Computer Game Revision

Codes, Conventions & Analysis

A little introduction to

computer games........

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w76cf2Dce9I

How much is the computer games industry worth in the UK?

How much is the computer games industry worth in the UK?

Entertainment software, games consoles and PC gaming accessories generated a total of £2.875 billion in the UK in 2010 (figures from www.iabuk.net)

In 2010 Microsoft sold 18.2 million Xbox 360s and generated £538 million from these sales. This was followed by Sony, which sold 13.8 million Playstation 3s. It made £414 million in revenue

It recently became the country's most valuable purchased entertainment market, with combined software and hardware sales topping the £4bn mark for the first time: more than DVD and music sales combined, and more than four times cinema box office takings

Codes and Conventions

Video Game Genres• http://

www.youtube.com/watch?v=n_UzeWU_bjM - Charlie Brooker ‘Games Wipe’

How many video game genres can you remember?

List Of Genres• Shooter - One of the oldest genres of video game is the classic shooter• First-Person-Shooter (or FPS) - This is an example of a sub-genre that has grown enough to

become its own genre• Adventure - Another of the first video game genres, especially from the computer platforms, was the

adventure game. • Platform - It is believed that the platform genre began in 1981 with the release of the games Donkey

Kong and Space Panic. Games within this genre are usually identified by navigating environments that require timing and jumping in order to reach a destination while avoiding and/or disposing of enemies.

• Role Playing Games (RPGs) - Evolving from pen-and-paper games like Dungeons and Dragons, RPGs are a special type of adventure game that usually incorporate several elements.

• Puzzle - In many ways, puzzle video games are not dissimilar from traditional puzzles. What they offer are unique environments that are not as easily introduced in one's living room.

• Simulations - By their nature, simulations are attempts to accurately re-create an experience. • Strategy/Tactics - Like simulations, strategy/tactics games attempt to capture a sense of realism for

the game player to experience. • Sports - As you can imagine, sports games are those that simulate the playing of sports. • Fighting - These titles pit player against player (usually 2 players head-to-head) and involve one

triumphing over the other• Dance/Rhythm - Dance Dance Revolution is probably the single largest franchise in this genre.• Hybrids - It's important to recognize that many games are not limited to a single genre. Some are the

combination of two or more game types. In fact, as gaming evolves, we see lines blurred between genres more frequently than not.

Representations & Ideology• The majority of games are based on conflict. The conflict will

be between the ‘player’ and the ‘enemy’. The representation of this enemy can be very significant. They are usually humanoid to some degree such as Aliens, Robots or Zombies. However there is a growing trend towards basing games in ‘the real world’ where enemies are everyday people.

• Games are often based on war scenarios, in a historical or futuristic setting, in a world realistic to our own.

• Enemies in games are often male, with females often assigned to the role of allies and helpers. Sometimes there are female protagonist (Lara Croft) but they are purposely designed to be aesthetically pleasing to the male game player.

Audience

What is the percentage of males to females who play video games?

Who are the target audience for computer games?Main types of gamers:

In the United States, the average video game player is 35 and has been playing video games for over 12 years.

In the UK, the average video game player is over 23 years old, has played video games for over 10 years, and spends around 12.6 hours a week playing video games.

The term "gamer" is composed of several subgroups.

Casual gamerA casual gamer is a player whose time or interest in playing games is limited. Casual gamers tend to play games designed for ease of gameplay and don't spend much time playing more involved games. The genres that casual gamers play vary, and they might not own a specific video game console to play their games. One casual gamer subset is the "fitness gamer", who plays motion-based exercise games.

■People who are really bad at games, so need easy games ■People who only play games at work during lunch breaks ■People over the age of 40 who play on the Wii ■People who mostly play games socially ■Kids and adolescents

Hardcore gamerHardcore gamers prefer to take significant time and practice on games, and tend to play more involved games that require larger amounts of time to complete or master. Hardcore gamers may take part in video game culture. Competition is another defining characteristic of hardcore gamers, who often compete in organized tournaments, leagues, or ranked play integrated into the game proper.

Target AudienceIn groups, look at the following video game trailers and answer these questions:

What genre are they?

What is their target audience?

What codes and conventions of the computer game do they use?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ccWrbGEFgI8 Gears Of War

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AGzOKbVC2r8 Little Big Planet Trailer

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p7BAUNzJvts The Sims 3

Representations

How are people represented in computer

games?A survey revealed that males, adults and white people are over-represented in games. Females, black people, children and the elderly are correspondingly under-represented.

Williams and his team found that male characters are "vastly more likely to appear" in games than females. They made up 85 per cent of characters, compared to 51 per cent of the real population.

Compared to the real population, African Americans were under-represented by 13 per cent and Hispanic/Latino people by 78 per cent. Asians were over-represented by 25 per cent and white people by 7 per cent.

StereotypesHow are people represented in this trailer

for Grand Theft Auto?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R6eCIzxNn4Q&feature=relmfu

Are they positive or negative representations?

Institutions

What Institutions are behind video games?

What Institutions are behind video games?

The Big three -

Nintendo – Founded on September 23, 1889. As of October 18, 2010, Nintendo has sold over 565 million hardware units and 3.4 billion software units. Consoles include NES, SNES, Nintendo 64, Gameboy, Wii.

Sony – Founded 7 May 1946. In September 2000 Sony had a net worth of $100 billion, but by December 2011 it had plunged to $18 billion. Consoles include Playstation, PSP, Playstation Vita.

Microsoft – Established on April 4, 1975. Company valued at $41 billion. Consoles include X-Box, X-Box 360.

List of game PublishersActivision BlizzardElectronic Arts KonamiUbisoftTake-Two InteractiveSquare EnixTHQNamco BandaiSega Sammy HoldingsCapcomShanda InteractiveNexon CorporationNCSoftMTV GamesPerfect WorldZyngaTecmo KoeiChangyou Disney InteractiveAtlus

The top 10 companies now have a combined revenue of over 24 billion USD, in a market estimated to be worth well over 50 billion USD.

Focus - Family games and motion sensitive technology:How do these different institutions advertise their product?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IYMEB8on1UE Wii ‘Family Time’ ad

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k7pi4KHUtBk Xbox connect ad

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cm0XLv0i5ls Playstation move ad

The End