime time. Web
properties ABC Primetime and Fox Broadcasting took the No. 2 and 3 spots,
with a respective 30 percent and 26 percent of total time spent taking place
between 8pm - 11pm”
www.exmachina.nl

7. Channel Surfing
(Inter)action
Medium
Channel surfing
Embedded
Time shifting
TV Infrastructure
Digital meta-data
Analog broadcast VOD
Online meta-data
Digital Cable/Sat/T EPG
Proprietary return
Interactive digital Respond to ads
IP return
IP (IPTV, P2P, d/l) TV content portal
Non-TV: IVR
Mobile Voting
Non-TV: SMS
Communicate
Non-TV: Online
Play Along
www.exmachina.nl

8. Time Shifting
(Inter)action
Medium
Channel surfing
Embedded
Time shifting
TV Infrastructure
Digital meta-data
Analog broadcast VOD
Online meta-data
Digital Cable/Sat/T EPG
Proprietary return
Interactive digital Respond to ads
IP return
IP (IPTV, P2P, d/l) TV content portal
Non-TV: IVR
Mobile Voting
Non-TV: SMS
Communicate
Non-TV: Online
Play Along
www.exmachina.nl

9. Video on Demand
(Inter)action
Medium
Channel surfing
Embedded
Time shifting
TV Infrastructure
Digital meta-data
Analog broadcast VOD
Online meta-data
Digital Cable/Sat/T EPG
Proprietary return
Interactive digital Respond to ads
IP return
IP (IPTV, P2P, d/l) TV content portal
Non-TV: IVR
Mobile Voting
Non-TV: SMS
Communicate
Non-TV: Online
Play Along
www.exmachina.nl

10. Electronic Program Guide
(Inter)action
Medium
Channel surfing
Embedded
Time shifting
TV Infrastructure
Digital meta-data
Analog broadcast VOD
Online meta-data
Digital Cable/Sat/T EPG
Proprietary return
Interactive digital Respond to ads
IP return
IP (IPTV, P2P, d/l) TV content portal
Non-TV: IVR
Mobile Voting
Non-TV: SMS
Communicate
Non-TV: Online
Play Along
www.exmachina.nl

11. Respond to Ads & “Red Button”
(Inter)action
Medium
Channel surfing
Embedded
Time shifting
TV Infrastructure
Digital meta-data
Analog broadcast VOD
Online meta-data
Digital Cable/Sat/T EPG
Proprietary return
Interactive digital Respond to ads
IP return
IP (IPTV, P2P, d/l) TV content portal
Non-TV: IVR
Mobile Voting
Non-TV: SMS
Communicate
Non-TV: Online
Play Along
www.exmachina.nl

12. On-TV Content Portal
(Inter)action
Medium
Channel surfing
Embedded
Time shifting
TV Infrastructure
Digital meta-data
Analog broadcast VOD
Online meta-data
Digital Cable/Sat/T EPG
Proprietary return
Interactive digital Respond to ads
IP return
IP (IPTV, P2P, d/l) TV content portal
Non-TV: IVR
Mobile Voting
Non-TV: SMS
Communicate
Non-TV: Online
Play Along
www.exmachina.nl

13. Voting
(Inter)action
Medium
Channel surfing
Embedded
Time shifting
TV Infrastructure
Digital meta-data
Analog broadcast VOD
Online meta-data
Digital Cable/Sat/T EPG
Proprietary return
Interactive digital Respond to ads
IP return
IP (IPTV, P2P, d/l) TV content portal
Non-TV: IVR
Mobile Voting
Non-TV: SMS
Communicate
Non-TV: Online
Play Along
www.exmachina.nl

14. Communication (IM, Sharing, Twitter…)
(Inter)action
Medium
Channel surfing
Embedded
Time shifting
TV Infrastructure
Digital meta-data
Analog broadcast VOD
Online meta-data
Digital Cable/Sat/T EPG
Proprietary return
Interactive digital Respond to ads
IP return
IP (IPTV, P2P, d/l) TV content portal
Non-TV: IVR
Mobile Voting
Non-TV: SMS
Communicate
Non-TV: Online
Play Along
www.exmachina.nl

