Project One Brief Project One will give you the opportunity to investigate the production, distribution and marketing of a specific video game. You will look at what platform the game appears on (PS3, XBox etc.) and how the game is received by the UK public (both in terms of sales figures, reviews and online forums). You will also discuss what pleasures you think the games offers the audience (e.g. escapism, rule breaking, social activity – both at home and online, social gaming networks, identification, wish fulfilment etc.) Tasks
1) Draw up a list of the games being released in the UK in 2009 (click on the Game Spot link on the Video Games blog).
2) Categorise each game from the Editor’s Picks section of the Games Spot web site into generic categories (e.g. shootemup, role play, football/sport etc.) 3) Choose one of the games and try to gather as much information as you can. The information you need is listed below. It is not an exhaustive list. There are probably other relevant and exciting things you can think of to include in your research: Find out the following information on your chosen Video Game. File you information under the following headings: Ownership What computer games design company produces the video game? What other games does that company produce? Is it an independent company (small) or a multinational games company (large)? This information will be available on their web site. Convergence Does the game have online game play? Does the game console have BluRay capabilities? What other nongaming functions does the console offer (e.g. Hard Drive)? Technologies What new and exciting feature does your chosen game have? In what ways is it better than other similar games on the market? Have the graphics or game play improved? What is the USP of the video game? Globalisation How do gamers access the game? Is it available exclusively to XBox or PS3? Choose either the XBox or the PS3 and research the companies that own and produce the games consoles (hardware). What other media companies do they own? In what ways do you think owning a games hardware company benefits companies like Microsoft or Sony? How does it benefit the business as a whole? (Key Term: synergy)
4) Begin to gather as much publicity material for the new video game as you can. You need to build a portfolio of a new campaign – what goes into the launch of a new video game? When does the campaign start and end? What media forms
are used to promote the new video game – e.g. billboards, online campaign, viral campaigns, TV features (both online and on digital TV).