A level Media Exam Blog

1) Videogames: Henry Jenkins - fandom and participatory culture 2) Videogames: The Sims FreePlay - Language & Representation 3) Videogames: The Sims FreePlay - Audience & Industries 4) Learner response: OSP assessment 5) Videogames: Women in videogames & Further feminist theory 6) Videogames: Horizon Forbidden West - Language & Representations 7) Videogames: Horizon Forbidden West - Audience & Industries

Audience Look at this YouGov blog on the console gaming audience and answer the following questions: 1) What statistics can you find for the number of male / female players for the major consoles? From a demographic perspective, every platform’s audience skews towards men. PlayStation 5 (68% male; 29% female) and Xbox Series X|S (68% vs. 32%) have the highest proportion of male compared to female gamers. 2) What is the difference between 'hardcore' and 'casual' gamers - and which do you think would play Horizon Forbidden West? The “hardcore” – those who say they take video games seriously, or play competitively – are a minority, and one with the highest representation on the PS5 (19%) and Xbox Series X|S (20%). Casual gamers are most common on the Nintendo Switch (45%), and the PC, where half of players identify as casual (51%).  I think hardcore gamers because they play it on PS4/PS5 or PC but I think they will be more focused and take it seriously rather than casuall...

Language Introduction Read this review of Horizon Forbidden West in the Financial Times (should be non-paywalled but you can read the text of article here if needed ). Answer the following questions: 1) Why does Guerrilla Games have 'a serious case of bad timing'? The release of Horizon Forbidden West coincided with Elden Ring, a game that overshadowed it in terms of cultural buzz and reception, despite both being strong entries in their genres​. 2) What is the narrative for the original game Horizon Zero Dawn?  The original game follows Aloy, a young hunter, as she uncovers the mysteries of a post-apocalyptic Earth dominated by robotic creatures. She discovers the truth about humanity's downfall and her role in stopping another potential catastrophe​. 3) How is the central character Aloy described?  Aloy is portrayed as a resourceful and determined protagonist who takes on the responsibility of saving her world. She is depicted as a strong and complex heroine, emphasisin...