Web-based interactive game utilizing video components

Abstract

One embodiment may include apparatus, methods and/or systems for providing one or more interactive experiences over a network, such as the Internet, wherein the experiences include one or more of audio, video data, applications, feature, functions or other forms of content. In one embodiment, the experiences are accessed by one or more websites that include a plurality of interactive features, such as those for an interactive game. The interactive experience may include one or more content segments presented to the participants through which a story including several scenes may be presented. The content segments may include applications which provide a desired functionality, such providing direction on a map or otherwise. Additional and alternative interactivity, such as online analytics relating to the content may be analyzed, emails, phone calls or other communications to participants and/or editors may be provided and other forms of during and/or post experience interactivity may be provided.

1 . A computer-implemented method for an interactive experience, the method comprising:
 providing, to a computing device, at least one content segment, wherein the content segment relates to a storyline branch for an interactive experience;   receiving an input from the participant selecting a storyline branch and providing to the participant the content segments that correspond to the selected storyline branch.   
     
     
         2 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1  wherein the content segments includes at least one of a data entry field, a puzzle and a quiz. 
     
     
         3 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1  wherein the content segment is communicated to the computing device over a network. 
     
     
         4 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1  comprising:
 determining a status of the participant, wherein the content segment provided to the computing devices corresponds to the status of the participant. 
 
     
     
         5 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 3  wherein the content segment is communicated to the computing device through one or more websites associated with an interactive experience. 
     
     
         6 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 5  wherein the interactive experience includes an interactive game presented to the participant through a mobile device. 
     
     
         7 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1  wherein the content segment includes a dialogue selection section, the method comprising:
 receiving an input from the participant selecting one of a plurality of dialogues in the dialogue selection section; and 
 providing a dialogue, to the computing device, corresponding to the selected one of the plurality of dialogues. 
 
     
     
         8 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1  comprising:
 creating a hotspot within the content segment; and 
 receiving an input from the computing device when the participant selects the hotspot. 
 
     
     
         9 . The computer implemented method of  claim 1  whereupon the participant selecting a storyline branch, the method comprises:
 presenting to the participant at least one application program. 
 
     
     
         10 . The computer implemented method of  claim 9  wherein the application program provides at least one of a map and driving directions directing the participant to a location associated with the storyline branch selected by the participant. 
     
     
         11 . A computer implemented method for analyzing a progression by one or more participants through an interactive experience comprising:
 presenting, on a computer display device, a plot structure diagram for an interactive experience;   presenting, with respect to the plot structure diagram, a first progression through the interactive experience for a first participant selected from a group of two or more participants; and
 based upon the first progressions, associating a first user profile with the first participant. 
   
     
     
         12 . The computer implemented method of  claim 11  wherein the associating of the first user profile with the first participant comprises:
 correlating the first progression through the interactive experience to one or more past progressions through the interactive experience, wherein the past progressions through the interactive experience were by one or more past participants; and 
 identifying at least one characteristic the first participant has in common with each of those past participants having past progressions through the interactive experience that correlate to the first progression. 
 
     
     
         13 . The computer implemented method of  claim 12  wherein the characteristic in common is a demographic characteristic. 
     
     
         14 . The computer implemented method of  claim 12  wherein the characteristic in common is a psychographic characteristic. 
     
     
         15 . The computer implemented method of  claim 11  comprising:
 presenting, with respect to the plot structure diagram, a second progression through the interactive experience by the first participant, wherein the second progression deviates from the first progression. 
 
     
     
         16 . The computer implemented method of  claim 15 , wherein the interactive experience comprises a learning event at which the first participant is presented with an option to select one of at least two options and the deviation through the interactive experience by the participant during the second progression is identified by the analytical tool as the selection by the first participant of the correct option. 
     
     
         17 . The computer implemented method of  claim 11  comprising:
 presenting a second progression associated with a second participant, wherein the second participant represents a grouping of two or more participants; 
 wherein the second progression through the interactive experience by the second participant deviates at least once from the first progression through the interactive experience by the first participant and 
 associating a second user profile with the second participant. 
 
     
     
         18 . The computer implement method of  claim 11  comprising:
 associating a second demographic identifier with the second of the one or more participants; and 
 identifying at least one correlation between the first demographic identifier and the second demographic identifier. 
 
     
     
         19 . An apparatus for analyzing an interactive experience through which a participant progressed comprising:
 a local processor; and   a network interface in communication with the local processor and configured to establish a communications link with a remote processor hosting an interactive experience analytics tool residing as an application program on a machine readable storage medium accessible to the remote processor; and   wherein, by way of the communications link established between the local processor and the remote processor, remote access to the interactive experience analytics tool can be established and a progression by the participant through the interactive experience can be analyzed by a user of the apparatus.   
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 19  wherein the interactive experience analytics tool presents a storyline depicting each level through which a participant may progress during the interactive experience; wherein the storyline comprises:
 a plurality of interconnected nodes, wherein at least one of the plurality of interconnected nodes includes a precursor node connected to at least two subservient nodes; 
 wherein each subservient node is indicative of a different demographic characteristic by any participant progressing thereto; and 
 by utilizing the analytical tool the user of the apparatus may review the progression by the participant through the precursor node and to one of the subservient nodes and based the subservient node progressed to by the participant, identify at least one demographic characteristic of the participant.