BBC online game proves a hit with Doctor Who fanatics

by Julia Pearlman, brandrepublic.com, 26 May 2005, 04:00PM

LONDON - A BBC online viral game created by New Media Collective to promote the new 'Doctor Who' series has amassed 500,000 separate plays in just three weeks.

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The game was commissioned by the BBC to coincide with the airing of the 'Doctor Who -- Dalek' episode on April 30 and will run until June 18.

The player becomes a Dalek in the game, and must escape from a secret underground bunker. There are 10 levels to get through as the player discovers various weapons and alien technology from Henry Van Statten, a collector of alien technology.

More than 275 websites now list the game and its popularity is said to be spreading around the world from players in countries including Australia, Switzerland and Japan.

The game was also a top-three entry into the Lycos Viral Game Chart and has been featured on online game website Freeloader.

David Eccles, managing director of New Media Collective, said: "It's a lot more than button bashing -- it's fun but also requires thought and a certain amount of cunning from players -- which the 'Doctor Who' audience clearly loves.

"The feedback we are getting is amazing. People are sitting down and playing the game for an hour at a time and enjoying every minute of it. This is unheard of for an online game, they are normally over in a couple of minutes."

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