Component One: Section B Investigating Media Industries and Audiences

1. Component One: Section B Investigating Media Industries and Audiences Assassins Creed 3: Liberation Summary of Textbook p.115-119

2. Key Terms and Definitions: PEGI: Pan European Game Information is a video game rating and classification system in Europe which utilizes Age ratings and content descriptions. To aid consumers in making informed decisions on what to buy and what is appropriate. MMORPG: a genre of game that is self explanitory, it stands for Mass-Multiplayer Online Role Playing Game (like World Of Warcraft) Persistent Worlds: a common feature of MMORPG's meaning that the game continues despite whether the player is still present (replicating an aspect of real life) CRPG: Computer Role Playing Game Augmented Reality: Computer generated content overlaid on a real world environment. It ranges from handheld hardware to specially designed headsets Avatar: the players representation of themselves within the game PlayStation Vita: a handheld gameconsole developed and released by sony interactive entertainment as a successor to the psp as a part of the playstation brand Ubisoft: a french global game publisher and developer. It is currently the third largest game publisher in Europe and the states.  Transgressive Behaviour: behaviour that goes beyond the norms of social acceptibility

3. Historical Context of Video Games Industry Popular Consoles: PlayStation PS2 PS3 PSP PSVita PS4 PS4 Pro Gameboy NES SNES N64 GameCube Wii Wii U NDS 3DS Switch Xbox 360 Xbox One PC Mobile (SmartPhone) Overview: In comparison to other genres of media, this industry is fairly new but with rapid growth. Games can be played on a range of different consoles with online multiplayer, but cross console online and compatibility is still fairly unheard of. Gamers are  no longer stereotypical and have a wide range of demographics. Games are now taken more seriously and treated as such (are studied).

4. Regulation of the Video Games Industry Overview: Due to this being a new and experimental media, regulation became a rather sensitive issue, with multiple issues with young people being blamed on them. As well as age restrictions often being ignored. In 2012 the VSC (Video Standards Council) started regulating and classifying games using pegi's system.

5. Regulation of the Video Games Industry Why is regulation necessary? Regulation is necessary to aid consumers in making informed decisions on which product to buy as well as protecting the compony from any legal problems concerning complaints about the consequences of inappropriate content. What is PEGI? Pan European Game Information is a video game rating and classification system in Europe which utilizes Age ratings and content descriptions. To aid consumers in making informed decisions on what to buy and what is appropriate.

6. What’s the Audience Appeal of Video Games? They give the user experiences unique to the product or genre. Persistent worlds equally adds realism to aid with escapism. Gimmick tech like augmented reality is often appealing for a short amount of time. These games often require the player reach a certain goal so as to not be aimless with an increasing difficulty as the game progresses. They are often intertextual. Graphics and camera angles can change a games appeal (like god of war being in one long camera shot). Avatars add a sense of freedom and customisability when it comes to escapism, entertainment of relatability. It has become a social activity.

7. Set Product: Assassins Creed 3: Liberation Production, Distribution and Circulation: The game was developed by Ubisoft and released on the PSVita alongside Assassins Creed III for PS3. It was released in North America, Europe and Japan with Multinational development in production. The PSVita was built with smartphone capabilities like wi-fi and Bluetooth. It is a well known franchise game and known for release over multiple platforms. Its was PEGI 18. It linked to the main game. DLC was a possibility.

8. Set Product: Assassins Creed 3: Liberation Economic Context Summary: The game has a female protagonist this could be seen as appealing to a different demographic. The mobile aim could suggest a more casual playstyle. Identifying like this is known as targeting and construction. The cross platform link allows for a different demographic appeal. Convergent technology available via DLC.

9. Set Product: Assassins Creed 3: Liberation Watch the trailer https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q5RxYUw4DFY How important is the trailer in the marketing of the game? Very much so, as it is what the game is being advertised as to attract the correct audiences. Whether its to do with culture or lifestyle, the trailer helps advise the correct demographic on the possible purchase.

10. Set Product: Assassins Creed 3: Liberation What is the Unique Selling Point of the PS Vita?: Its mobile while being more powerful than a smartphone and having exclusive titles Who is the Target Audience?: Possible female or progressive alterative audience, with large appeal to the already established fan base with another target being the mobile gaming industry's audience. Why do you think the creators of the game included the (female/mixed race) character of Aveline de Grandpre?   It helps avoid criticism as well as attracting and new demographic. it equally helps locate a younger audience.

11. Set Product: Assassins Creed 3: Liberation Social and Cultural Context: What issues are subject to debate in the gaming industry and why? The affect of misrepresentation or lack of representation of gender issues as well as race.

12. Set Product: Assassins Creed 3: Liberation Study the following gameplay: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L97VKWGPo78 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VVmgHaL-ljs Key Question: Do you think that Aveline is a positive role model for female game players? It can be perceived as strong however it would not be classed as positive by many as the game contains very many illegal actions as well as inappropriate as the games puzzles or content.

13. Key Theory: Bandura – Media Effects What does Bandura suggest in his idea? (3 key points) The media can implant ideas in the mind of the audience directly. That audience acquires attitudes and responses via modeling That media representations of transgressive behavior such as violence can cause audience members to imitate those forums of behavior.

14. Key Theory: Bandura – Media Effects Key Question: Do you agree with his theory? Can playing violent video games lead audiences to imitating them in real life? No Because the cause and affect are the wrong way around, its that types of people are attracted to types of games, the games don't make them that way. Only works with impressionable (very young) children who cant separate fantasy from reality.