Across Japan Twitter users responded to the challenge of a Nico Nico Douga developer to try an crash the Nico Nico Douga website right at the climax of a free airing of the Hayao Miyazaki anime film “Laputa: Castle in the Sky”.
He wanted everyone to join in with the main characters Pazu and Sheeta and say the spell word “balse” across the internet right at the crucial moment. Japanese viewers responded with 25,088 tweets per second (tps) that smashed the previous social network record of 8,868 tps when Beyoncé announced being pregnant.
“Castle in the Sky” was airing on NTV Friday December 9th beginning at 9pm and was being simulcast on Nico Nico Douga internet streaming. The 1986 film, which was getting only its 13th airing on TV and free streaming, was a newly re-mastered version and the airing brought in a 15.9% viewership.
The Nico Nico Douga developer reported the site “pulsed” but didn’t fail as they processed all the twitter messages. Nico Nico Douga is similar to YouTube but has a unique streaming across the video comment system. Many of the comments are made at the site while viewers are watching the video stream but the site is also able to take tagged tweets and post as comments.
Source: Nico Nico Douga via ANN
