P4

Love Live: School Idol Festival

Love Live: School Idol Festival is a free rhythm and adventure game for mobile devices. The English version of the game was released in May 12, 2014 and the popularity for the game has been growing ever since. Despite some bad reviews and finally trying the game myself, I can see where the craze has come from as overall it is a good game. The genre of this game is comedy and musical, following a group of high school idols it's a very lighthearted game and easy to engage in for all ages. It's an interesting twist compared to most games and stands out a lot due to its crossover of styles.

The game is free to download and has many features that are available so it is definitely worth giving it a go. For those who really get into the game there are options to get extra coins which means you can buy new songs that would normally be locked or you can unlock a certain character’s stories with the coins. But the game is just as good without so the micro charges can be avoided and most things can be unlocked later if you work towards them.

There are two kinds of gameplay involved in Love Live; live shows and story. Live shows start with practice, this involves you levelling up the characters and improving their skills and EXP points. Once you have enough practice you can start professional live shows, this involves you tapping the rhythm icons as they overlap the character’s icon you are graded based on your timing. The grades are perfect, great, good, bad or miss; the grades will then effect your score. There are over 70 songs to use in live shows, all of which are free then there are certain songs featured in the game, which are only around for a limited time.
the game play and narrative behind the game is an interesting one and i like that its very unique compared to most games that are available now. Therefore i rate the narrative 8/10
Story mode follows the story behind the characters; the members of μ's and Aqours. Each character has their own side story in which you can get to know them better and engage with them more. It is a nice feature to include as being able to get to know each character individually is more engaging and makes you feel included in the love live universe. There are 9 members in each group;
μ
Third years
Eli, Nozomi & Nico
Second years
Honaka, Umi & Kotori
First years
Maki, Rin & Hanayo
Aqours
Third years
Dia, Kanan & Mari
Second years
Chika, You & Riko
Third years
Ruby, Hanamaru & Yohane
each character has some interesting traits, however there are some very generic characters which loose your interest so for that reason i'll be rating the characters 6/10

The game is a pretty simple one to use; as soon as you start, there is a great tutorial on how to use the game that is idiot proof. Making it a simple game for everyone to play including casual and younger gamers, the aim of the game is also simple and is an easy one to pick up on. Despite the game being very simple in all of its areas, it still has a range of different difficulty levels which means you can still be challenged as you go through the game if that’s how you like to play. In addition, as it is on a mobile device the controls are easy to use as there is not a lot of buttons to use.
The way the game is made for the platform it is on is perfect and i love the style and approach they have taken so i will give this 9/10.

The target audience of this game is casual gamers, it is a game that can be easily picked up and played when on the go and does not require knowledge of the story line to enjoy. For those who want a more in depth story they can chose to play the story mode as well which means you get background and a story for the game. I think this is a great feature as while most casual gamers only want a few hours’ gameplay they are still involved in the game and have the option to play without the main story. It is also a single player game so it may not appeal to hard core gamers that much, as they aim more to battle against others. However, the game is still great without a co-op mode and for the style of the game; it fits a lot better.

The narrative of this game follows that of an anime it is based on. It was originally a Japanese anime and was first made as a Japanese phone game, but was later translated into different languages. The story follows two high school idols and their quest to become the best performers they can. The graphics for this game are very simplistic; they follow the same graphics as the anime it is inspired by. It has nice graphics that have a very cute look to it, also due to the simplicity of the graphics it makes it easier to focus on playing the actual game.

Overall, it’s a nice and easy to play game easy for any casual gamer who is on the go. The game is very easy to pick up and put down, as well as having the option for dlc if you want to make the game more interesting. 8/10

P3- understand the importance of reviews for the marketing and promotion of computer/console games

The three reviews I will be looking at are Daz Games, Metacritic and GameGrin.

a) genre- this game is very heavily based on horror and psychological themes due to the theme it is looking into. It does a very good job at showing us this with all its twist and turns.

b) target audience- Daz games takes the route of the player’s aspect, he expresses players thoughts and feelings when playing the game through. He also considers the emotions that this game brings up, as he has played through and completed the game personally he is a trustworthy reviewer.

Metacritic looks at the view of a company that has played the game through different parts of the team and then came up with a final review based on everybody’s input. It considers the more technical side of the game like how the visuals and game play can impact on the sales and popularity. The kind of review is aimed at the more hardcore gamer as it looks at the technical side of the game.

Gamegrin is a mix of the two above as it looks at both the technical side and the overall likeability. it considers the players and how they are going to feel during the playthrough often going through the emotional cycle of the player at any one given time during the gameplay. They give the game a 7 overall out of a possible 10 which means that it has a good balance between technicality and player emotions during it. it comments on the visuals but also comments on how the player can often and most likely will get attached to the character that they are playing as.

c) narrative- There are a range of different reviews for Fran Bow due to the narrative it looks into, the storyline looks into children and mental health issues. Daz Games said that “it was the most disturbing games I’ve ever played” due to the issues that were brought up and explored.

