The inspirations behind big Netflix Games and pushing transmedia boundaries

Netflix Games did a panel on the inspirations behind big-effort games at Netflix and the shows they’re based on.

Jason Altman, head of transmedia at Netflix, led a panel at Netflix Games’ side event at the Game Developers Conference.

Bill Jackson of Netflix Games said Squid Game Unleashed was a huge opportunity, but he added, “We knew had to get it right.” He said the show was quite dark and the game team decided they had to diverse from that and lighten it up.

“The results are it is a very different entry point into the world and a different expression of fandom,” Jackson said.

He said the company is pushing on the expression of the world in the Squid Games to come up with something different. Having a cartoonish style of game of the serious show with lots of killings was a very different twist and a bit of a risky move.

There was a crossover opportunity with skins and rewards, he said. The game sensed what part of the streaming series you watched on Netflix and it gave you rewards based on that progress.

Albert Kim said his game on Electric State is a companion piece to the hit Netflix movie Electric State. Jason said the game has a retro feel and it lets you delve into the relationship of the brother and sister in the show.

“It emotionally driven from the perspective of Michelle and Chris and the meta layer of them playing a game,” Kim said.

He wants fans who are diving into the world to feel really whole. Charlie Booker, creator of Black Mirror, said games are different as the player is very different. In Black Mirror: Bandersnatch, he said the player was an “antagonist” in the Bandersnatch show, which gave the audience a chance to choose where the story should proceed and what kind of ending it should have. That gave players agency.

Kim said it would be interesting to have games have an impact on the Netflix shows. Altman said he wants to see that Netflix wants to explore the boundaries on transmedia and the kind of games that can be done in a unique way at Netflix. There’s potential for more watch-along features where games respond to the player.

“Netflix is a place of experimentation where we can explore the boundaries,” Altman said. “Players want to experience the worlds they love in a new way.”