Drama vs Reality goes to the next level
Uncommon and ITV continue their successful campaign with a witty, playable, 90s-style desktop fighter.
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Street Figher II, Mortal Kombat, Killer Instinct, Fatal Fury; the 90s was THE decade for the 2D arcade fighting game.
Taking the aesthetics of the era and applying it to their wildly entertaining Drama vs Reality campaign, ITV and Uncommon have created a playable desktop game in which the player can take on the persona of the adverts' stars: Ferne McCann, Bobby Norris and Kem Cetinay who represent Team Reality, and, on the opposing Team Drama, Jason Watkins, Richie Campbell and Anna Friel.
Whereas many playable tie-ins aren't really worth more than a minute's time, the team's commitment to replicating the sights and sounds of favourite shows in a delightfully 16-bit setting really make the experience worth exploring - you haven't lived until you've thrown the smackdown as Jason Watkins whilst a chiptune rendition of the Love Island theme plays in the background.
Unlike many modern games, with characters and scene details developed using 3D renders, the campaign used a combination of several hundred drawings to build-out the game context and movement, with Uncommon working with Rave Growl and Node London.
Audio clips for the game have also been recorded by all the drama and reality stars, including everything from fighting talk to action impact noises and losing screams. Each soundbite captures the personality of the star in question from Watkins quoting Shakespeare and classical literature to Kem’s iconic [i.e.: nonsensical] Love Island lingo; "buff, tidy, peng".
Nils Leonard, Co-founder, Uncommon said: “Making a real game was next level for ITV. We loved bringing Drama vs Reality to life with nostalgic influences from the 90’s with every pixel crafted in 16 bit. Gaming and advertising are a natural partnering that doesn’t get enough air-time.
"More brands should be playing in this space connecting to millions through gaming experiences. We can’t wait for the Studio to make more of a mark in this world.”
Above: The TV campaign that inspired the game.
The game will also launch with a Twitch activation and partnership including promotion on the platform as well as a Twitch live stream on 31st August, with a special well-known host due to be announced, where several players and influencers will go head-to-head in a series of game battles, including the ITV Drama vs Reality game.
This is a UK media first for the platform, being the first integrated partnership Twitch has done with a TV broadcaster.