15. TV Play Along
(Inter)action
Medium
Channel surfing
Embedded
Time shifting
TV Infrastructure
Digital meta-data
Analog broadcast VOD
Online meta-data
Digital Cable/Sat/T EPG
Proprietary return
Interactive digital Respond to ads
IP return
IP (IPTV, P2P, d/l) TV content portal
Non-TV: IVR
Mobile Voting
Non-TV: SMS
Communicate
Non-TV: Online
Play Along
www.exmachina.nl

16. From Games to Broadcast to Games
• Until the 20th Century, games was the #1
pastime
• Radio, then TV turned us into passive consumers
of entertainment
• Late 20th Century, videogames showed that
people care about interactive entertainment
• And now, the broadcast industry is trying to
figure out how to succeed in interactive formats
• Or can the games industry serve this trend?
www.exmachina.nl

17. Crossplatform Gaming
• Anytime, anywhere, any connected device
• 3 Dominant screens
– TV: sit back, play along
– Web: versatile, pervasive
– Mobile: always on, personal
• Create interactive experience for all screens
www.exmachina.nl

18. Today’s Viewer Participation
• SMS & IVR very successful, but…
– Only simple interactivity, asynchronous
– Poor usability, complex controls
• TV-only (teletext, digital TV), but…
– Multiple players, one remote control?
– Often no return channel, no interactivity
– No integrated payment option
People want to participate, but compared to PC &
mobile games today’s solutions are too primitive
www.exmachina.nl

19. TV Play Along
• Beyond simple SMS / Call-in
• Extend TV formats to include continuous
gameplay on web and mobile
• Engage new and existing TV audiences
• Convert online audience into program viewers
• Strengthen broadcast brand and program brands
• Popularize game brands
www.exmachina.nl

20. TV Play Along Sweet Spot
• Any TV
Medium
• Use online return
Embedded
channel
TV Infrastructure
Digital meta-data
• Mobile is the
Analog broadcast
ultimate TV
Online meta-data
Digital Cable/Sat/T
companion
Proprietary return
Interactive digital
• Optimal reach,
IP return
optimal
IP (IPTV, P2P, d/l)
interactivity
Non-TV: IVR
Mobile
• Billing,
Non-TV: SMS
community,
Non-TV: Online
personalization
www.exmachina.nl

21. Play Along Types
• TV Originated
– TV leads gameplay
– Parallel gaming (pre-recorded)
– Integrated gaming (live TV shows)
• TV Terminated
– TV follows gameplay
– Skill-based Call TV
– Turn online games into TV
– Automated TV production
www.exmachina.nl

22. TV Originated Integrated Gaming
TV PLAY ALONG EXAMPLE
www.exmachina.nl

23. Stage 1: Announce
Welcome! In a few moments,
GDC Quiz will start. Now YOU
can play along and be a
contestant at home.
Simply pick up your PC or
mobile and join us!
VectorTelevision
Ex Machina
www.exmachina.nl

24. Stage 1: Announce
For more information on how to
take part in this show, see text
page 123 or go to GDC.tv
VectorTelevision
Ex Machina
www.exmachina.nl

25. Stage 2: Provisioning
SMS from 1234
Instructions on 123 GDC Quiz
Click this link to install Ex Machina
Mobile instructions: send text
the game app on your
message ‘GDC’ to shortcode 1234.
You’ll then get a link to install phone
the game on your phone.
Web instructions: go to GDC.tv in
your browser. Register first. After
www.gdc.tv
you log in, you’re ready to play
Welcome to GDC Quiz!
Instructions
Instructions
Username: …………
Mobile………
Password: ………….
…………
Register or log in
Web……………
…………
VectorTelevision
Ex Machina
www.exmachina.nl

26. Stage 3: Gathering
GDC Quiz App
Excellent! Now we’re ready to
play. If you haven’t done so Ex Machina
13.479 players
already, now is the time to start
Game will start in
the application and log in.
30 seconds
You now have 30 seconds
before we close our lines and
start with the first round!
GDC Quiz Web App
13.479 players
Game will start in
30 seconds
VectorTelevision
Ex Machina
www.exmachina.nl

