Google Releases Interactive YouTube Video In Experiment For New Entertainment Medium (VIDEO)

In Spotlight Stories, Google works with high-profile artists and animators to create short films that viewers can interact with.

By Chris Loterina | Dec 22, 2015 11:37 AM EST

Instead of virtual reality goggles, Spotlight Stories uses a smartphone's sensors to navigate a 360-degree environment. (Photo : Twitter/Tutto Android)

Google released a short video today called "Special Delivery" on YouTube. The animation does not appear to be extraordinary at first glance, with its colorful, retro visuals inspired by the Pink Panther. But if the viewer is using a smartphone, he or she then experiences what is "special" about it - it is an interactive video that is part of Google's Spotlight Stories developed by the company's Advanced Technology And Projects (ATAP) group, which is supposed to trail blaze a new form of interactive entertainment.

"This is not a gimmick, this is not a sort of gamey thing that we're doing," said Rachid El Guerrab, technical project lead for Spotlight Stories, according to The Verge. "This is actually real animation, just in a different way."

When the viewer tilts the smartphone, the video moves, revealing a 360-degree scene. Aside from the narrative that transpires involving the protagonists, which in this case include a janitor and Santa Claus, the viewer can choose to look at another scene or snippets of life happening at the same time in the entire apartment block.

"In the full interactive experience, you'll encounter 10 subplots, three potential ways to view the ending, and 60+ moments where you can decide to follow the story in different ways," El Guerrab said in an official statement. "Each viewing is unique. We don't want to spoil the ending, so that's all we'll say for now."

The "Special Delivery" short film was not created merely to entertain - it is part of Google's experiment to develop a new entertainment medium. There are also those who say that it is similar to virtual reality but without the VR goggles.

"Special Delivery" was created by Aardman Animations of Wallace and Gromit fame, reported Engadget. Try it below:

Tags: google, Spotlight Stories, Special Delivery, interactive video, Google ATAP, Rachid El Guerrab, virtual reality, Advanced Technology And Projects, ATAP, Aardman Animations, Wallace and Gromit
Source: Google Releases Interactive YouTube Video In Experiment For New Entertainment Medium (VIDEO)