Articles Week 3

The Daily Mail

Britain's coronavirus crisis could last until Spring 2021 with up to 8 million people - or 15% of the population - hospitalised, secret NHS briefing reveals - as death toll leaps 14 in a day to 35.

• This news story is about the current global epidemic that has caused huge uproars and thousands of deaths. It has been approximately a few weeks since the official name of the epidemic and has already caused 6.5 thousand deaths.
• The article claims that the virus will die down in summer and reappear in winter. If the rates of death keep going at the same rate as right now, that means there will be 78 thousand deaths. That figure alone is horrifying.
• This is an example of hard news as it is an important in the time news story that affects everyone nationally and globally.
• It may appeal to audiences as it is still happening in current time. People want to stay up to date with the news of this deadly virus. Furthermore any notices on shut downs and lock downs are likely to appear so people would read this to find out what happens next.
• Since the story is about a current issue that we all face today. Its seriousness and importance are definitely an example of quality journalism and not clickbait.

The i

Coronavirus: UK death toll reaches 35 in largest rise of Covid-19 deaths since global pandemic began

• This news story is about rapid growing number of coronavirus death cases in the UK.
• The deaths on Friday sat at 11, jumping to 21 on Saturday and jumping a further 14 to hit 35 on Sunday.
• This is an example of hard news as it shows audiences serious and important news that affects the majority of people in the world. 
• As for how it appeals to audience members, since the disease is such a wide spread disease killing thousands of people across the globe, it means that people would been keen to keep up on the news of this.
• This article is not clickbait as there are actual statistics that prove the words of the article.

Newspapers: Regulation

1) Keith Perch used to edit the Leicester Mercury. How many staff did it have at its peak and where does Perch see the paper in 10 years' time?

Leicester Mercury had 130 staff members at its peak.
Perch sees the paper if print, very expensive and small circulation but if online , then it will be free with less staff running it.

2) How does Perch view the phone hacking scandal?

He suggests that because the police didn’t handle the case well, the newspaper had to get involved which meant that they got caught in between  it.


3) What does IPSO stand for and how does it work?

IPSO-  Independent Press Standards Organization
If a newspaper has a complaint and doesn’t do anything within 28 days IPSO intervenes and sees if it is eligible for a adrift and then they demand a rectification of the page.

4) What is Perch's view of newspaper ownership?

He thinks that newspapers shouldn’t be owned and harshly regulated, especially big coorperations such as Rupert Murdoch’s brands. He is a believer in freedom of speech.

5) Do you agree with his view that broadcast news should have less regulation so that TV channels can support particular political parties or people?

No, I think broadcast news should have more regulation to make sure there is less false news and immoral activity occurring within the stories that are being put out.



Write an essay on your blog answering the following question:

What are the arguments for and against statutory regulation of the newspaper industry? 

Your answer should be at least 750 words and feature a minimum of five paragraphs.

The newspaper industry carries many questions about the regulation process. There are many arguments for and against this matter.

Some people who are against the idea of statutory regulation argue that it goes against a simple idea of freedom of speech. By having the government filter what people decide to write in the papers acts as a barrier for people to not be able to express their own thoughts aloud. Even though a test had been carried out showing that 80% of the people had voted for a statutory regulation to occur, it has been later shown that only 50% of people vote meaning it does not take account of everyone hence making the statistics unreliable.

On the other hand, there are people who are for the idea of statutory regulation. As time goes on, we start to see more and more diverse news stories. Some good but some are not so. The papers are not limited to a certain age group and anyone can read them including very young children. By having content that may not be suitable for them (Eg. deaths, serious injuries or any other harmful content to children) on the newspaper, it becomes an issue for them. Furthermore, it is also argued that certain topics are morally wrong. Topics such as war photography can be seen as immoral. Taking pictures of the suffering and horrible war sights can be a huge shock to readers.

This can then be argued that the war photographers are there to put out and educate the readers to show them what war is like. It is argued to be a form of educational information. The use of taboo topics is there because people need to know about what the world consists of.. They believe that people should know everything without restrictions and that means doing anything inn order to make sure that people get all the information possible to them.

However, this also touches upon the human right of privacy. Taking the Miller Dowler case into consideration, the hacking of the dead girls phone was a direct invasion of privacy whether she was dead or not. By doing whatever journalist wanted to do in order to gain new information to the point of even hacking into the personal privacy of a dead girl was seem as outrageous and fuelled the argument for why statutory regulation should be put in place. A violation of human rights is not to be joked about and neither should it me tolerated.

