Videogames case study 1: Lara Croft Go

Language

1) Who is Lara Croft and when did she first appear in a videogame?
Lara Croft Go is a turn-based puzzle video game in the Tomb Raider franchise. Its core gameplay and control scheme is similar to its predecessor, Hitman Go. Levels are composed of interconnected nodes and lines. The player controls the series' protagonist, Lara Croft.

2) What classic films influenced the creation of Lara Croft and the Tomb Raider games?
The Indiana Jones films influences Lara Croft and the Tomb raider games.

3) How has Lara Croft and Tomb Raider moved beyond just being a videogame?
Lara croft has been in magazines and films and she's been advertised globally however she's been called a sex symbol worldwide.   

4) What devices can you play Lara Croft Go on?
Lara croft go can be played on mobile,tablet.

5) What type of game is Lara Croft Go?
Lara croft go is a turn based puzzle.

6) How does Lara Croft Go use narrative (storyline)?
Lara croft narrative is based on continuous levels you have to pass. 

7) What iconography can be found in Lara Croft Go? How does this help communicate the sub-genre of videogame?
The game includes items you can grab and take which will help you pass levels.

8) What other characters or enemies feature in the game?
The Queen of Venom antagonist 

9) What is the setting for Lara Croft Go? How does this compare to previous Lara Croft or Tomb Raider games?
It's on an island where other tomb raider games been based on to.

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?
Lara is a explorer with brown eyes and hair, ponytail. Her costume is usually a blue top, brown shorts,high boots and long socks. Her original back story was that she was the daughter of an aristocrat who had a plane crash in a unknown island. 

Representation

1) How are women usually represented in videogames?
Women are usually presented in video games as vulnerable damsel in distress.

2) How does the character of Lara Croft reinforce female stereotypes in the media?
She reinforces her role as she's a sex symbol which is still going on in the media .

3) How does the character of Lara Croft subvert female stereotypes in the media?
she subverts females as she has normal male aspects as in infallible.

4) Why do some people believe the videogames industry is sexist and needs to change?
They think it's its sexiest because there's normally a focus on male characters.

5) Do you think Lara Croft is an empowering feminist icon or just another objectified woman designed to appeal to male gamers?
yes as she has power however she is also represented a sex symbol.

Industries

1) What does PEGI stand for?
PEGI stands for Pan European Game Information.

2) What is PEGI's job?
PEGI's job is to inform audience of videogames what age the games are acceptable for and what to watch out for in them.

3) Which company created Lara Croft Go?
Square enix was the company that created lara croft go.

4) What two popular videogame franchises were combined to create Lara Croft Go?
tomb raider and hitman

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

Audience

1) Why might an audience enjoy playing Lara Croft Go?
They may enjoy puzzle and adventurous games.

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.
They can practically play it anywhere in there free time.

3) How did Square Enix design Lara Croft to make it appealing to an audience?
Square Enix designed Lara Croft to appeal to an audience by making the game have interesting levels and rewards to make the audience want to play more.

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

5) Who is the target audience for Lara Croft Go? How does brand loyalty contribute to this target audience?
The target audience for Lara croft go is the loyal fans that play hitman and lara croft.

A brief history of videogames: blog task

Watch the YouTube video outlining the history of the videogames industry from the 1970s to the 2010s. Now answer the following questions:

1) What were the first videogames like? The first games were very simple and unproblematic.

2) How have videogames changed over time? Many thing's changed such as higher quality  

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? Most gamers are interested in shooting game as its very addictive compared to other genres.

4) What criticisms have been made towards videogames?Definitely  the age ratings as younger kids are playing games that are 18+ which is very bad as it could affect there mindset.

Read this Guardian feature from last year about the sensationally popular videogame Fortnite: Battle Royale and watch the original trailer below.




Now answer the following questions:

1) How many Fortnite players are there worldwide? There are 250 million people playing fortnite. 

2) Why is it so popular? What are the audience pleasures of the game? The game is very addictive as its a shooting and building game.The game itself has great graphics and a good story line.

3) Why might some people criticise Fortnite?Young kids take that advantage of not attending school just to play fortnite which they end up missing important lessons for themselves.

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.
1st comment: "A fantastic game for all the family. The violence is cartoon-like, not gratuitous or graphic. I limit my children to only playing the Playstation at the weekends. Simple."
I agree with this comment because the game is cartoon-like unlike violent games like gta which includes swearing, stealing, drugs etc.Whereas fortnite only has shooting.