Metacritic says that “Fran Bow is a creepy adventure game that tells the story of Fran, a young girl struggling with a mental disorder and an unfair destiny.” It goes onto say “it is disturbing yet adorable, full of violence but at the same time tender.” It also comments on the story and how it very quickly turns into a deep, hard hitting story, yet it still contains some light hearted, funny moments. They have also said it does get confusing whilst playing especially towards the end.

d) characters- Daz Games says the game is mainly based around one character and her interpretations of the surrounding characters. The main character being Fran, she comes across many different monsters and demons on her way. He also loves the way the game follows the one character on her travels and gives great details so we can get to know her well. He gave the game a 9/10 for the character work saying that the player can actually become emotionally attached to the character that they are playing as.

Metacritic also said the game follows the one main character and gets the player really involve in the characters life. The story and character are both very detailed and allow for the player to become attached with Fran whilst playing. It brings up the strong link between characters used in the game, it engages the players a lot more as they are able to play through Fran’s eyes and opinions.

e) gameplay- Many reviews will agree the gameplay is outstanding; Metacritic says that the gameplay follows one character and is played from a 3rd person view. It is also a point and click adventure and so the gameplay is very intensive and focused on the player and the way that they interact with the story. Metacritic also said “the gameplay is gripping and unexpected leaving the player stuck between tough decisions based on the characters life and story”.

GameGrin, said the gameplay is compelling and that “the most important aspect of the game is how it plays in comparison with the story as there is no point having a brilliant story without good quality gameplay”. It also brings up that the game is easy to play meaning everyone can get involved. This really helps the story and means that the gameplay is simple but interesting and fun for anyone. It also commented on the good art style of the game and how the game was designed which includes many advanced features and alot of work ahs been put into making the game look very complex.

f) platforms- Fran Bow can be played on PC through steam download and on android and IOS through the app store and google play. Metacrtic point out how these are good consoles to get more casual gamers involved. It also says that the game is sold rather cheap for a PC game this is positive for the developers as it will most likely sell more copies.

g) reviewers recommendation- Gamegrin also brings up similar information saying that the game is widely distributed between platforms and since the the game is a point and click adventure it is already suited to be brought to android. But they also said it's not available on consoles like PlayStation or Xbox and this could be a a big loss of sales due to the huge market for consoles in the modern day. They rate the game a 7 overall and although it is a good all round distribution platform it can be improved in the future by bringing the game to some sort of console.

links:
metacritic- http://www.metacritic.com/game/pc/fran-bow
Gamegrin- https://www.gamegrin.com/reviews/fran-bow-review/
Daz Games- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dbQbiNE1xP8

P2

Life is Strange

P2A- genre

Life Is Strange is an episodic graphic adventure video game developed by Dontnod Entertainment and published by Square Enix. The game is made up of five episodes which were released throughout 2015. The plot focuses on Max Caulfield, a photography student who finds out that she can rewind time, leading her every choice to have a butterfly effect. Meaning the player's actions will adjust how everything will happen. The game involves puzzle solving as well as using branching choices for conversation.

P2B- narrative

The plot focuses on Max Caulfield, a photography student who finds out that she has the ability to rewind time, all of her choices however have a butterfly effect. After seeing a storm that will happen 5 days later, Max must take on the responsibility to prevent it from destroying her town. The player's choices will change the narrative, and how you proceed to play the game. The story is made so that the characters are the main focus that lead the game causing players to start getting an attachment to them. It is a decision adventure game which involves the player in the story directly and paints a very vivid picture of the problems of the characters.

P2C- production process

Life is Strange is Dotnod Entertainment’s second game after Remember Me. Development took place in April 2013 with a small team of 15 people it was later said they would collaborate with Square Enix. A lot of the budget went towards voice actors for the game as well as writing it. It was originally written in French and later translated into a game script by the developers and design team. Story and character development were highlighted over point and click puzzles and making choices that unravel mysteries and narrative unfolds. In July 2014, the important part of casting the voice actors started, these were recorded in Los Angeles and when needed the writer would on skype. Another important thing decided during development was the idea of using effects like double exposure and overlapping screen space each time would rewind time. The textures seen in the game were entirely hand painted, adapted to achieve what art director Michel Koch called "impressionistic rendering". They also took inspiration from games like Heavy Rain and The Walking Dead.

P2D- characters

Maxine Caulfield

Often referred to as Max, is the main protagonist of this game. She’s 18 and an aspiring photographer at Blackwell Academy. She left her mom and dad and returned to the town where she grew up; Arcadia Bay, Oregon. Not long after joining Blackwell she saves her childhood friend, Chloe Price from being killed. She soon discovers she has the ability to rewind time. After joining forces with Chloe helping her find out what happened to Rachel Amber, Max must also discover how to use her powers to save the Arcadia Bay from a devastating tornado.

