Videogames: Lara Croft Go blog tasks 

Language

1) Who is Lara Croft and when did she first appear in a videogame?

She is the first female main character in the videogames.

2) What classic films influenced the creation of Lara Croft and the Tomb Raider games?

The Indiana Jones influenced the creation of the Lara Croft.

3) How has Lara Croft and Tomb Raider moved beyond just being a videogame?

Lara Croft has featured in films and has appeared on magazine covers more times than any supermodel.

4) What devices can you play Lara Croft Go on?

Mobile Phone.

5) What type of game is Lara Croft Go?

Turn based puzzle-adventure.

6) How does Lara Croft Go use narrative (storyline) to make the game enjoyable for the audience?

Lara Croft Go explores the ruins of an ancient civilization in the Amazon Jungle while fighting menacing enemies.

7) What iconography can be found in Lara Croft Go? How does this help communicate the genre of the game?

The double pistols. It shows that she is strong enough. 

8) What other characters or enemies feature in the game?

Enemies are snakes, spiders and salamanders. There is a Boss character at the end of the game (the Queen of Venom).

9) What is the setting for Lara Croft Go? How does this compare to previous Lara Croft or Tomb Raider games?

Lara Croft Go explores the ruins of an ancient civilization in the Amazon Jungle.

10) Read this BBC article on the history of Lara Croft and Tomb Raider. How has the character of Lara Croft evolved over the last 20 years?  

Over the years Lara Croft became less sexualized.


Representation

1) How are women usually represented in videogames?
 

They are usually represent sexualized. 

2) How does the character of Lara Croft reinforce female stereotypes in the media?

She is  an object of sexual desire.

3) How does the character of Lara Croft subvert female stereotypes in the media?

She is an action hero – traditionally a male stereotype in gaming.

4) Why do some people believe the videogames industry is sexist and needs to change?

Over the past decade, news media reports have characterized gaming as a male-dominated industry in which women are in the minority.

5) Do you think Lara Croft is an empowering feminist icon or just another objectified woman designed to appeal to male gamers?

Lara is or has been both a feminist hero and and an figure of objectification.

Industries

1) What does PEGI stand for?

Pan-European Game Information.

2) What is PEGI's job?

It warns parents and children about the potential risks of games.

3) Which company created Lara Croft Go?

Square Enix.

4) What two popular videogame franchises were combined to create Lara Croft Go?

Hitman Go and Tomb Raider.

5) What else is part of the Lara Croft/Tomb Raider franchise?

Three Films.

Audience

1) Why might an audience enjoy playing Lara Croft Go?

 Audiences get enticed into the game as they solve puzzle-solving problems.

2) Where and when might an audience play a game like Lara Croft Go? Think about the device it is played on and the times of the day someone might want to play the game.

The audience might play this while going somewhere (train or bus), at a break, at home. 

3) How did Square Enix design Lara Croft to make it appealing to an audience?

Animator did an amazing job of quickly producing a first batch of short animations for Lara, and immediately everything felt better

4) Which of Blumler and Katz's Uses and Gratifications theory might apply to Lara Croft Go?

2 of them can be applied those being diversion and personal relationships this is because by playing the game you are being "diverted" from reality, and personal relationships because of how people may feel towards Lara Croft.

5) Who is the target audience for Lara Croft Go? How does brand loyalty contribute to this target audience?

Tomb Raider fans who find the video game nostalgic and audiences who enjoy the quality of the game.

Exam practice optional extension task:

The audience of videogames is incredibly increasing because the range of games is increasing as well. You can find a game about everything in example "Lara Croft Go". This game is about the adventures of a strong, fearless woman. The game have simple but very pleasant 3D graphic with a interesting mechanics and good music which creates the Amazon Jungle atmosphere. The Action Adventure genre don't let audience to get bored.  

OSP & Videogames: An introduction

 

OSP & Videogames: An introduction

Videogames

1) What were the first videogames like?

It was a very simple tennis game, similar to the classic 1970s video game Pong.

2) How have videogames changed over time?

Three big trends are changing the video game industry: better technology, metaverse-style environments, and new monetization models.

3) What do the most successful games have in common? Answer this in as much detail as you can. Think about audience pleasures - what do people like about playing videogames?

The enjoyment and relaxation gained from gaming, having no constraints in games like in one may have in real life, the artistry of the game, and the interactivity and competitiveness of a game.

4) What criticisms have been made towards videogames?

Gaming often means spending a lot of time by yourself. If you are a super social person, this can make gaming seem totally unappealing.

Fortnite

1) At the time of the article, how many Fortnite players were there worldwide? (Bonus question - how many are there now? Try Googling it.)

350 million players

2) Why is it so popular? What are the audience pleasures of the game?

I think because of Exciting Mechanics. Unlike some of the most popular games in the same genre, Fortnite allows players to play with different skills, where many are optional. It's also a great stealth game; many players can come out on top without having to fire their weapons once.

3) Why might some people criticise Fortnite?

There are many reasons that people dislike Fortnite. Some people find the game to be too repetitive, others don't like the cartoonish graphics, and still others find the gameplay to be too chaotic. Additionally, some people simply don't enjoy battle royale games in general.

4) Copy and paste two comments from 'below the line' of the Guardian article - these are comments written by Guardian readers in response to the feature. Select one comment you agree with and one you disagree with and explain why.

“That game shouldn’t be allowed. Where is the benefit of having it in your household?” Prince Harry told reporters at the event, according to the BBC. Prince Harry added that he thinks Fortnite is too addictive, especially for young players.

( I disagree with this comment because parents can just put a limit on how much time children spend playing Fortnite)

“It’s created to addict, an addiction to keep you in front of a computer for as long as possible,” the prince said Thursday. “It’s so irresponsible.”

( I agree with this comment because a lot of people are addicted to videogames)

TV assessment: Learner Response

TV assessment: Learner Response

1) Type up your feedback from your teacher in full (you do not need to write marks/grades if you do not wish to).

01.1. Not quite mise-es-scene (costume, setting, props).

01.2. Some strong points, Bohdan! To develop, be specific with what you're describing, e.g. which character? 

Touch more on:

    - setting

    - props

    - storyline

01.3. Some good examples but not enough media terminology linked to specific examples.

02. Some good basic exploration but not enough terminology or exploration of industries / characters / representations.

2) Look at the mark scheme document linked above. Write an answer for question 1.1 on mise-en-scene.

01.1. Mise-en-scene

•   Will’s costume – makes him look like he is from our world
•   The two children they are chasing – costume and make-up to make

             them look abandoned/homeless.

•  Setting – empty city.
•  Actor movement – the chase scene.
•  Props – the drinks and bread.

3) Look at question 1.2. Write ONE narrative feature in the extract you could have written for this answer.