In conclusion, I believe that statutory regulation should definitely be put in place as there are just too many things in the media that are either harmful to children of tap into the immoral actions. I do believe that people should have freedom of speech but the way they pass on their point should change. By having the government check through the articles allows there to be a standard to what kind of information and pictures are being put into the papers that should affect not only one group of people but everyone around the globe. If people have decided to vote for the current government, they should be able to trust them enough to regulate the newspapers.

Newspaper: News Values

1) Come up with a news story from the last 12 months for each of the categories suggested by Harriss, Leiter and Johnson:
Conflict - North Korea fires at least 3 unidentified projectiles, South Korean military says
Progress - China's aggressive measures have slowed the Coronavirus
Disaster - Coronavirus: Italy in 'massive shock therapy' pledge to offset virus impact
Consequence - Economic impact of coronavirus outbreak deepens
Prominence - Katy Perry's heartbreak as grandma dies days after announcing pregnancy
Novelty - Natwest hole in the wall joins Derbyshire town's Tripadvisor top attractions list

2) What example news story does the Factsheet use to illustrate Galtung and Ruge's News Values? Why is it an appropriate example of a news story likely to gain prominent coverage?

• Asylum: You're right to worry

• This story would gain coverage as it talks about immigration and the negative perspective on asyluim seekers which is a popluar story in the UK

3) What is gatekeeping?

• Gatekeeping relates to the process of filtering information prior to dissemination. 

4) What are the six ways bias can be created in news?

• How bias is created: 
• Bias through selection and omission
• Bias through placement
• Bias by headline
• Bias by photos, captions, and camera angles
• Bias through use of names and titles
• Bias by choice of words

5) How have online sources such as Twitter, bloggers or Wikileaks changed the way news is selected and published?

• They arent from actual journalists, they are from regular internet users who share what they please.

6) Complete the task on the last page of the Factsheet regarding Sky News and Twitter:

What does this reveal about how Sky views Twitter as a news source?

• It views it as a reliable and powerful news source.

What does it say about how news is being produced?

• It relies on the power of the audience and what they would like to show 

What role does the audience have in this process?

• A very powerful role as they have control over news outlets 

Why might this be a problem for journalistic standards?

• They could be made redundant.

7) In your opinion, how has the digital age changed Galtung and Ruge’s news values?
The digital age has meant more values arent as reliable on audiences.


8) How would you update them for 2018? Choose TWO of Galtung and Ruge's news values and say how they have been affected by the growth of digital technology.
Unexpectedness: Social media can retrieve news a lot faster than news outlets.
Clarity or lack of ambiguity: Fake news clashes with the clarity and reliability

Future of journalism

1) Why does Clay Shirky argue that 'accountability journalism' is so important and what example does he give of this?

He thinks accountability journalism is way for illegal journalism to be called out and rectified.

2) What does Shirky say about the relationship between newspapers and advertisers? Which websites does he mention as having replaced major revenue-generators for newspapers (e.g. jobs, personal ads etc.)?

Some newspapers that have advertising on them also contain quality journalism,but due to the need to pay, some advertisers find it difficult to remain a good relationship

3) Shirky talks about the 'unbundling of content'. This means people are reading newspapers in a different way. How does he suggest audiences are consuming news stories in the digital age?

Because of the rise of the internet, more people are consuming news stories through  social media.

4) Shirky also talks about the power of shareable media. How does he suggest the child abuse scandal with the Catholic Church may have been different if the internet had been widespread in 1992?

The internet can make topics go viral instantly  and if the abuse occurred during the rise of the internet it would’ve become a lot more widespread a lot quicker.

5) Why does Shirky argue against paywalls? 

Paywalls are limiting to how much news readers can consume meaning less news is being spread and understood 

6) What is a 'social good'? In what way is journalism a 'social good'?

Commercial journalism is less sustainable now because of public journalism.

7) Shirky says newspapers are in terminal decline. How does he suggest we can replace the important role in society newspapers play? What is the short-term danger to this solution that he describes?

He says that we shouldn’t look for another institution to provide it but have multiple sources that can provide news. He thinks nothing can replace newspapers
8) Look at the first question and answer regarding institutional power. Give us your own opinion: how important is it that major media brands such as the New York Times or the Guardian continue to stay in business and provide news?

