Doctor Who: The Adventure Games

Thursday 17th June 2010: 524,299 - that's the total number of download requests the first episode of Doctor Who: The Adventure Games received in the first 12 days of availability, the BBC has today announced.

In addition, the website has reported a week-on-week increase in unique UK visitors of over 67 per cent in the full week the game was available.

The game features performances from Matt Smith and Karen Gillen - and head writer and executive producer Steven Moffat believes their on-screen chemistry is part of the reason why families up and down the country are taking to these Adventure Games so enthusiastically.

"Matt Smith has conquered space," says Steven Moffat, head writer and executive producer, Doctor Who, "now he's conquering cyberspace. The way the games capture the look and feel of the TV series is amazing. Matt Smith walks like a drunken giraffe on-screen and also in-game - it's a virtuoso virtual performance, and one I'm delighted is proving to be so popular. Just worried I won't get any writing done, what with playing the game all the time.

"Karen is a staggering companion - literally, have you seen her when the TARDIS shakes? - and her personality is perfectly captured in these episodes. There are some genuinely funny lines between the two, so we've really brought the TV series into the control of families up and down the country. Half a million download requests in 12 days - amazing."

The figures have been revealed as the Corporation prepares to unveil episode two at a special BBC Learning event in Scotland next week. TV head writer and executive producer Steven Moffat and others involved in the production and development of the Adventure Games will showcase the next instalment to around 150 kids on Tuesday 22nd June 2010 - complete with some of the Doctor's most fearsome enemies.

A second event in the afternoon will be streamed live to the BBC's Doctor Who site, offering the public the opportunity to see a presentation by Charles Cecil, Phil Ford and Nicholas Briggs - and anyone in the UK with a web connection will be able to view it live at www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho from 2:00pm.

"To say we're thrilled that we've received in excess of half a million download requests within the first 12 days is an understatement," says Simon Nelson, Head of BBC Multiplatform in Vision. "The project has been a real labour of love from the whole Doctor Who and multiplatform team, so we're delighted the reaction has been so strong. The response has been tremendous - with almost universal praise from Doctor Who fans. It's clear we've got people playing these 'interactive episodes' who wouldn't ordinarily play through a computer game - and the opportunity to actually be the Doctor is hugely appealing.

"Whilst the 67 per cent increase in UK visitors to the Doctor Who website is a combination of factors - not least the excellent Vincent Van Gogh section which complements episode 10 - the Adventure Games page was a significant destination. With episode two just around the corner, we're looking forward to even more people enjoying these adventures - and can't wait to see the reaction to the unveiling next week."

Doctor Who: The Adventure Games episode two will be unveiled next week in Scotland on Tuesday 22nd June 2010.

The afternoon presentation can be viewed live from 2:00pm at www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho . Anyone wishing to send questions for the afternoon session can do so by mailing thedoctor@bbc.co.uk with "Q&A Questions" in the heading.