Chloe Price

Chloe is the second protagonist of Life is Strange. She was best friends with Max before she moved to Seattle, leaving Chloe in their hometown of Arcadia Bay. With Max’s return their friendship grows once again throughout the game. After Max left, Chloe became best friends with Rachel Amber before she went missing, and now she is getting help from Max to finally find out what happened to her.

Mark Jefferson

Mr Jefferson is a photography teacher at Blackwell Academy and is the main antagonist. He is a famous photographer and a widely recognized artist across America, who gained popularity during the '90s. At the start of the game he is shown as the cool teacher, who is greatly admired by his students, and does his best to encourage and help them. However, it’s later revealed that it was all an act, over the course of the game Jefferson was either directly or indirectly responsible for the deaths 7 characters.

Other characters that have effect on the game include Kate, Nathan, Warren and Victoria but these aren’t as important to the main story.

P2E- gameplay

Life Is Strange is a graphic adventure game played in a third-person view. The games main feature is being able to rewind time allowing the player to redo actions. The player can examine and interact with objects, bringing in the aspect of puzzle solving in the form of fetch quests and making changes to the environment, items that are collected before time travelling will be kept in the inventory. The player can explore various locations in Arcadia Bay and communicate with other characters in the universe giving that extra immersion. Dialogue has multiple choices and can be changed using the rewind power, these choices can have huge impacts on how the game plays out from their as well.

P2F- target audience 

The target Audience for Life is Strange is more mature audience due to the themes it looks into, it can be very complicated at times and therefore not appropriate for younger audiences. This game is more aimed towards core game, it is too complex for casual gamers and it doesn’t have enough for hardcore gamers. It sits right in the middle with a deep storyline but nothing too challenging.

P2G- platform

Life is Strange was originally only digitally available on PC through Steam, PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 4 on the PlayStation Network, and Xbox 360 and Xbox One on Xbox Live. It was released in episodes between 30 January 2015 and 20 October 2015. Later on a retail edition was released for the PC, PS4 and Xbox One in North America on 19 January 2016 and in Europe on 22 January 2016. The limited edition version of the game featured an art book, the soundtrack, score and a director's commentary.

Super Dangan Ronpa 2

P2A- genre

Super Danganronpa 2: Goodbye, Despair Academy is a visual novel, adventure video game created by Spike Chunsoft. It is the sequel to Danganronpa, it focuses on problem solving and the element of mystery. The game relies on a lot of quick time events that have a puzzle solving element involved. It is a first player game as you play through the eyes of the protagonist Hajime Hinata as he tries to solve the mystery of why he and his class mates are trapped in a mutual killing game.

P2B- story line

The story follows a group of high school students who are trapped on an island by an unusual stuffed bear by the name of Monokuma. To escape the island, a student must kill one of their fellow class mates, and not be caught in the investigation and trial the follows. However, for those who are caught they are soon executed in a brutal manor. There are 16 students and we see this story through the eyes of our protagonist Hajime Hinata, who seems to be very different to the other characters.

P2C- production process

Super Dangan Ronpa 2 was published in Japan on July 26, 2012 on PSP. A limited edition copy was also available, this came with a Monokuma case, art book, keychains, badges and a CD. The game was made as a sequel to the original Dangan Ronpa: Trigger Happy Havoc, and included some old features but also included some more up to date ones. The game was eventually localized and made available for those across Europe and America, this was done by NIS America who also released a standard edition along side the limited edition.

P2D- characters

Hajime Hinata

Hajime Hinata is the main character and point of view for the game, he is a member of the mutual killing game. He is a member of the reserve course and has no key talents and is very generic, but after taking part in the Izuru Kamukura project (brain alteration project) his original memories were replaced and he was turned into an entirely new person. In the end he manages to come to terms with himself and he along with 5 others escape the game leaving them to attempt to save their remaining friends.

Nagito Komaeda

Nagito Komaeda is also a member of the mutual killing game, he has been given the talent of Ultimate Luck. Despite hardships throughout his life including loosing his parents and developing frontal lobe Dementia and Cancer he remains general positive. He has a strong obsession with hope and at some point in the first trial reveals his true nature, and is shown to have strong feelings towards Hinata.

Nanami Chiaki

Chiaki Nanami also known as the Ultimate Gamer is the third main character in the game and another member of the killing game. She is a generally bubbly and outgoing girl known to sleep in any circumstance, she is proven to be the 'traitor' and is executed along with Usami. But after this it is shown that the real Nanami was already dead and this one was in fact an AI version added to the game to watch over and take care of her classmates. She was created and added to the game by Chihiro Fujisaki, a participant of the original killing game in Dangan Ronpa: Trigger Happy Havoc.

Monokuma

Monokuma is the main antagonist and the cover for Junko Enoshima, the mastermind behind the mutual killing games. His a stuffed robotic toy and also an AI just like Nanami during the game.

P2E- game play

This is a first player game, which is played through the eyes of the protagonist Hinata. It involves many mini games which are played within the ‘class trials’ these are a part in each chapter that are used as a way of solving the murders. Most part of the game is a visual novel with interactions with other characters. However, during class trial you are a lot more involved and play mini games such as logic dive and hangman’s gambit. These involve both memory and puzzle solving abilities.

