Component 1: Section B (Assassin's Creed Liberation)

Question 1

Product context?

Answer 1

Developed by Ubisoft and released in October 2012, along with Assassins Creed III (simultaneous release to create publicity and wider audience appeal in the three major markets for video and console game release)
•Game was originally exclusive to PS Vita but later released in modified HD version across large range of consoles and platforms (PS 3, Xbox 360 and Microsoft)

Question 2

What does the game offer to fans?

Answer 2

Offers familiar pleasures to existing fans (narrative situation of the Assassins Vs the Templar’s, open world gameplay etc) along with new elements for wider audience appeal (female protagonist)

Question 3

What is the appeal of video games?

Answer 3

• can play on multiple devices> portable
• escapism and entertainment purposes
• more brutal/realistic content
• hardware has improved eg graphics
• e-sports > paid to play games

Question 4

How are video games regulated?

Answer 4

Since 2012, the VSC provide age ratings and they are regulated and determined by PEGI system

Question 5

How have video games changed over time?

Answer 5

The complexity of narrative, the graphics have improved, more realistic, different modes eg multiplayer and freelance, better virtual world (more utopian) eg VR

Question 6

What age rating does the game have?

Answer 6

PEGI rated 18 : largely due to
intensely violent scenes

•Bandura’s media effects theory states that this sort of media can implant ideas in the mind of the audience directly as they are likely to imitate violence > states they are passive to media (Bobo doll experiment)

Question 7

What are the social and cultural contexts?

Answer 7

• Females are usually underrepresented in video game development as there is an assumed minority of female game players > are they trying to court this gender assumption?
• game features female protagonist, Aveline de Grandpré> first black female character to have a lead role in the series > major development which challenges expectations ( trying to appeal to a wider and alternative demographic? > platform for female gamer identification?

Question 8

What is globalisation?

Answer 8

Operating on an international scale/influence

Eg the simultaneous release of the game and film in Japan, Europe and USA (opportunity for multiplayer globally)