 They can provide reliable content to media consumers that provide news in a traditional format .

Articles Week 2

The Daily Mail

Stockpilers pushing trolleys piled high with toilet rolls form enormous queues at Costco while shelves are stripped empty in Asda in coronavirus panic.

•  This is an example of hard news as the article is about something serious and current. 
•  The article is about the rapid sales of stock seen in supermarkets across the UK including huge supermarkets such as Costco or Asda.
• The news article is very important as the Coronavirus has become an epidemic and a world wide case disease causing the deaths of hundreds of people.
• It may appeal to people as it is of present time and directly affect everyone.
• It reflects the newspapers values as it informs the readers about important information about a deadly the disease that can be harmful to everyone.
• This is not clickbait as we can see that there are actual pictures from these supermarkets that show the reader that the shelves of many of these supermarkets are in fact empty due to panic buying from customers.

The I

Italy quarantines 16 million people to stem coronavirus outbreak - what does it mean for Italians or for Brits travelling to Italy.

• This is an example of hard news as it is news of an epidemic that affects not only one country but the entire world which is very serious and important news.
• The news article focuses on Italy and the actions they have taken against the Coronavirus. The quarantine of 16 million people affects not only the people in the country but also any of their family and friends that are in different countries.
• It would appeal to readers since it is a big news story that is very recent and impactful on the people all around the world. 
• It reflects the newspapers values of being independent as there are no signs of any sort of bias information or any help from other firms to make this news article.
• This is not clickbait as the news story is seen in not only the i but many other news companies. Italy is also going through this and there are videos and pictures that show the event to prove this.

Articles Week 1

The Daily Mail

Singer Anne Marie issues mortified apology after appearing in TV sketch where Ant & Dec wore headbands displaying Japan's controversial Rising Sun flag.

• This is soft news since it is about a celebrity.
• This may appeal to audiences as firstly, the people talked about in the article are well known. And secondly, the cultural aspect that is also linked in with this article may make some readers more engaged.
• The rising sun symbol that we can see 'Ant and Dec' wearing on the headband they are wearing symbolises Japanese culture from a long time ago. It is a sign of lightness in the dark and has been seen as a physical sign of historic events linked with Japan.
• Daily mail being a worldwide newspaper means having news that links in with not only British news and history can reflect the newspaper and its values.
• I do not think that this article is a clickbait as we can see evidence in the picture of the article. If there is evidence of the article, it is simply quality journalism.

The I

BTS tour 2020: everything we know about their Twickenham Stadium UK show and the world tour dates

• This is also soft news at it is about celebrities.
• This may appeal to an audience as k-pop in general has grown over the years at a rapid speed. BTS being one of the most well known groups will surely peak many readers' interest.
• The article explains the upcoming show that the group BTS is going to perform in the UK. The title reveals little about the news as a whole but gives off enough information for the audience to understand the basis of what the article will be about.
• This article reflects the diversity seen within their newspaper. By not only sticking to one race or topic allows them to target more than one group of audience. 
• I believe that this is not clickbait as the date release for the times of the tour have been announced and shown on social media already. If they have already been officially released then this news must also be quality journalism.

Newspapers in Decline

1) Look at the key findings from the report on pages 2-3. How do UK adults generally get their news? 

• Most UK adults get their news from Television.

2) Read the overall summary for adults on pages 7-8. What do you notice about the changing way adults are getting their news?

•  Now adults choose to get their news from social media as opposed to print.

3) Look at the summary of platforms used on page 13. What do you notice about newspapers and how has it changed since 2018?

• Since 2018, newspapers have declined by 2% 

4) Now look at the demographic summary for news platforms on page 15. What audience demographic groups (e.g. age, social class) are most and least likely to read newspapers?

Most likely  :

• Males
• ABC1
• White
• 65+

least likely:

• Females
• 16-24
• BAME minorities
• C2DE

5) Read Section 3 on cross-platform news consumption (page 20). What newspaper brands can you find in the list of most popular news sources across platforms?

• The most popular news sources across platforms are: 
• The Daily Mail, The Sun, The Metro and The guardian 

6) Now turn to Section 6 focusing on newspapers (page 33). How has the circulation of national newspapers decreased between 2010 and 2018?

•  In 2010 it was at 22 million but now it’s at 10.4 million.

7) What are the most-used newspaper titles?