P2F- target audience

The target audience for dangan ronpa is more aimed at core gamers, this is due to the fact it’s a much longer game that can’t be picked up easily by casual gamers. Due to the nature of the game and its layout in chapters it makes it easily playable for core gamers who have a wider variety of interest in games but don’t want to dedicate as much time as those who are hard-core gamers.

P2G- platform

Super Dangan Ronpa was originally only released on PS Vita and PSP in July 26, 2012. It was a physical copy that also had a limited edition version that included the OST, an art book. However, in September 5, 2014 it was released on PC through Steam along with its first game Danganronpa Trigger Happy Havoc. Also at the start of this year April 18, 2016 it was also brought out on PS4.

That Dragon, Cancer

P2A- genre

That Dragon, Cancer is an art, adventure game. It is referred to as an interactive new media the style   throughout the game is very simple and purposely pixelated as well as containing no great detail on the characters as seen by their lack of face, this makes the game a more relatable and engages all players especially those who have been through what takes place in the game. The gameplay is very simple as not to take away from the main focus which is the plot.

P2B- storyline

The plot is based on the true story of Joel Greens, who had a 4-year long battle with cancer. We follow the life of the young boy and all the struggles and good times he and his family had. It is a walkthrough storyline and the player goes on a journey through their lives. The game involves things like child care and decision making as well as a backstory that is made to show people the reality of such a situation. It is very cleverly designed in such a way that it builds up drama and then tension adds to that to form a bond with the family who are behind the computer screen that when they finally come into trouble it really plays on the feelings of the player

P2C- production process

The production process originally had the game start as a Kickstarter, which is a service on steam for indie games looking for donation funding by the public and was intended for windows and IOS and the art style was actually formed due to the lack of funding and low budget. A total of £85,000 had to be raised to avoid a late release and if goal met, would be aided by personal funds and the Indie fund. Development was funded by Ouya in exchange for a time-limited exclusivity for the micro-console. There was a development team of 8 which did include the parents of Joel who are the main developers of the game

P2D- characters

Main Characters

Joel Green

A young boy who the story follows, he was suffering from cancer and we watch his fight throughout the game.  

Ryan and Amy Green

These are the parents of Joel and the game follows their story seeing their ups and downs of dealing with the cancer their son has, showing their emotions, feelings and how they deal with the cancer.

Narration from other family members are also involved, this makes the game feel more real for the player and allows for a more immersive and enjoyable experience where the players actually become attached to the characters

P2E- game play

The game is played out in a first and third person view with the perspectives changing throughout to give the overall enjoyable experience. The game is played as an exploration and based on real and surreal experiences following the green family in the family struggle. The game has a very unique art styles in which the faces of the individuals within the game are not rendered meaning that the characters have no faces. This means that the player is open to imagination and is symbolising that this can happen to any family within society.

P2F- target audience

The target audience for this game is casual gamers as it is a simple quick pick up game. It is a simple point and click game meaning that the player doesn’t need to have much knowledge in how to play games, if this was on the Xbox for example there would be too many buttons.

P2G- production process

The game made for PC & Mac and was distributed on website they created themselves in order to make sure all profit went to charity and find a cure for cancer. If they were to release the game on something like steam they take parts of the profit, therefore not everything would go to charity. The game costs £6.49 and was 90 minutes long. However, the game later came out on steam and cost £10.99 as well as on IPhone which cost £3.99 on the app store.

Resident evil Revelations 2

P2A- genre

This game can be seen as both a first and third player shooting game, depending on which part of the game you’re playing. The main aim is to shoot monsters however other weapons are involved but most weapons used by the main character of the game is firearms. The game is played through various characters which change throughout the game, due to the game switching between past and present events.

P2B- storyline 

The game follows 3 main characters Claire, Moira and Barry, Claire and Moira work for a biohazard company and are kidnapped then left on an island facility along with mutated monsters known as the “Afflicted”. Claire and Moira try to work with others who were also kidnapped to try and escape, however many of them die or succumb to fear which turns them into one of the “Afflicted”. They both decide to go to the overseers watch tower where they’re met by an old friend who is now mutated leaving them no choice other than to kill him. They soon find out the overseer’s real plans though and discover she is in fact Alex Wesker. Barry arrives on this island 6 months later to try and save the Claire and Moira, in the process he meets Natalia who takes him to the last place she saw the girls alive. They narrowly escape the mutated Alex, the two are separated but Natalia manages to scare Alex. But they are later greeted by Alex who has once again mutated and now they have their final battle to survive which ends one of two ways.

