Audience Flashcards
How do video games reflect the society that produces them?
They change over the life of the franchise to reflect changes in society and culture.
What adaptations has the Assassin’s Creed franchise made?
Inclusion of female protagonists and addressing audience expectations.
Who was the first female protagonist in the Assassin’s Creed series?
Aveline in AC Liberation.
What gender issues are debated within the gaming industry?
Under-representation and misrepresentation of females in video games.
What is the assumption about girls and women in the gaming industry?
That they do not play video games.
What is the reality of female participation in gaming?
The gender divide in video games is around a 50% split.
What does the introduction of female protagonists indicate?
Ubisoft’s awareness to broaden their audience reach.
How are women often presented in video games?
In sexualised ways that fulfil the ‘male gaze’.
What is a criticism of female character design in games?
Women are given lingerie instead of armour like men.
What past statement did Ubisoft make about women in games?
‘Women don’t sell’ and are too hard to animate.
How do gamers’ social and cultural backgrounds influence their gaming choices?
They select games that reflect aspects of their identity.
What is a key strategy for targeting audiences in the Assassin’s Creed franchise?
The brand identity of the franchise.
How does technology impact game distribution?
Facilitates targeting of diverse audiences across different media platforms.
What creates a sense of identity for players in games?
Identification with characters and interaction with online fan communities.
What strategies have broadened the appeal of the Assassin’s Creed franchise?
Inclusion of female protagonists and different historical settings.
What distinguishes video games from other media products?
They provide unique experiences, including multi-playing online formats and persistent worlds.
MMORPGs allow many players to engage in a virtual world simultaneously, replicating real-world dynamics.
Define MMORPG.
Massive multi-player online role-playing game.
MMORPGs feature persistent worlds that continue to exist even when players are offline.
What are smaller online multi-player games characterized by?
Fewer players and non-persistent worlds.
Examples include FIFA 22 and Dark Souls, which differ in gameplay roles.
What was the gaming phenomenon of 2016?
Pokémon Go.
This game incorporated augmented reality and location-based technology.