ClickFire Creates Highly Anticipated Mobile App for Starz’ Spartacus
Interactive design powerhouse ClickFire Media recently executed a unique iPad app for Starz based on its popular TV series Spartacus: Blood and Sand. ClickFire collaborated closely with Starz, developing the app concept, designing its graphics, and managing the entire production process.
The free The Scrolls of Spartacus app - ClickFire's first iPad app - is a script reader that allows users to read all 13 episodes of the series' first season. The scripts in the app are enhanced with, show clips, audio and video extras, behind-the-scenes footage, and production stills that can be converted into iPad wallpaper, among other features.
Working on basic concepts brought to them by Starz, ClickFire fleshed out the creative. "We really defined, designed and executed the experience by working closely across all of our divisions," said Click President Peter Corbett. "While Starz provided us with assets from the show and direction on how to use those assets, we had a lot of creative flexibility to design the interface and the application."
Click's broadcast design division, Click Entertainment worked with Starz on the initial proposal before reaching out to ClickFire Media and Sounds Like Click to handle the app's interactive components and sound design, respectively.
Leveraging their extensive experience in the interactive sphere, ClickFire developed an interface that was very user friendly. "This was a chance for us to see how we could leverage our strengths - great design, our extensive design experience, great ingenuity - as a combined entity to create something unique for a high-profile series with a passionate fanbase," noted ClickFire Senior Interactive Producer Matt DeSimone. "What we came up with is one of the best-looking apps on the App Store. The thing is fantastic and really speaks to the series - I think Spartacus fans are going to be very happy."
The app contains several unique features that combine elements of antiquity with modern life. Scaling Capua, for example, is an interactive widget detailing the social networks and back stories of the most fascinating citizens in Capua, the ancient city in which the series is set. "As much as Spartacus may be set in ancient times, it resembles the modern world in many ways, including the intensive social climbing going on with many of the principal characters," stated ClickFire Creative Director Nick Adgerian. "We created a physical representation of this dynamic with the image of a mountain, containing a flag for each character that displays the social connections between them when you click on their name."
"In this type of genre, there are a number of fans who like reading the scripts," continued Adgerian. "It gives them an opportunity to read the text like a book and really put themselves in the minds of the characters. This reader concept is an underground but untapped market, particularly in the realm of mobile apps."
The Scrolls of Spartacus launch coincides with Starz's digital media unit's launch of a free interactive Facebook game. The game, launched to the public on January 20, the day before the debut of Spartacus: Gods of the Arena, the prequel to Spartacus: Blood and Sand. ClickFire plans to develop future scrolls for the forthcoming prequel, in addition to other iPad apps. To download the app from the iTunes App Store, please visit the following link:
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/the-scrolls-of-spartacus/id410645093?mt=8
About ClickFireMedia:
ClickFire Media is an interactive design studio specializing in multi-platform, media-rich creative campaigns. CFM partners with agencies and entertainment industry clients in the conceptualization, design and development of fully-integrated, consistently branded experiences. Through insight and innovation, CFM combines that latest interactive technologies with the best design, video, animation and live action skills from Click 3X to deliver integrated solutions in the ever-developing media landscape.
