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AS Media StudiesMS1: Media Representations and

Responses

Video Games Case Study

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Learning objectives: to explore contexts of video gaming

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Starter- Video Games statistics

What do you know about video games?

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Average age of today’s gamer

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Average number of years gamers have been playing

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Percentage of gamers over 18

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Percentage of female gamers

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Percentage of gamers playing with others on and off line

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Percentage of gamers who play on smartphones

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1. What percentage of US households play video games?

+Answers

Average age of today’s gamer – 30

Average number of years gamers have been playing – 13

Percentage of gamers over 18 – 68%

Percentage of female gamers – 45%

Percentage of gamers playing with others on and off line – 62%

Percentage of gamers who play on smartphones – 36%

Are you surprised about any of these statistics? Why?

+Some points to consider…

Conservative estimates of the worth of the industry are as high as $40 billion

Some of last years top grossing movies became video games

Video console/game capacity, storage, speed, complexity increases every year

Nearly 95% of games originate from America/Europe/Japan

There are hundreds of millions of players

There are millions of different games

There are thousands of game licensing/ design companies

There are thousands of game shops and magazines

There are 3 major game consoles

There are 3 major/ multi-media companies supporting successful game consoles

Mobile gaming on phones and tablets is growing year on year spawning lucrative franchises

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There are a range of arguments and counter-arguments about video games and their effect

You must navigate this maze of detail and express your own balanced opinions about how certain video games represent key issues

You must do this by using evidence from your case studies

+Using the facts provided, answer the following questions

Why are video games so popular?

Why do games often become movies?

Why do games get faster, more detailed, more complex?

Why are there so many different games?

Why are there so few successful consoles?

Who controls the gaming industry?

To what extent do you think games reinforce hegemonic values?

+Look at the top 10, advert and review on your worksheet

What do these details tell you about ‘game’ culture?

What kind of games dominate? Why?

What kinds of themes dominate these games? Why?

What kind of images and language dominate these details? Why?

What kinds of games are rated highly? Why?

Can you make any points about how these games may use or represent gender, race and nationality and violence? Why do they do this?

What do you think of the images and language used to promote this game? Who is it being sold to? Comment on psychographic profiling.

+Watch the first 10 mins of ‘How Video Games Changed the World’ (C4, 2013)

Where did video games emerge from?What form did they take in their formative years (late 1970’s and early 1980’s)?What were some fo the landmark games of this period?

Play clip

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Learning objective: to explore game genres and categories

+Genre in video gamesStarterHow many different genres of video games can you think of?

Provide examples for each.

What are the conventions of video games? Try to suggest common elements that can be applied to ANY game, regardless of genre.

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Some examples…

+First-person shooter (FPS)

+Third Person Shooter (3PS)

+Simulator

+Survival horror (3ps sub-genre)

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In six small groups, provide key points to each of these discussion points. Rotate each category until you have addressed each one. Why are videogames so popular? Why do games often become movies? Why do games get faster, more detailed, more complex? Why are there so many different games? Why are there so few successful consoles? Who controls the gaming industry?

+Watch the extract of ‘How Video Games Changed the World’ (C4, 2013)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GzCINe0V9GE

What was changing in video gaming?

What did Britain contribute?

Nintendo are obviously still a major producer of video games. What did the Mario franchise do for the industry?

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Learning objectives: to explore moral panic and video games

+Some critics believe that:

because of the success and market penetration of games into our consumer society, their influence should be studied.

Because of their attempt at realism and use of high interactivity – we must question their messages and influence.

Because they are often aimed at children, we should question how they work to socialise children into accepting certain values and ideas.

+Case Study: Manhunt 2, Rockstar Games, 2007

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Watch the trailer and gameplay for Manhunt 2

Manhunt 2 trailer

Gameplay violence

What genre is this game?

What cinematic genres are evident?

What are your own thoughts on the images and themes in this game?

+Read the article from the BBC News website and answer the questions What were the main concerns of the BBFC over

this game?

How might we apply the hypodermic syringe model (below) to video games such as Manhunt 2 and GTA 4?

To what extent might this article be seen as a part of a moral panic on video games?

+Watch the documentary – The Agony and the Ecstasy (30mins) What is a ‘Moral Panic’?

Where did it originate?

What are the fundamental components of Stan Cohen’s theory of Moral Panic?

How can we apply this theory to video games?

Moral Panic doc part 1

Moral Panic doc part 2

Moral Panic doc part 3

+Stan Cohen’s Moral Panic theory

Identifyproblem

Simplify

Stigmatise

Media campaign for action

Authorities

respond

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Learning objectives – to explore regulation of video games

+Starter: use Cohen’s theory and apply to the article on Manhunt 2 published on the BBC News website in June 2007

Identifyproblem

Simplify

Stigmatise

Media campaign for action

Authorities

respond

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Read through this article. What argument does Rockstar, the games developer, offer as a counter-argument against the BBFC’s ruling?

Vs.

+Government responsesThe Byron Review (2008) (refer to your booklets for a full explanation of this report – page 7)

Use of the Internet and videogames is extensive among children of all ages, and the use of these can be beneficial since they offer opportunities for learning and development.

There exists in both media material that is potentially inappropriate for children, both in terms of content and safety online.

The report does not focus on whether the media itself causes harm to children but instead looks at how the media can be used to make children's lives better.

TASK 1: Watch the following extract from a debate in parliament (2009) about violence in video games. Summarise the opposing arguments. PLAY CLIP

TASK 2: Write a paragraph that argues that this is a more effective response than that of censorship as a consequence of moral panic. Use Manhunt 2 as an example.

+As of 2012…

Replaces

+‘How Video Games Changed the World’ – part 3 (From 40min—60min)

How were video games changing?

What were the concerns in the wider media?

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Learning objectives: to identify examples of intertextuality in video games

+INTERTEXTUALITY IN VIDEO GAMES

Watch extracts from Red Dead Redemption (Rockstar Games, 2010).What can you identify here in terms of genre? Consider film as well as video games.

Play clip (fast forward to 6 mins)

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Watch the trailers for Red Dead Redemption and the film The Good, The Bad and the Ugly (Sergio Leone, US/Italy, 1966). What similarities can you identify?Consider themes as well as genre.

Red Dead Redemption trailer

The Good, the Bad and the Ugly trailer

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Key Word: Intertextuality: When one media text deliberately references another. This can be used as a short cut to establish themes and ideas. It can also be used to attract similar audiences or reflect similar meanings. The Simpson’s and Family Guy are two TV shows that do this a lot, often to comic effect.

Why do you think it has been used in this game? Why did it not just choose to have a ‘western’ setting, rather than invoking an iconic film such as this?

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Watch the rest of the video games documentary

What does this say about the state of video games today?

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Learning outcomes – to have planned and started a response to an exam question using the case study work covered in class

+Writing a response (45 mins)

With reference to your own detailed examples, explore how audiences are categorised by the producers of media texts.

Consider the following categories:

Those who consume mainstream titles

Perceived ‘victims’ of video gaming (moral panic)

‘Non-gamers’ / those who may not traditionally have an interest in video games

1. Match up each item on the hand out to one of the three categories.

2. Begin writing a response to the set question. You should divide up your response using these categories. Draw together a conclusion at the end.

Tips…

Be specific in your response – use the case studies from class / your booklets

Use quotes where possible

Include theory

Make sure that you are answering the set question

+Directed Study Task

Complete the response in you DST sessions. This will be submitted on MONDAY.

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Watch the remaining part of the video games documentary

Can Twitter be considered a video game? What arguments are put forward in the documentary?