• Daily Mail
• The Metro 
• The sun

8) What are the most popular titles when print and online figures are combined (look at page 38)?

• The Daily Mail
• The Guardian
• The metro

9) How does the i compare to the Daily Mail?

• the I has a smaller audience to the Daily Mail.

10) Now study the demographic details for our two CSP newspapers on page 39. What is the breakdown of the Daily Mail audience and the i audience? What differences do you notice?

The Daily Mail audience: 

• 33% male
• 40% female
• 34% 16-24
• 39% 65+
• 37% ABC1
• 36% C2DE
• 32% minority ethnic
• 37% white

The I audience:

• 6% male
• 5% female
• 5% 16-24
• 6% 65+
• 6% ABC1
• 4% C2DE
• 5% minority ethnic 
• 5% white

The Daily Mail has a much higher amount of people reding its content. 

11) Read section 7 of the report: news consumption via social media (pages 40-52). Pick out three statistics from this section that you think are interesting and explain why.

• When accessing News on Instagram, 24% respond, Through commenting, on posts from family and friends.
• The Daily Mail isnt one of the most read news sources in 2019, the BBC is.
• 7% of Instagram users don't know where their news comes from.

12) Look at the summary of readers' attitudes for newspapers on page 76. What statements for Daily Mail readers tend to agree with?

• Highly Quality content
• Ability to know what is going on around the world.

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1) What has happened to print media in the last 30 years?

• Print has declined in the last 30 years 

2) Why is the Independent newspaper such a good case study for the decline in print media?

• The independent was popular at first but then it 'died' leaving its subsidiary newspaper the 'I'.

3) What was the Independent newspaper famous for?

• The content was based on honesty.

4) What did the then-owner of the Independent, Evgeny Lebedev, say about the newspaper's digital-only future?

• He said it was a 'bold' move.

5) How do online newspapers make money?

• Through advertising.

6) What did the Independent's longest-serving editor Simon Kelner warn regarding the switch to digital?

• It is difficult to replicate the originality in the paper in the digital form 

7) What is the concern with fake news? What does 'post-truth' refer to?

• The ease of creating a fake website that promotes 'fake news' in the modern age.

8) What is your view on the decline in print media? Should news be free? Is it a concern that established media brands such as the Independent can no longer afford to exist as a printed newspaper?

• I think it was bound to happen as the internet grows through time, it's obvious that people are more willing to get their news freely as opposed to going out and getting it.

Media Paper 1: Learner response

1) Type up your feedback in full (you do not need to write mark/grade if you do not wish to).

No feedback given.

2) Did you succeed in meeting or exceeding your target grade for A Level Media? If not, how many additional marks do you need to achieve your target grade in this paper?

The grade boundaries for this paper:

A* = 78; A = 68; B = 56; C = 46; D = 36; E = 26.

Now read through the AQA mark scheme. This is vital as the paper was an official specimen exam paper and therefore the mark scheme tells us a lot about what AQA are expecting us to produce. The original question paper is here if that is helpful too.

Yes, I just barely met my target. My ultimate goal is an A which means I would need another 22 marks to get there.

3) Write a question-by-question analysis of your performance. For each question, write how many marks you got from the number available and identify any points that you missed by carefully studying the AQA indicative content in the mark scheme:

Example: Q1: 5/8 marks
Additional points: didn't mention codes and conventions of music promotion flier/poster;  didn't discuss unconventional focus on mouth rather than eyes; didn't discuss idea that gender stereotypes are ironically reinforced to emphasise 'outsider' element of artist.

Q1 - 4/8
Overall the use of media language is consistent with the codes andconventions of the media form (flier / electronic advertisement)
The syntagm consists of visual and verbal signifiers (dominant signifiers potentially include the mouth, the artist’s name, words like LAUNCH)
The composition is interesting in that it works in three ‘layers’ which each have different textures representing a movement from signs with high

motivation to signs of high convention

Q2 - 5/12
products must reflect the cultural values of their target audiences in order to be successful but these may be diverse and can explain the differences in representation the various texts are similarly unhelpful. The singer’s name is just out of kilter as is the title of the album which rather than anchoring a preferred reading merely extends the paradox / intrigue

boys write love songs too? In a music industry still dominated by specific ‘boys’ singing of their various loves for girls in general, this is another double take, conventional only at first glance, the point at which we are taken in the title makes explicit reference to the audience since we are,
potentially, ‘the free’ and are connected culturally to a tradition of protest

songs

Q3 - 4/9
gangster iconography in the costume and props – spats, the flicking of the coin refers to 1930s gangster genre
fantasy elements through special effects and transformations
the road which the artist dances along, with its impossible lay out across an imagined city suggests the yellow brick road of the Wizard of Oz (Michael Jackson had previously appeared in a remake of the film – The Wiz)

