To promote the theatrical release of Peabody and Sherman we were tasked with developing a digital activation that would drive anticipation for the film's release. With the film's key demographics in mind, we decided to build a fun and interactive game that introduces the characters and locations in the film. We opted for a "platform runner"-style game that would be easy enough for beginners to pick up quickly, but challenging enough to hook more experienced gamers.
Our classic side-scrolling game sent users back through history to ancient civilizations via Mr. Peabody's high-tech WABAC machine. The side scroller format appealed to adult gamer's nostalgia for old school games and cartoons, while the modern graphics stayed true to the dimensional look and feel of the movie.
The game mechanics needed to be straightforward but addictive. We achieved this by pairing simple 'tap-to-jump' functionality with the steady introduction of increasingly challenging obstacles. Timing in the game was key. Randomly generated courses also kept players on their toes and boosted replay value. Knowing that our audience would be using a wide range of devices, we designed the game with a responsive layout. The gameplay itself was free of dialogue or copy, but vignettes between levels were localized for international release.