P2C- production process

Production for this game started around the release of Resident Evil Revelations'. Proposal art was made for the game, later they decided on calling it Revelations 2. Based on the biohazard revelations 2 Concept Guide, Sushestovanie Island didn't come into existence until after the game was greenlit, with art instead showing a large city populated by older, large buildings against a river. The Afflicted appeared in one artwork, hung to trees in a forest. In a third picture, a landfill was seen near a railway bridge, with the giant statue of an unidentified dictator dominating the skyline

P2D- characters

Moira

Moira is a new character introduced in this game, she is daughter of Barry and unlike her dad she has a fear guns and is not very well adapt for the world she’s currently in. her character has the biggest development as she over comes her fear of guns and saves her father.

Barry

Barry is a character who has been featured in previous resident evil games and is known as the gun’s expert who assists our protagonists. He is also the father of Moira and is also another important character in this game, he develops a lot in his quest to find and save his daughter.

Claire

Claire is our main protagonist and is one of the original resident evil characters, this is her first debut after the second game. She is a professional in the world of resident evil and knows exactly what she’s doing when it comes to fighting off monsters, this is clearly seen in revelations 2 as she takes care of Moira.

P2E- game play

Unlike Revelations, Revelations 2 returns to co-op in its campaign, however, it was revealed that the co-op is for local, offline play only. Also included is the return of "partner zapping", a concept that was only previously seen in Resident Evil Zero. With this, players who are playing solo will be able to freely switch between the two characters: Claire Redfield and Moira Burton. Claire has access to weapons and firearms, while Moira is the support role.

Claire is responsible for the firearms such as handguns and shotguns, as well as a knife she can use freely. Due to this, Claire is the main fighter and it will fall upon her to kill any enemies they come across, should players choose to not flee. Claire is able to heal herself with herbs found, but unlike many previous games, healing takes time.  

Moira is a support role, her main item is a flashlight. With this, Moira is able to not only provide light for Claire but also use the light to blind or stun Afflicted. The flashlight can be used like the Genesis scanner from Revelations, able to reveal hidden items and secrets that Claire otherwise cannot see. Moira also finds a crowbar which she can use to pry off boards that are blocking doors, and swing as a weapon in self-defence. With the crowbar, Moira can incapacitate an enemy if she strikes it from behind.

P2F- target audience

Resident evil’s target audience is hard core gamers; it is a game you must stick with and isn’t easy to pick up where you left off. Also with the feature of auto save in the games rather than being able to save yourself it will lose interest with casual gamers. As it is also 10^th in a franchise it shows that this game is made for those who are big fans and have played the previous games due to the linking of the stories. Due to it being a console based game it can be difficult for new players to pick up on the controls.

P2G- production process

Revelations 2 was released on February 25, 2015 in weekly episodes on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3, Microsoft Windows, Xbox 360, and Xbox One. After the release of the final episode a complete version was also released. Sony went on to create a PlayStation Vita version of the game which was released on August 18, 2015. The first episode of the game, Penal Colony, was made free to download for PlayStation 4, Xbox 360 and Xbox One on November 18, 2015.

P1F

Whilst Rockstar has its own ways of creating games there are other ways to make them. One of the first types is the business model which focuses on the expenses of game making today mainly those compatible with PS3 and Xbox 360.

The business model the ‘Tent Pole’ model is similar to the business model that a lot of Hollywood studios will use. The idea is that the publisher releases a game that comes with a lot of marketing and investment. The money that is made from the game could then be used for them to create new games that are more creative.  

 One example is the GTA series, which has provided a lot of income for Rockstar games. In the past this money has let them invest in some smaller hits like Canis Canem, LA Noire and Agent. EA also uses the ‘Tent Pole’ business model by having annual updates for their popular game FIFA which is used to help with development of other games. EA spent $372 million in 2008 on research and development, mainly due to PS3 and Xbox 360. It can cost up to $100 million to make a game on this platform.

However, there are problems with this model, due to the company relying on this one game to provide money huge problems will occur if the game isn’t a hit as they won’t get their money. An example is Spore, sold 1 million copies in its first 17 days, but the development costs were so big that EA only expect to make their money back with 5 years of updates and sequels.

The next model is the Hollywood model, this is when one company contracts out parts of the games design to other companies, this way they save money on development. This means rather than having a permanent in-house development team of 50+, the developers can have a much smaller team of 10-20 specialist external teams who will have a section to work on each which is all put together later. This model also includes the company working with scriptwriters, photography directors and stunt teams, meaning games are being made just like a Hollywood film would be made.

Independent game development is a newer type of model. Game development has become a lot cheaper recently, normally it would require a developer to a have a publishing contract in order to pay for the development and the license fee required to develop for a particular console. But now there is a growing market for Indie Game thanks to open source software, like Apples App Store and Xbox Live’s Marketplace small teams and even individuals are able to create games, and then use these places to distribute their games and earn money. Other than basic developmental costs of a game and console, developers are required to pay fees to license the Software Development Kits that are required from the console manufacturer. Manufacturers often enforce a strict approval process and take a percentage of the game's net profit in addition to yearly developer fees.