Q4 - 10/20
this is how gender is constituted as the repetition of stylised acts though 50 years apart, for Butler they are manifestations of the same ongoing process creating the illusion of gender difference
the male model subverts traditional gender expectations through appearance, body language, transformation through make up usually associated with femininity
this subversion of socially constructed norms calls into question the relevance and stability of gender / sex as categories (the binary doesn’t work) the relationship between sex, gender, sexuality and power is transparent / exposed (deconstructed): this was never ‘real’ always ‘fantastic’
this performance of gender lacks credibility as does its certainty about the gender binary it acts out

Q5 - 5/6
creating videos and video edits related to their fan focus purchasing / accumulating / collecting merchandise / memorabilia engaging in ‘cosplay’ (roleplaying in costume) creating fan art

Q6 - 5/9

preparation is vital to this kind of production (e.g. work with actors): Stephenson talks about working with Scott Chambers (Richard), spending “Hours and hours of discovering a complex character together so we could bring him to life with respect and honesty”
Stephenson created his own production company and relied on friends and acquaintances when the big companies said ‘no’


Q7 - 13/20
The Surgery wants to offer useful advice in an appropriate way to a largely student audience: it wants to be cool and reliable!
there are clearly other readings that can be made by this audience who have this kind of information available in many different formats. Its demise in 2017 might suggest that these ‘oppositional readings’ were becoming ‘dominant’.
negotiated readings could include the explicit association of the ‘aliens’ with Nazi invaders which caused some panic
it could be assumed that any reading that took the product as literal truth is oppositional (though this could be challenged if it is considered that the ultimate goal of the producers was to create publicity). An interesting aside in the age of ‘fake news’.


4) Look at Question 4 - a 20-mark essay evaluating how useful Judith Butler's theory of gender performativity is. Write a full essay plan for this question using the indicative content in the mark scheme and with enough content to meet the criteria for Level 4 (top level). This will be somewhere between 4-6 well-developed paragraphs planned in some detail.

Intro - 

• Breif explanation of the theory
• Some basic information of the two CSPs

Para 1- 

• Maybelline focus
• Subverting male stereotypes
• link to Butler
• change in apperance between olden times vs newer times

Para 2- 

• Focus on score hair cream advert
• Since it's oolder, the use of stereotypes is more logical
• Constructing masculinity structure
• Binary gender
• link that with Levi Strauss

Para 3 -

• Back to focusing on Maybelline
• Butler - gender is a social construct
• Link that to the CSP
• Two step flow - influencers
• Time passes - social media platforms

Para 4 - 

• Focus on Score hair cream advert
• Typography and iconography (things you can see)
• Reference to James Bond stance and power above all
• Link to power of male over women

Conc- 

• Evaluation of the two CSPs 
• Which one has more valid interpretations
• Effect of sociocontexts

5) Based on the whole of your Paper 1 learner response, plan FIVE topics / concepts / CSPs / theories that you will prioritise in your summer exam Media revision timetable.

• Linking the name of theory to the theorist
• Industries
• Michael Jackson - conventions
• Life hacks
• Audience theories (War of the Worlds)

Videogames: Final index

Videogames: Women in videogames

Videogames: Further feminist theory

Learner response: OSP assessment

Videogames: Tomb Raider Anniversary

Videogames: Metroid Prime 2: Echoes

Videogames: Henry Jenkins - fandom and participatory culture

Videogames: The Sims FreePlay part 1 - Language and audience

Videogames: The Sims FreePlay part 2 - Industries

Videogames: The Sims FreePlay part 3 - Representations

The Sims FreePlay - Representation blog tasks

Textual analysis

Re-watch some of the expansion pack trailers and answer the following questions:

1) How do the expansion pack (DLC) trailers reinforce or challenge dominant ideologies?

• The trailer for the teen expansion packs reinforces female submissive behaviour aswell as male protective ideologies. The characters aren't in expected outfits such as dresses or suits and ties, instead, they are wearing universal clothes that all genders can wear.
• For the boutique trailer, two females are highlighted. One is traditionally feminine whereas the other one wears more androgynous clothes with shorter hair etc..

