''Episode'' or ''Episode Interactive'' is an interactive story

video game Video games, also known as computer games, are electronic games that involves interaction with a user interface or input device such as a joystick, controller, keyboard, or motion sensing device to generate visual feedback. This fee ...

developed by Pocket Gems. The app is a storytelling network and platform that features interactive stories built for mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets. Users enter one of the stories and make choices as the storyline progresses. The product also has a user generated content creation platform that enables users to create their own stories, ''Episode'' features three types of stories: user generated, in-house originals and IP licensed. Some IP stories include "

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: Path to Fame", " Pretty Little Liars", " Clueless", "

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: In Deep Treble", " Mean Girls: Senior Year", "Mean Girls: Sorority Rush", "

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: It Started With a Lie", and "Falling For the Dolan Twins".

Gameplay and content creation

The game is structured as a visual novel, with many stories to choose from. Players customize their character, choosing their hair, makeup, and facial features. As the player progresses through the story, they are given action and dialogue choices that can influence the plot. Featured stories have micro-transactions that allow the player to unlock premium choices using in-game currency. Players have a set number of free chapters they can read each day, after which point they must purchase story packs to read more. Community members can also create and publish their own stories for others to view. The app has its own proprietary scripting language that is designed to help users without animation or computer programming experience.

Controversies

Despite the app being marketed to children, many of the stories available on the Episode app feature sexually suggestive elements. User-generated stories are filtered for profanity, but this process does not eliminate sexual themes. Daniel Terry, co-founder, and chief creative officer of Pocket Gems stated in an interview that the stories are directly monitored to flag inappropriate content and that the company will "always have a monitoring system in place" as the platform increases in scale.

Online Presence

The game became a popular

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throughout 2018 involving people creating their own picture imitating the

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style advertising linked with the game, while adding a slightly sinister twist. The game also picked up attention from the social media platform

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along with other similar apps including

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, in which viewers were presented with edited versions of the adverts for the apps.

References

{{reflist

External links

Official website
2010s interactive fiction Adventure games Android (operating system) games iOS games 2014 video games Video games developed in the United States