 The iPhone SDK is a software development kit that’s developed by Apple, its targeted at third party developers to develop applications for iPhones OS, it was released in February 2008. The SDK itself is a free download, but in order to release the software, you must enrol in the iPhone Developer Program, a step requiring payment and Apple's approval. As of January 2010, the cost of enrolment in the iPhone Developer Program was $99 per year however this cost varies from country to country. Developers who publish their applications on the App Store will receive 70% of sales revenue, and will not have to pay any distribution costs for the application. An example of iPhone games development would be Doodle Jump, it was released April 2009, and has had nearly 4 million downloads.


Xbox also released an SDK for Xbox one in March 2015 which lets any developer build an app for the console. There had been a private SDK ever since the consoles launch however it became public allowing any and all developers to use the SDK which means they can make games For Xbox and will be able to add Xbox live features. The software uses Windows 10 which spans across PC, tablets and phones too.

PS4 also have their own SDK released which costs around $2,500. The feature of self-publishing has been available on PlayStation for over 5 years so unlike Xbox this isn’t a new feature for PlayStation. They took the lead with the feature adapting to the new publishing rules so its developers have a more creative freedom. They said they will be sticking with the kit and won’t be changing as they want to allow developers to have their chance.

P1E

P1 E

Video game regulation

PEGI labels

Bad language- the game will contain bad language

Discrimination- the game includes depictions of,   or material which may encourage, discrimination.

Drugs- the game refers or depicts the use of drugs

Fear- game may be frightening or scary for young children

Gambling- games that encourage or teach gambling

Sex- game depicts nudity and/or sexual behaviour or sexual references

Violence- game contains depictions of violence

Online gameplay- game can be played online.

PEGI 3- games with this rating are considered suitable for all ages. There could be some violence but only for comic reasons (e.g. Bugs Bunny) the child should not be able to be able to associate the game characters to real life characters, no bad language or frightening sounds should be heard or included.

PEGI 7- any game that would normally be rated 3 but has some kind of possible violence or frightening scenes or sounds may be considered suitable.

PEGI 12- those rated 12 show more graphic violence towards fantasy characters or non-graphic violence toward a human looking character or animal. They could also involve nature that is slightly more graphic, any bad language must be mild, and no sexual expletives involved.

PEGI 16- a game would be given this rating when the violence or sexual activity is at the point it could be expected in real life. It will also involve more extreme language and the use of things like drugs and criminal activities.

PEGI 18- an 18 will be given once the depiction of violence is considered ‘gross’ violence and/or includes elements of specific types of violence. Gross violence is often hard to define as it can be subjective but it is often considered violence that would make the player feel a sense of revulsion.

PEGI

PEGI (Pan-European Game Information) is an age rating system used for games used to help parents establish if a game is appropriate for their child or not. It was developed by the Interactive Software Federation of Europe (ISFE), and was released in the spring of 2003. PEGI was used to replace all the different rating systems we originally had so it is now one system used in 30 different countries. This rating system is supported by major console manufactures, including Sony, Microsoft and Nintendo. Many publishers and developers across Europe also support this system.

Hot Coffee

Hot Coffee was meant to be an inaccessible mini-game in the 2004 video game Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, developed by Rockstar North. However, the public soon found the mini-game which came with the release of the Hot Coffee mod, created for the Microsoft Windows port of GTA: San Andreas in 2005. This mod enables access to the mini-game.

The mini-game portrays crudely animated sexual intercourse between the main character, Carl Johnson, and his in-game girlfriend. The name of the mod is derived from the girlfriend's offer for the main character to come into her home for "coffee", a euphemism for sex.

Although the "Hot Coffee" mini-game was completely disabled and its existence was only highlighted after the mod's release for the PC version on June 9, 2005, the assets for the mini-game were also discovered in both the PlayStation 2 and Xbox versions of the game, and people found ways to enable the mini-game via console video game hacking tools. By the middle of July 2005, the mini-game's discovery attracted considerable controversy from lawmakers and politicians, prompting the game to be re-assessed with an "Adults Only" rating by the U.S. ESRB, and refused classification in Australia, resulting in its removal from sale.

An updated version of San Andreas has since been released with the mini-game removed completely, allowing the game to regain its original rating. A patch for the original version of the game, Cold Coffee, was designed to counter edit the script and disable the mini-game and crash the game if one attempts to access it.

P1 D

First Party developers

First-party developers are the members of the company responsible for making the game console and only develops for that company. These developers can use the companies name like Nintendo, they use the division name Sony's Polyphony Digital, they could also have been an independent studio before like Naughty Dog who were acquired by the console manufacturer. One of Rockstars first party games is GTA on Xbox due to Microsoft originally had all the rights so it was only available was on Xbox consoles.

Second Party developers

There are two kinds of second part developers, the first are studios who work with the platform holders and form a contract to make games for them normally they will be exclusive to that companies platform. The second are only partly owned by the platform holder so have a little more free range, but the games are still usually only for that platform. The final outcome is usually a first party game due to getting funds from the platform holder, but this term separates those who are and aren’t owned by platform holders.