2) What stereotypes have you identified in The Sims FreePlay?

• the traditional gender stereotypes of male and female.
• The heterosexual stereotype, there is a lack of LGBT representation.

3) What media theories can you apply to representations in The Sims FreePlay?

• Butlers gender performance theory
• Gilroy- 'Double Consciousness'
• Baudrillard- postmodern theory 

Representation reading

Read this Forbes article on gender and racism in The Sims franchise and answer the following questions:

1) How realistic does The Sims intend to be?

• The game doesn't intend to be realistic but its aims to be believable.

2) How has The Sims tried to create more realistic representations of ethnicity?

• The realistic creation of avatars has helped improve the representation.

3) How has The Sims responded to racism and sexism in society?

• The Sims does challenge racism or sexism explicitly as the game is under the control of the payer, ot the game developers.

4) What is The Sims perspective on gender fluidity and identity?

• The game hasn't made any bold statements on fluidity and forces players to choose a gender.

5) How does The Sims reinforce the dominant capitalist ideologies of American culture?

• The 'American Dream' ideology is reinforced with avatars having to work for success and happiness.

Read this New Normative feature on LGBTQ representation in The Sims franchise and answer the following questions:

1) How did same-sex relationships unexpectedly help the original Sims game to be a success?

• The game represented a minority community which gave it a lot of positive publicity.

2) How is sexuality now represented in The Sims?

• The sexuality is now up to the players as they have full control over their avatars.

3) Why have fans praised the inclusion of LGBTQ relationships in The Sims franchise?

• It gave positive representations on the gay community which hadn't been seen before in other games.

4) Why did the Sims run into regulatory difficulties with American regulator the ESRB? How did EA respond?

• The game allowed for players to have sex which wasn't a family-friendly addition to the game.

5) How is sexuality represented in the wider videogames industry today?

• More games are praising sexuality and are moe accepting of it.

Reality, postmodernism and The Sims

Read this Paste Magazine feature on reality and The Sims franchise. Answer the following questions:

1) What does the article suggest about the representation of real life in The Sims 4?

• The game is said to be too realistic and annoying to play.

2) What audience pleasures did the writer used to find in The Sims franchise?

• Diversion
• Fantasy element

3) Why does the writer mention an example of a washer and dryer as additional DLC?

• The writer is frustrated with these DLC's because they reinforce everyday domestic tasks and don't prove a sense of diversion.

4) In your opinion, has The Sims made an error in trying to make the franchise too realistic?

• I agree that the game has been made to realistic as players cant go to the game for any division as they are faced with the same modern-day struggles of reality.

5) How does this representation of reality link to Baudrillard’s theory of hyperreality - the increasingly blurred line between real and constructed?

• This representation suggests that the game has blurred reality with virtual reality.

The Sims FreePlay social media analysis

Analyse The Sims FreePlay Facebook page and Twitter feed and answer the following questions:

1) What is the purpose of The Sims FreePlay social media channels?

• To gain a fandom and start fandoms etc..

2) Choose three posts (from either Twitter or Facebook) and make a note of what they are and how they encourage audience interaction or response.

• how incredible is this mansion? 
• Don't miss out on fashionista hairstyles
• Whose excited for the lake house grand prize?
• They encourage comments by players to give their opinion and increase excitement in the game.

3) Scroll down the Facebook feed briefly. How many requests for new content can you find from players? Why is this such as an important part of the appeal for The Sims FreePlay?

• More players are requesting new content.
• The game needs to update in order to stay relevant in the modern age.

4) What tweets can you find in the Twitter feed that refer to additional content or other revenue streams for EA?

• There are no other revenue streams seen in the feed other than the content of The Sims mobile game.

5) Linking to our work on postmodernism, how could The Sims FreePlay social media presence be an example of Baudrillard’s hyperreality and simulacra?

• The game is a representation of reality which means there are replications of real-life throughout the game which creates a blur for some players as they can't distinguish what is real life and what isn't.

The Sims FreePlay Case Study - Industries

Regulation – PEGI

Research the following using the PEGI website.

1) What is the VSC and how does it link to UK law?

• VSC - A Rating Board is an Administrator of the PEGI age rating system and is  used in over 30 countries throughout Europe. 
• Links to UK law through the fact that 16 and 18 rated games are legally enforceable and cannot be sold to anyone under those respective ages.' 

