Finally! A chance to change what happens in Titanic…

About time, eh? As if that glorified ice cube could sink a ship as magnificent as the Titanic. It’s just so unrealistic. But this is an idea that goes back way further than James Cameron’s capsizeyclassic. Ever since Tom Hanks came up with electronic choose-your-own-adventure comic books in ’80s favourite Big, geeks of a certain age have dreamed of having more control over how the stories they read and watch unfold. And now, Netflix is set to make it a reality.

So we can save Jack from his watery grave?

You may have to wait for that–although knowing Cameron’s penchant for post-release tinkering, we wouldn’t put it past him. Before the end of the year, though, you’ll be able to choose what happens in an upcoming episode of Black Mirrorby selecting one of various options –a bit like a branching dialogue tree in an RPG game. Charlie Brooker’s sci-fi series is a perfect guinea pig for this new kind of entertainment… and Netflix actually has history with this kind of thing already, although unless you’re under 10 itprobablypassed you by.

I like Octonauts,actually…

Good for you, but that isn’t involved. Puss in Book: Trapped in an Epic Taleand Buddy Thunderstruck: The Maybe Pileboth have interactive elements, which meansnarrative decisions are occasionally handed over to the nipperwatching, who must choose from the available options. As you can imagine, they’re not earth-shaking choices,but more mature shows should see more mature dilemmas being presented– and with the rise of voice control tech, you might eventually be quite literally calling the shots. And… action!

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