Third Party developers

Third party developers also create games for certain publishers however, it is the publisher who gets the final say this time. Therefore they have a lot more free roam compared to the other two, the publisher most of the time gets more of a say than the platform holder does. As long as they stick to the contract deadlines and alert the company they will receive more loyalties.

P1 C

Video game genres

1.       Action and adventure (GTA)

Action-adventure is a hybrid genre; it is probably one of the biggest genres in the gaming world.  It can include many different games some with more action some more adventure. An action adventure game focuses on problem solving and challenging the reflexes, in both violent and nonviolent ways. One example of an action adventure game would be GTA V, this is from one of the most popular action and adventure game franchises. It features a lot of action and adventure in the way you steal cars and then the way you can explore different maps then solve problems in side stories.

2.       Driving/Racing (F1 2016)

Racing games, are a range between first-person or third-person perspective, players will take part in a racing competition in a map that can be based of somewhere in the real world but also a made up place often depending on what age the game is aimed at. Racing games can also vary from being very realistic to being very simple but quite often they will also fall under the sports genre too. One example of a sports game would be F1 2016 this game is a more realistic racing game being inspired by the F1 itself so maps are based around those used in the real world.

3.       First person shooter (Call of Duty infinite warfare)

First-person shooter games focus on aspects like war and always include guns and other kinds of weapons depending on the game. It is a first person experience and will always use weapon-based combat, these games can often be called action too. The game will most likely feature a multiplayer mode and the graphics will be 3d in order to enhance the experience. One of the most popular examples of a first person shooter would be call of duty Infinite warfare, also part of a franchise this game has a co-op mode in which players can kill each other of in different war type maps.

4.       Platform and puzzle (Thomas was alone)

A platform game (or platformer) is a video game which involves guiding an avatar to jump between suspended platforms, over obstacles, or both to advance the game. These challenges are known as jumping puzzles or free running. The player controls the jumps to avoid letting the avatar fall from platforms or miss necessary jumps. The most common unifying element of games of this genre is the jump button. Jumping, in this genre, may include swinging from extendable arms, as in Ristar or Bionic Commando, or bouncing from springboards or trampolines, as in Alpha Waves. These mechanics, even in the context of other genres, are commonly called platforming, a verification of platform. Games where jumping is automated completely, such as 3D games in The Legend of Zelda series, fall outside of the genre.

5.       RPGs (Final Fantasy XV)

A role playing game is one where the player will take the role of different characters within a fictional world. The player has control of the character in the story, and must guide then them through whatever the plot of the game may be. these games often include things like major character development and aims to get you to really attach to these characters and your surroundings. A popular RPG game franchise is Final Fantasy, there new game is due to be released November 29, 2016. There are currently 15 main games but there are many other side games, the plot for the games follow a group of characters from different backgrounds teaming up to save their world while dealing with their own struggles.

  6.       Strategy/simulation (sims 4)

Simulation games are a hugely popular genre mainly for computer based gamers. These games are often downloadable on computer through steam or picked up in store with a download code. There is a simulation game for almost anything now a days, the games go from horror simulators, to everyday simulators to goat simulators. But the most popular simulator game is the sims, it’s a huge hit with everyone and it has extra downloadable content so that people can improve their game.

7.       Sports/beat em ups (FIFA 17)
Sports games somewhat simulate real sports. They are often a recreation of popular sporting events like football or wrestling. Each game varies as to whether it focuses on playing sport, working on strategy or focusing on management. It is a rather popular genre and its market is competitive, just like real sports. Many of these games have annual updates as they use real sporting events and icons so it is refreshed each year. One of the most popular sports games of all time is FIFA which focuses on football from around the world and uses real football stars, it is therefore updated yearly.

P1 B

Xbox One
Xbox One is the third Xbox console to be released by Microsoft, it was released in November 2013. It quickly become a huge competitor for the Wii U and PS4, with each being in the top of the sales. The Xbox One allows players to pause and resume the game quick and easy whilst also having easy internet access and allows easy downlads as well as Kinect.

PS4
PlayStation 4 is another huge competitor for both Xbox One and Wii U and other home game consoles.. It was made available worldwide in November 2013, but it was released to USA and Canada first. Sony also released 2 different types of PlayStation 4 the pro and a slim version, which were both also released in 2013.

Wii U

The Wii U uses a game pad which has a touchscreen, button pad and looks like a more updated version of the Nintendo with only one screen. The console is able to be used on the screen on the game pad but also on the TV, this is how it differs from both Xbox One and PS4. It also connects with previous Nintendo products like the Wii remote and Nunchuk, making it more multiplatform as well as useable on the go. Just like the PS4 and Xbox One it also has an online network however, this is a lot more family friendly and aimed at younger kids, it is called the Miiverse and allows those who play the same games to connect and share opinions.