2) Note down the key statistics on the homepage.

• 13938+ Games Rated
• 15141+ Apps Rated 
• 1702 Number of Member Oultets
• 30 years in operation

3) What is the purpose of PEGI?

• The purpose of PEGI is being committed to providing as much helpful information we can about video game ratings.

4) Click on the PEGI Rating tab in the top menu. What are the age ratings and what do they include?

• PEGI 3:"majorityof games in this category do not contain anything that requires rating or warrants a content warning."
• PEGI 7"majority of games in this category do not contain anything that requires rating or warrants a content warning."
• PEGI 12"detailed and realistic looking violence towards fantasy characters is allowed."
• Parental Guidance
• PEGI 16:"expect to see more mature and realistic violence against human characters."
• PEGI 18:The adult classification, applied when the level of violence is both realistic or severe in nature, often being graphic with blood and gore.

5) Scroll down to look at the ‘How games are examined’ infographic. What is the PEGI process for rating a game?

• Assess the contents of the game 
•  receive video footage of the game as well as a copy of it.
•  Another assessment to ensure nothing has been misinterpreted from a questionnaire. 
• Play the actual game and assess gameplay and representations.
• The game receives a PEGI rating.

The ‘Freemium’ gaming model

Read this Lifewire feature on freemium gaming and answer the following questions:

1) How does the freemium model work?

• A game with limuted features and is free to download but has in app purchases that expand the gameplay.

2) Why do some gamers believe freemium is ruining games?

• They limit the game play of the game.

3) What are the positives of the freemium model for gaming?

• expand the features
• "the ability to download and try a game for free is great"

Now read this Business Insider feature on freemium gaming and multiplayer games. Answer the following questions:

1) Note the key statistics in the first paragraph.

• 70-80% of the $10 billion or more in iOS revenue.

2) Why does the freemium model incentivise game developers to create better and longer games?

• It allows players to spend more time playing the game.

3) What does the article suggest regarding the possibilities and risks to the freemium model in future?

• The possibility of addiction amongst players 
• Accidentally purchasing games by children.

Read this New York Times feature on freemium gaming and answer the following questions:

1) Why did Temple Run use the freemium model?

• To enhance the gameplay with the addition of extra tolls when purchased.

2) The bigger gaming studios like Electronic Arts used to avoid the freemium model. Why are they now embracing it?

• They end up being a lot more profitable as well as reaching a wider audience.

3) Why does Peter Farago suggest independent game makers benefit more from the freemium model than the major publishers like EA?

• “Freemium is a weapon against the establishment,and the establishment has a hard time even wanting to pick up that weapon.”

Electronic Arts

Read this Pocket Gamer interview with EA’s Amanda Schofield, Senior Producer on The Sims FreePlay at EA's Melbourne-based Firemonkeys studio. Answer the following questions:

1) How has The Sims FreePlay evolved since launch?

• There were limited amounts of avatars you could create but now you can have puppies,kittens and dragons etc...

2) Why does Amanda Schofield suggest ‘games aren’t products any more’?

• Players can communicate with each other and suggests improvements to the game with creators.

3) What does she say about The Sims gaming community?

• They are involved in the development of the game.

4) How has EA kept the game fresh and maintained the active player base?

• They use the excitement of the players and ask for new developments the players want to see in the game.

5) How many times has the game been installed and how much game time in years have players spent playing the game? These could be great introductory statistics in an exam essay on this topic.

• The game has been installed 200 million times.
• It has been played for an equivalent of 78,000 years.

Finally, read this blog on how EA is ruining the franchise (or not) due to its downloadable content. Answer the following questions:

1) What audience pleasures for The Sims are discussed at the beginning of the blog?

• Diversion- escape of reality.
• Personal relationships.
• Personal identities. 

2) What examples of downloadable content are presented?

• Expansion packs 
• Stuff packs 
• DLC

3) How did Electronic Arts enrage The Sims online communities with expansion packs and DLC?

• They felt that the features in the packs should have already been in the game anyways.

4) What innovations have appeared in various versions of The Sims over the years?

• The ability to have multi-generational legacies and travel between neighbourhoods and see other player creations.

5) In your opinion, do expansion packs like these exploit a loyal audience or is it simply EA responding to customer demand?

• I thinks these packs are bad as they are subject to hackers and trolls which can steer new players away.