'CSI' creator targets children with new tablet 'gamified narrative'

"CSI” creator Anthony Zuiker is mixing gaming into his new animated online video series, hoping that’ll help keep a grip on children’s short attention spans.

Zuiker calls his approach “The gamified narrative.” Launched on Fuhu tablets’ new subscription service, the “Mysterypolis” series requires viewers to play mini-games a handful of times during a seven- to nine-minute episode: hunting for a time capsule, for instance, or unlocking a keypad. Many video games have an underlying narrative, but Zuiker sees his approach as story first, game second. The switch from passive watching to active engagement could attract advertisers into backing other similar series.