Lara Croft

Question 1

What type of game is ‘Lara Croft Go’?

Answer 1

App/puzzle game.

Question 2

Intertextual links to Lara Croft franchise

Answer 2

• Main character is Lara Croft
• Gameplay- boulder chases, reaction based gameplay
• Puzzle-solving
• Base outfit is same as original Lara Croft outfit

Question 3

What is the character meant to do?

Answer 3

Solve a series of puzzles whilst avoiding obstacles and manipulating the environment.

Question 4

What type of setting is utilised by the game?

Answer 4

Exotic settings used throughout to reinforce adventurous atmosphere- e.g. rocky outcrops to suggest danger and challenge, involve ruins from an ancient civilisation.

Question 5

What type of outfits does Lara Croft wear?

Answer 5

• Suggests gender through range of outfits- implies obsession with fashion
• Suggests genre through adventure-appropriate outfits- suggests action/adventure genre

Question 6

What is the artistic style of Lara Croft Go?

Answer 6

Unique, geometric style- mirrors original style from ‘Tomb Raider’ 1996 (intertextual link)

Question 7

How does Lara Croft Go subvert gender stereotypes?

Answer 7

Female protagonist, subverts gender stereotype that women hate danger and adventure, the victims in need of rescue; doesn’t get help from male hero.

Question 8

How does Lara Croft Go conform to gender stereotypes?

Answer 8

• Range of outfits reflects stereotype that women are obsessed with fashion
• Sexual body type conforms to stereotypical outrageous beauty ideals e.g. hourglass shape; as an adventurer and a person, this body type is impossible (link to male gaze, Mulvey theory)

Question 9

Demographics of Lara Croft Go

Answer 9

• Gender: female- empowered female protagonist
• Age: 13-24- apps are used mainly by teens, but the game requires puzzle-solving that ranges in difficulty
• Socio-economic group: B, C1- people who can afford to buy a premium mobile game likely have a decent income

Question 10

Lara Croft Uses and Gratifications: Personal identity

Answer 10

Audience feels empowered as they relate to strong female protagonist

Question 11

Lara Croft Uses and Gratifications: Diversion

Answer 11

Audience can escape their daily lives to live out an adventure at the tap of a screen; they can feel like the game’s protagonist if they don’t feel it in real life.

Question 12

Lara Croft Uses and Gratifications: Entertainment

Answer 12

Can spend time playing this game and feel fulfilled due to it being a short game.

Question 13

Average price of Lara Croft Go

Answer 13

$4.99, although it can be bundled in with other games for the same price.

Question 14

Who made Lara Croft Go?

Answer 14

Square Enix, a major international producer of popular games such as the hugely popular ‘Final Fantasy’ franchise, ‘Life Is Strange’, and the ‘Kingdom Hearts’ series.

Question 15

Critical reception of Lara Croft Go

Answer 15

• Generally a good reception
• People disliked how short it was
• Disputed difficulty

Question 16

PEGI rating of Lara Croft Go

Answer 16

12+- this allows the game access to the main users of technology (teenagers and young adults).

Question 17

Where is Lara Croft available and why is this important?

Answer 17

IOS, android, playstation, windows, etc- suggests: despite success of traditional video games, gaming companies need to branch out to new platforms like apps to be able to succeed with the emergence of new media.