AQA GCSE Media Studies

Unit 1 Investigating the MediaExam Topic: Promotion and Marketing of Video Games

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Lesson 11

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Starter

What type of gamer are you? Casual Mid-core Hardcore (serious) Pro Newbie Retro gamer

Stand next to the poster of the gaming type you think you are.

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Casual

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Mid-core

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Hardcore

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Pro

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Newbie

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Retro gamer

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Gamer Profiles

A casual gamer:

Has limited time or interest Plays easy games Is usually female Plays apps or social networking games

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Gamer Profiles

A mid-core gamer:

• Plays lots of different types of game• Will buy games but may not finish them• Is more likely to play on handheld devices, such

as Wii U, PlayStation Vita or Nintendo DS

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Gamer Profiles

A hardcore gamer:

• Has a lifestyle that is nothing but gaming• Buys lots of games• Will endeavour to master the game objectives• Takes part in competitions, tournaments or

leagues

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Gamer Profiles

A pro gamer:

• Has a lifestyle which is nothing but gaming• Buys lots of games• Will endeavour to master the game objectives• Takes part in competitions, tournaments or

leagues• Plays for money – a salary (sponsored,

particularly in Asia or USA)

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Gamer Profiles

A newbie gamer:

• Is someone new to playing games in general• Is new to playing a particular game

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Gamer Profiles

A retro gamer:

• Likes to play classic old games on emulators• Has the old types of console – Game Boy, old

arcade machines

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Gamer Profiles

Have you changed your mind about the gaming profile you chose?

Stand next to the gaming profile.

Why?

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Audience Statistics: Video Games

You will be given a section of a report which was produced by the ISFE (Interactive Software Federation of Europe) on UK video-gaming statistics for November 2012.

Your job is to summarise the information in your section and put it into a PowerPoint presentation.

Five sections – five groups

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Presenting the Statistics

Each group will now present their section.

Make notes on key information you find out as you watch and listen to the presentation.

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Uses and Gratifications Theory

The Perceptions of Gaming section states that people play games because:

They want to be entertained They want to have fun They want to be competitive They want to escape They want to immerse themselves

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Uses and Gratifications Theory

Jay Blumler and Elihu Katz developed an audience theory that allows us to see what people 'do' with their media rather than what the media does to them.

• Entertainment – diversion or escape from day-to-day routines

• Relationships – where they use the ‘text’ to form relationships with others, i.e. online communities, discussion with friends

• Information – learning about the world, learning new things

• Identity – where the ‘text’ helps you to identify with something and to reinforce your own values

Remember that ‘text’ can be any type of media, such as a book, image, film, music or a video game.

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Uses and Gratifications Theory

Why do you play games?

Complete the following activity:

Don’t forget the different platforms, i.e. console, handheld, mobile, Internet, social networking.

Games I play Platform used What uses and gratifications do I get from the games I play?

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Extension

How else could the audience be profiled or segmented? What other kinds of video-game users are there?

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Plenary

Were you listening?

1. What was the percentage of the online population who play video games ?

2. There are more female gamers than male gamers – true or false?

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Plenary

Were you listening?

3. What is the number one barrier to playing video games?

Pick one – Not interested

I can’t get to the shopI prefer eating food

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Plenary

Were you listening?

4. The most common reason parents play games with their children is to spend more time with them.

True or false?

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Plenary

Answers

1. 40%2. False3. Not interested4. True

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Homework

Essay question:

Playing violent video games may be more harmful than violent television and films, because of the interactive nature of the games. Do you agree?

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