Heroes Evolutions is a digital extension of the NBC series Heroes that explores the Heroes universe. It was originally entitled Heroes 360 Experience but the name was changed for season 2.[1]
Heroes Evolutions was activated on January 19, 2007,[2] the day when episode 12, "Godsend," was first aired in the United States. Viewers can investigate clues from the show on this official website, which incorporates aspects of an alternate reality game. Heroes Evolutions also incorporates the show's weekly graphic novels, which began being published on the show's website each Tuesday on September 26, 2006.[3]
In an interview at the 2007 Wizard World in Los Angeles, co-executive producer and writer Jesse Alexander said that all the stories in the experience "connect with the show" and provide participants with real spoilers. He went on to say that this current version is a dry run for an even bigger experience in the works for next year.[4]
Heroes Evolutions has had 48 million page views as of March 22, 2007, plus over 27 million video downloads.[5] On May 14, 2007, the program was renewed for the second season.[6]
On September 13, 2008, Heroes Evolutions received a Creative Arts Emmy for Interactive Media Programming: Interactive Fiction.[7]
As of November 8, 2008, during the show's third season, Heroes Evolutions began releasing iStory content: interactive stories that sometimes allow the reader to shape what happens in the story. The first iStory volume, "Friend or Foe", allowed readers to participate in two sides of the same story that parallel Volume Three of Heroes. Two chapters were released simultaneously each week, with each chapter allowing readers to play as a character hired by one side of the story, choosing some of that character's actions.[8] Chapters of subsequent volumes, "The Private"[9] and "The Agent",[10] have only been released a single chapter at a time.
- ^ "Heroes Evolution". NBC Universal Media Village. 2007-10-01. Archived from the original on 2009-02-16. Retrieved 2007-10-01.
- ^ "NBC gives 'Heroes' audience a 360 degree experience beginning on January 22" (Press release). NBC Universal Media Village. 2007-01-19. Retrieved 2007-01-22.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Graphic Novels". NBC.com. Archived from the original on 2007-11-28. Retrieved 2009-02-15.
- ^ "WWLA: Loeb & Co Talk "Heroes"". Comic Book Resources. 17 March 2007. Retrieved 2009-02-15.
- ^ "NBC.Com delivers with 'Heroes360': 48 million page views and over 27 million video streams in just eight weeks". The Futon Critic. NBC. 2007-03-22. Retrieved 2007-03-22.
- ^ "NBC Digital Entertainment announced second season of cutting-edge interactive entertainment" (Press release). NBC Universal Media Village. 2007-05-14. Retrieved 2007-05-14.[permanent dead link]
- ^ Creative Arts Emmy winners for 60th annual awards. Associated Press September 23, 2008 Archived September 18, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "NBC.com Has Launched the Next Chapter of 'Heroes: Evolutions'". NBC Universal Media Village.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "The Private". Heroes Wiki. Retrieved 2009-02-15.
- ^ "The Agent". Heroes Wiki. Retrieved 2009-02-15.