[This article was originally written for the BBC Vision intranet]
By the time it hit our screens, there couldn't have been many people left who hadn't heard of Heroes. The arrival of the sci-fi series on BBC Two also brought with it a new website that has not only immersed users in the existing storylines, but is also threatening to create a few of its own.
Whilst providing all the episode and character guides you might expect, the site has also produced a whole raft of interactive games and added a brand new character to the Heroes universe. As Sarah Clay, senior content producer, explains: "The character of Bridget Bailey was developed specifically for the site, and we had to run the storylines past the scriptwriters in the US so that we didn't interfere with any of the existing or future mythology of the show."
Through a series of email clues sent from Bridget to the character of Mohinder, users follow a new and developing plotline, unique to the site. Such has been its popularity that users in the UK are emailing their peers in the US (who are unable to access the games) and the investigation has now become a global collaboration. Fan sites such as 9th Wonders are alive with discussion, fan-fiction stories and there's even talk that Bridget Bailey might make the transition from the internet to our television screens.
With a 23 episode series, Sarah is aware of the problems retaining people's interest: "It's difficult to bring people back every week, so we're doing things like adding new items to Mohinder's virtual office every week, and the painting games (based around the character Isaac Mendez) provide a teaser for the next episode."
Heroes is not a BBC production however, and there's a fine line to be walked when working with someone else's brand. As well as consulting with the script writers over potential conflicts, games, storyboards and concepts had to get sign-off from NBC Universal, a task made more complex by the fact that producers in the US were already working hard on the second series.
A commercial deal will eventually see the games being shared across the Atlantic, but the BBC Two website still has a few more secret powers up its sleeve, as Sarah explains: "This really is a 360 degree project: not only have we created a new character, there's a radio show on BBC7 with an accompanying podcast, mobile content and we've just recorded some exclusive video interviews with the cast. And there are still more games to come, such as Ando and Hiro."
With an expanding website and the future of Heroes now secure at the BBC, there's even more opportunity for everyone to find their extraordinary abilities and save the world.