A sci-fi comedy inspired by the late Douglas Adams has become the first interactive voice drama to be launched by the BBC.
The Inspection Chamber is available for Amazon Alexa from today with other platforms due to come on line in the future. In the video game inspired story the user plays an active role as the fourth character.
The experience begins with a computer called ‘Dave’ explaining that a pair of scientists will soon be inspecting you to try and identify what kind of creature you are. The answers given during the inspection shape the direction of the story, influencing the plot and propelling ‘the player’ toward one of a variety of potential endings.
George Wright, head of Internet Research and Future Services for BBC R&D, said: “The Inspection Chamber is an experimental first step using this emerging medium. It enables listeners to take part and interact in a way they never have before. They’re not just a listener any more – they have an active role in the story, playing the fourth character in a radio play which puts them in the heart of the action. This collaboration between the BBC’s R&D department and a new audio independent company is something we’re all excited by.”
Developed by BBC Research & Development in collaboration with production company Rosina Sound, the Inspection Chamber is available from today via BBC Taster and the Alexa Skill Store. To ensure each interaction feels as intuitive and natural as possible, BBC R&D created a story engine from scratch, modelled on the type of engines used in video games.