27. Stage 4: Game Start
Game started
OK, here we go! We have over
25.146 players online
Ex Machina
25.000 players now, and a team
of 5 famous game designers in
Waiting for category
the studio. Everyone will get the
same answer at the same time,
and is given the same
opportunity to answer . GDC Quiz Web App
25.146 players online
Waiting for studio
candidate to select
category
VectorTelevision
Ex Machina
www.exmachina.nl

28. Stage 4: Game Start
Category selected
We’ll pick a random contestant Games Industry Ex Machina
from the studio… It’s seat 1, Arcade
Shigeru Miyamoto. Miyamoto- Current Games
san, what will it be? All-Time Favorites
Miyamoto: Well, let’s see… You
know what, I’ll pick Arcade!
Category selected
Games Industry
Arcade
Current Games
All-Time Favorites
VectorTelevision
Ex Machina
www.exmachina.nl

29. Stage 5: Game Session
Answer
Here’s the first question: When Answer 1) Ex Machina
did “Donkey Kong” hit the Answer 2)
arcades in the US?
Answer 3)
1) 1979
2) 1981
3) 1982 Answer
Answer 1)
Answer 2)
Answer 3)
Use your mouse or keypad
to enter your answer
VectorTelevision
Ex Machina
www.exmachina.nl

30. Stage 5: Game Session
Answer
Just 10 seconds left… 5… 4, 3, 2,
Answer 1) Ex Machina
1…. so Miyamoto-san, time’s up,
2) selected
what’s your answer?
Answer 3)
Miyamoto: Are you kidding?
This is easy! I designed it! 1981
Answer
Of course!
Answer 1)
Answer 2)
1) 1979
3) selected
2) 1981
Use your mouse or keypad
3) 1982
to enter your answer
VectorTelevision
Ex Machina
www.exmachina.nl

31. Stage 5: Game Session
Result
Was Miyamoto-san right to
2) Correct Answer
Ex Machina
brag? Were those playing at
home correct? Let’s see… Yes – Great! You receive 41
1981 it was! points, total at 41
A huge hit for Nintendo, it made
Result
$180 M in its first year
3) Wrong Answer
Too bad!
Number 2) was the right
1) Japan
answer
2) South Korea
You have 0 points
3) China
VectorTelevision
Ex Machina
www.exmachina.nl

32. Stage 5: Game Session
Stats
Now let’s have a look and see 44% answered correct
Ex Machina
how everyone did. Miyamoto- You have 41 points
san, you were the only one in Position 264 / 25.164
the studio with the right
answer. At home, 44% of our
viewers answered correctly.
Stats
44% of home players
answered correct
You have 0 points
Position 18.964 out of
25.164 contestants
VectorTelevision
Ex Machina
www.exmachina.nl

33. Stage 5: Game Session (continued)
Ex Machina
Several more categories are selected and
questions from those categories answered,
the flow of which is similar to the previous
slides
VectorTelevision
Ex Machina
www.exmachina.nl

34. Stage 6: Winner
Final score: 494
You have answered 10 Ex Machina
So the end of the game’s here – out of 12 correct.
in our studio, Miyamoto-san has You’re in the top
won. But we also have a winner 5% of all players!
from those playing along from
home. So here’s the top 5:
Final result
Your score is 284
Home winners
You have answered 6 out
1) Mark1337
2) LeaLeah of 12 correct. You’re in the
3) Bozon
top 40% of all players and
4) DragonSlay
2nd among your friends.
5) AnneH
VectorTelevision
Ex Machina
www.exmachina.nl

35. Stage 6: Winner
TV Show has ended
The TV show is now over. But if
Do you want to keep
you feel like having another go, Ex Machina
playing?
you can continue for as long as
yes / no
you like on your phone or PC.
main menu
Every hour, day and week there
are great prizes!
See you next week, same time,
same channel, new quiz!
TV Show has ended
Click here to keep playing
online, or go back to the
main menu
VectorTelevision
Ex Machina
www.exmachina.nl

36. Suitable TV Play Along Formats
Trivia quiz shows
•
Word & puzzle games
•
National tests
•
Card games
•
Live sports
•
Debates
•
E-sports
•
Betting
•
Avatar games
•
www.exmachina.nl

37. Sources
Australian Broadcasting Corporation
•
Wikipedia
•
PWC Media Outlook
•
NPR
•
Nielsen//NetRatings
•
www.exmachina.nl