BBC launches new Wonder Chase experience on Roblox.
The BBC has entered the world of Roblox today, as it launches BBC Wonder Chase. People enter a free, fun, vibrant world, featuring some of the biggest BBC shows like Match of the Day, Doctor Who, EastEnders, and The Next Step. They will also meet some of the BBC’s most famous faces – including Gary Lineker, Zara McDermott, Louis Theroux, Hacker T Dog, and the Fifteenth Doctor.
People can play fun mini games, collect BBC iPlayer-themed coins, learn interesting nature facts and complete tricky obstacle courses. Along the way, they can challenge themselves to find and collect limited edition stickers or just take it easy, relax and chat with pals in their friends list while watching clips from some of their favourite BBC shows in the cinema area.
The new BBC Wonder Chase experience aims to reach young people where they are and bring the BBC to them. Roblox is enormously popular with younger audiences, and is used by over 71 million people every day. The experience is free on Roblox, and available on PC, mobile (iOS, Android), PlayStation, Xbox. To find it, just go to Roblox and search for BBC Wonder Chase.
Fiona Campbell, controller of youth audience, BBC iPlayer and BBC Three, says:
“BBC Wonder Chase brings some of the biggest BBC shows from the worlds of sport, drama and the natural world alive in a game space that encourages play and social interaction between friends and also the show’s leading characters. Showcasing the breadth of BBC content on a platform with more than 71 million users.”
Patricia Hildalgo, Director of Children’s and Education, says:
“As the children’s media landscape is constantly evolving, we want to meet kids wherever they are. We know Roblox is hugely popular with children and we’re giving them the chance to interact and play with their favourite CBBC shows and characters, and discover more to love from across the BBC.”
The journey begins in Wonder Central, a fantastical city set on the water. Here, people will run into documentarians Louis Theroux and Zara McDermott, have a laugh with CBBC’s Hacker T Dog, or a red nose game from Comic Relief. From Wonder Central, they can also find portals to other parts of the experience – including:
- Total Sport – a collection of sporty islands people can adventure around, surrounded by giant inflatables and activities, where they can meet and chat to Match of the Day stars Gary Lineker, Micah Richards and Alan Shearer.
- Deep Space Zone – an otherworldly planet where people will find Ncuti Gatwa’s Fifteenth Doctor and Millie Gibson’s Ruby Sunday as well as a mischievous Goblin.
- Tiny Planet – here people will enter an English country garden, but they’ll be the size of a bug! An interactive space for fun and learning about nature, and where players can chat to some of the BBC’s best known nature presenters, including Liz Bonnin and CBBC’s Deadly 60’s Steve Backshall.
- Festival Park – a celebration of music, art and culture all set in a chilled out, magical festival. People can find and chat to Michelle, Kenzie and Eldon from the hit CBBC show The Next Step, or visit the BBC News rave tent.
BBC Wonder Chase world will evolve across the coming year with new content added and new worlds developed.
The experience was made by the BBC with Bristol based games developer Mobile Pie. The BBC has also used a number of accessibility tools for the experience, which are available on the Roblox platform. This includes the option to stop or pause motion such as grass or wind to reduce animations for those who may find them distracting. There is built-in support for Adaptive Controllers for people using PlayStation or Xbox, plus the ability to change what the buttons do so that users can control their experience. And there is a feature where users can automate a double jump, a key action, to help those who may have issues tapping twice in quick succession.
To find BBC Wonder Chase, click here or go to Roblox and search for BBC Wonder Chase.