Media CSP - Sims

Question 1

What genre is sims free play?

Answer 1

Sims free play is a life simulation game

Question 2

How can audiences play the game?

Answer 2

• It is free to play on android, windows, IOS
• The game is 12+ on the App Store

Question 3

Who owns the game?

Answer 3

• The game is owned and published by EA mobile
• Firemonkeys studios are the subsidiary company

Question 4

How does the game gain revenue?

Answer 4

• Advertisements on the game generate revenue
• If the players watch the advertisements then they can gain in game rewards

Question 5

How is the game regulated?

Answer 5

• Rates 13+ in USA
• Rated 12+ in Europe

Question 6

How does the game show technological advances?

Answer 6

• The game is constantly being updated
• It features enhanced visual graphics
• There is lower processing and power usage since its on mobile
• Augmented reality - players can use their devices camera to put their sims world in real life

Question 7

What is the games target audience?

Answer 7

• Primary target audience is teenagers
• The gender is targeted at women since violent video games are typically targeted at mens, and the sims isn’t a violent game

Question 8

How does the game show industry contexts?

Answer 8

• The game follows typical trends such as mobile gaming, having a live service model, game updates with seasonal changes

Question 9

How does Barthes theory apply to sims?

Answer 9

• Myths are signs that have meaning which create a cultural myth, houses, jobs, pregnancy are all myths about capitalism
• Plumbob - green means sim is happy, red means sim is sad
• Colour - the game uses vibrant colours, signifies that the game is open to a younger audience
• Index’s are used to show how the sim is feeling, heart symbol used for romance and fire symbol used for conflict

Question 10

How can Neales theory be applied to sims?

Answer 10

• The game follows conventions of a lifestyle game, building houses, getting jobs, getting older, building relationships
• Social realism - you can choose skin tone, no fantasy options which solidifies the life simulation genre

Question 11

How does todorov’s theory apply to the sims?

Answer 11

• The game doesn’t follow a fixed narrative but instead allows players to create and manage their own virtual town
• Fragmented narrative - no exact storyline, lots of mini quests
• There is an argument that the game follows narratology, the equilibrium is entering the game with your sim, disruption is the conflict with relationships and money being low, new equilibrium is restored once you gain in game rewards

Question 12

How does strauss’ theory apply to the sims?

Answer 12

• Binary opposition - choosing a female path has very different features compared to picking a male characters path
• There’s also binary opposition between plumbob colours and success and failure
• Going against binary opposition, so many broad options are available that aren’t binary opposites

Question 13

How does baudrillards theory apply to the sims?

Answer 13

• Simulacra - the sims can be customised in terms of appearance, clothing, personality traits
• Hyperreality - you can work, sleep, socialise, go through different stages of life and replicate yourself in the game
• There are seaonsal updates which makes the game more realistic
• Augmented reality - you can see your I’m in real life which destroys the difference between the real world and media

Question 14

Who are all the language theorists that can apply to sims?

Answer 14

• Barthes
• Neale
• todorov
• Strauss
• Baudrillard

Question 15

How does Halls representation theory apply to the sims?

Answer 15

• Hegemony - the locked hair styles re done purposefully to engage the audience
• The fact that you have to be married etc to become pregnant is a stereotype
• When a player becomes pregnant they undergo several stereotypical pregnancy features such as 3 trimesters
• Even if players try to subvert stereotypes the game doesn’t allow it

Question 16

How does gauntletts theory apply to sims?

Answer 16

• You can create your own identity - choosing your own name, gender, etc
• Identity is constructed throughout the different stages of the game

Question 17

How does gilroys theory apply to sims?

Answer 17

• The focus of the game is building and expanding your land and mini empire which could be signs of albionic nostalgia
• There are different skin tones in attempt to be diverse however the gameplay doesn’t really challenge racial stereotypes

Question 18

How does van zoonen, mulvey, levy theories apply to sims?

Answer 18

• Before sims can become pregnant they must complete a quest where the sim must be married, double bed, player must interact with partner

Question 19

How does butlers theory apply to sims?

Answer 19

• The game doesn’t have a non binary gender option however players can dress in any clothing regardless of gender - gender performativity
• Gender trouble - you can dress as a male in a dress, makeup is available for all genders

Question 20

How does hooks theory apply sims?

Answer 20

• The game is focused on widening options to gender and race with new updates
• Different types of oppression however social class oppression isn’t really explored

Question 21

Which representation theorists can be applied to sims?

Answer 21

• Hall
• Gauntlett
• gilroy
• van zoonen, mulvey, levy
• butler
• hooks

Question 22

How does halls reception theory apply to sims?

Answer 22

• Negotiated reading - embracing and enjoying the options of the game, customisation, but the players may understand the monetary value of the game about producers maximising revenue
• Dominant reading - audiences enjoy the different representations
• Oppositional reading - rejecting game and its values

Question 23

How does banduras theory apply to sims?

Answer 23

• Audiences may imitate actions in media to real life, the ideal life you create in sims may be what you try to become in real life
• The society of sims is a meritocracy - you are what you are based on what you’ve earned

Question 24

How does gerbners theory apply to sims?

Answer 24

• The short burst nature of the game means audiences are less immersed in the game
• Resonance - players can resonate with the game
• Moral panic - not being as successful in real life as you are in sims

Question 25

How does Jenkins theory apply to sims?

Answer 25

• Prosumers - the fan art the game actually used in the game
• You can make your own characters which makes you both a producer and consumer
• There is a sims fandom website, twitter page with fans giving opinions, creating content increases interactivity of the game

Question 26

How does Shirky’s theory apply to sims?

Answer 26

• Audiences are no longer passive and are becoming a lot more active - the fact audiences create own versions of content etc
• Digital natives - younger players who have grown up playing sims

Question 27

Which audience theorists apply to sims?

Answer 27

• Hall
• Bandaranaike
• gerbner
• Jenkins
• shirky

Question 28

How does hesmondhalghs theory apply to sims?

Answer 28

• Producers minimise risk and maximis profit - the game is a life simulation game and they rely on revenue by making the game free and then offering micro transactions and advertisements for rewards
• Launching the game on mobile is diversification
• EA are a large conglomerate which minimises risk

Question 29

How does livingstone and lungs theory apply to sims?

Answer 29

• Consumer based regulation - micros transactions
• citizen based regulation - different seasons such as the Chinese update, they don’t include addiction, alcohol, drugs etc
• Self regulation- parents must safeguard their children
• The game is probably more consumer based

Question 30

How does Curran and seasons theory apply to sims?

Answer 30

• The media is ran by large conglomerates - EA mobile
• Lack of diversity - the game doesn’t really prioritise creativity