P1 A

The history of Rockstar games

Whilst video games started out for kids, in 2000 the age range grew increasing the game types. A revolution began and Rockstar games redefined gaming becoming the most controversial and well known game company. Brothers Sam and Dan originally wanted to be rock stars but after joining the music career they soon realised it’s not what they wanted. The company they worked for BMG, created a gaming branch which the two both jumped on board. They met DMA who had an idea for a new game called race and chase which involved things like carjacking and running from the police, this new game didn’t have main goals and was instead free form which left it up to the players how they wanted to play. The brothers agreed to publish the game liking the ideas and concepts behind it, whilst taking longer to publish than expected (30 months) due to the new gaming style. It was later named grand theft auto and released to the public becoming very popular. Take 2 bought the interactive division giving the brothers the big break they needed, creating Rockstar games.

The brothers began the second GTA selling around 2 million copies, they wanted to push boundaries and get more people involved in gaming not just your typical nerds. GTA 3 once again had freeform but they now added a plot line giving a dark humour to the game. It was one of the first games to make use of a licensed soundtrack, featuring fake radio stations with real songs. It was the most adult game created in its time and was one of the most ground breaking games revolutionising gaming and increasing the popularity for something everyone can enjoy. The game however did come with a downside despite there being many other violent games this game was singled out by politicians and some even claimed it was the reasoning behind a teen murder at the time. Despite this, sales continued to climb making it the bestselling game of the year.

Just before the release of GTA 3 Rockstar saw potential in the new Max Payne game and so they purchased it outright and started importing it onto consoles. Making 2 hit games in only 2 months shooting right to the top. Although not all went well, they released State of Emergency which bombed completely, however this didn’t get them down. They knew GTA was their greatest asset and for that reason bought DMA in 2002 as they knew they were the only ones to be trusted with the making of this game. For the new GTA they wanted to push their games further by adding in professional actors for voice actors. Rockstar also decided to create manhunt one of the most violent games focusing on murder. With the new most impressive murder scenes, there was bound to be backlash which came in the form of several countries banning the game all together. As usual this didn’t stop them.

In 2004 they released a new game Red Dead Revolver the start of a new franchise set in the west. It originally belonged to Capcom but they gave up giving Rockstar the opportunity. Whilst it wasn’t their biggest hit and received some bad reviews it was still fairly popular for what they had to work with. Also in 2004 they released GTA San Andreas the biggest and most violent GTA so far, it once again had a top tier cast including Samuel L Jackson. It included new weapons and vehicles, as well as having the biggest map in any game, it went on to be a top selling game in the US and Europe. Sony paid to make GTA PlayStation only so 9 months after the release of the new GTA it went to pc and Xbox. Allowing mods and patches for pc to be found and created including a sex scene referred to as ‘hot coffee’, Rockstar didn’t have the time or resources to remove it so late so tried to make it unreachable, yet people still got to it. The idea of sex in a game was not a good one making the rating adults only, this meant no shop would sell it and Xbox and Sony wouldn’t either resulting in a recall costing Rockstar $25 million. Whilst they were more than happy to carry on with their violent games no more sex appeared in their games as it was seen as too much even for them.

After the ‘hot coffee’ incident Rockstar needed to get themselves back on track, they had yet another controversial game in the making. The game was their first movie tie in however the movie was 26 years old, whilst they believed it was a safe bet after its release it only caused more of an uproar of how they were trying to ruin the worlds youth. In 2006 they announced table tennis, they used this to show off their new graphics and surprised people everywhere, it got good reviews making it a good sports game. They proved they could make family friendly games, to further convince people they were capable of producing a suitable game they released bully. A game based on getting back at bullies with the most violence being nothing more than a small fist fight. But due to this being a Rockstar game it by default was controversial, Jack Thompson sued the game. Rockstar still carried on pushing boundaries as they knew that this is what they did best, as early as 2004 they had planned to create a Man Hunt 2, but they for an unknown reason shut down the Vienna branch in 2006 with no warning. After transferring the game to London it was completed for summer 2007, surprisingly the game was rated an adults only meaning no console would allow it on its system. Rockstar had to censor their game in order to get it released and even after that it only got middle reviews. Once again hackers got to the hidden more violent parts of the game, but this time the game wasn’t re rated as it had been stated that these codes still existed and in November this became a direct download.

After 4 years out the spotlight GTA was set to return with a bang, they went hd and created the most active and accurate city ever seen in a video game. GTA 4 went to both the Xbox and PlayStation at the same time for release, with Xbox paying to get any downloadable content exclusively before PlayStation or pc. Despite some delays it sold 3.6 million copies by midnight making it the fastest selling game as well as one of the highest rating getting a perfect review. They later brought out the DLCs which could have been games in their own right due to the detail in story and characters. Their next game was red dead redemption which was also a huge hit showing off all the detail from GTA yet making it very different at the same time.

P1

P1


Learners explore the games industry through a focused case study of one computer/console game company,
including:
a) structure
b) platform technology
c) game types
d) games on multi platforms
e) regulatory bodies
f) developmental software