Introduction
In this task I am going to compare Task 1 and Task 2 to analyse
what I found out about how the game addresses their player. In task 1 I did a
deconstruction on star wars battlefront, to do this I structured the
deconstruction into several sections; Genre description, Selection of content,
Construction of content, Codes and conventions and Modes of address
Firstly I am going to do a brief explanation on what I found
out from the deconstruction of the game and then I am going to explain what I
found out from task 2 when I got responses of battlefronts audience.
Task 1- Deconstruction
Game genre
The official game genre for star wars battlefront is a first
person and third person shooter. Although the game also involves a lot of
action and is based around SCI-FI; just like the movie franchise star wars. The
FPS genre tries and make the game as realistic as possible, for instance they
might include footsteps, breathing as well as additional sounds to make the
game sound as real as possible. This means the game itself is addressing the
player as if they were the actual character within the game which will help
create a personal connection from the player to the game.
Selection of content
The content in the game is extremely detailed and has a sort
of 'polished' modern Sci-Fi appearance. And there isn’t much use of bright
colours in the game; this is mostly because they wanted a more tensed, modern
sci-fi look. Because of this battlefront has captured the same unique star wars
feeling you got whilst watching the films. They have added TIE-fighters,
thermals and lightsaber's into the content of the game to add more of a
fantasy, sci-fi feel.
Construction Of content
The content in star wars battlefront is constructed in a
certain way so it can address its wide range of audience. For example star wars
battlefront has attracted the usual players who play action and FPS as well as
an audience with different ages and the typical audience who watch the star
wars movies. To address an audience this big, the game content had to be
constructed in an effective way.
Battlefront does not include single player and can only be
played in multiplayer either online or in a local co-op (Split screen.). This
means there is not really a story line in the game. The game missions consists
of having 15 waves in total and in each wave the player has to fight storm
troopers, AT-ST's and other enemies. There is also power ups involved in the
game contents although the power up can be over-whelming, in fact even the most
casual players can use the power up and defeat a wave. Other contents have been
constructed to be 'casual' and 'easy'.
For example you don’t have to worry about collecting ammo because the
guns have unlimited ammo and only get over heated and there is no penalty for
dying. The game is so casual because it is addressing the younger audience and
even though you are able to unlock weapons they are extremely easy to unlock
and there are not many available. In fact the game is almost thin on its
content, it’s lacking in depth and even though it is an entertaining FPS and is
in fact trying to addressing a wide range of audience it is not a game that
will satisfy hardcore.
Codes and conventions
Some of the codes and conventions for a FPS include good vs
evil, collectables, and a strong focus on multiplayer and the genre usually
involves guns, violence, and a hero persona.
Star wars battle front actually includes all of these codes and
conventions for instance good vs evil is the player verse the storm troopers,
the collectables include extra life and charge. Star wars battle front is also
strongly focused on multiplayer because there is no single player available.
Because the game has a mix of game genres it is still going to match some code
and conventions for action and sci-fi. For instance the game also fits into
some of the stereotype for the SCI-FI genre. These include; being in another
world, having new technology, conflict between good and evil and futuristic
elements.
Modes of the address
Battle front uses a formal mode of address and talks to the
player as if they are the character and they are all communicating to each
other. For instance if a player goes down the game will say "Player is
down" to the rest of the players in a formal tone, almost like they are
the actual character. It’s almost like the game is addressing the players in a
mature way, it expects them to take the game serious. For instance when the
game tells the player a wave is coming; it expects the players to prepare for
the wave of enemies.
Task 2 - Audience response
In this section I am going to be analysing the response I
got off my audience and using the response to deconstruct the game using the audience’s
opinion and feedback.
Genre description
The game genres for star wars battle front are action
because it’s a shooting game and is Sci-Fi because it’s set in space.
Selection of content
There is a lot in the game like tie fighters, laser cannons,
light sabers, walkers, Rebels and different types of blasters. The sound in the
game balances out the game by making you feel like you are in the space ship
and you are in the actual game. There are different missions like there is
different types survival, ones where you and your mate hold up their also co-op
missions and fighting against each other. You can play the game in split screen
so you can play it with your friends if you haven’t got the game console.
Unlike in zombies, there is no penalty for dying or any re-spawn timer instead
its straight back in to the battle which is more realistic. There isn’t any
ammo because there’s a re-boost on the weapons.
Construction of content
I think it is constructed to be more of a casual game
because there is no penalty for death or gore so it’s like it’s aimed at younger
players. This is bad though because I understand why star wars wanted to
attract a new generation to play star wars and watch star wars but I feel like
the game didn’t hit the older generation and didn’t satisfy the older
generation who watched star wars. I don’t think the game addresses hard core
players because it’s aiming more for the hardcore fans of star wars because
there isn’t much to unlock and there is no story line.
Codes and conventions
In a first person shooter you usually get to see more,
there’s a lot in the game and the player is usually like a soldier. There is a
bit of gore but it isn’t to gory because its child friendly like it’s still a
bit gory because you see them and hear them dying. In a first person shooter
you usually get to see more, there’s a lot in the game and the player is
usually like a soldier. There is a bit of gore but it isn’t to gory because its
child friendly like it’s still a bit gory because you see them and hear them
dying. Star wars have a lot which we just mentioned its spacey, has different
planets, futuristic guns, light sabers, small element of guns and gore but
there isn’t no heads blowing off and no blood or anything like that, it is easy
to use. I used to watch the films as a kid, my dad brought me up to think star
wars was the one. When I play this game I don’t feel like this game is amazing,
you feel like you are a part of star wars and apart of what you wanted to do
when you were a kid watching the star wars movies.
Modes of address
The game talks to you in a formal way, it almost just gives
you order and directions like 'officer we need help', enemies are attacking
this and enemy’s attack that' or 'this place has been overrun' or even if a
Jedi comes on the screen it alerts you. But it is all in little commands. It is
in a formal way but it is weird because it’s stern and soft. You can tell it’s
giving you an order but again it is being used in a friendly way almost like it
is aiming at little kids. Sometimes you even hear a female and when you
thinking of shooting games you think of military and a Sergeant screaming down
the microphone but instead it’s more calm and collected.
Comparison
By looking at both of the tasks it’s easy to compare what I
found out whilst doing the deconstruction in task one and the audience response
in task 2. For instance, both of the information is quite similar.
The game genre, construction, code and conventions and so on
from task 1 do match the audience’s response. For example, I mentioned how the
game is a First and third person shooter, have action, Sci- Fi and match most
of the code and conventions which are in both game genres. For instance first
person shooter common code and conventions are good vs evil, Hero persona,
collectables, guns, violence and in both tasks it explains how star wars battle
front uses these code and conventions in the game.
For example in task 2 the audience explained how there is a
bit of gore in the game but it isn’t extremely gory because it’s a child
friendly game although it’s gory enough to satisfy them because you see and
hear the enemies dying. Star wars has a lot of code and conventions which matches
both sci-fi and First person shooter for instance according to the audience
response it matches these code and conventions because its spacey, has
different planets, futuristic guns, light sabers, has a small element of guns
and gore but there isn’t no heads blowing off and no blood or anything like that
so it is still suitable for younger players.
Once you understand the games genre, contents and code and convections
etc. It is easier to understand how the game addresses its players. For example
Star wars battlefront tires and address the player like they are the actual
character in the game, First person perspective will allow the player to see
what the character sees and feels which connects the player to the game in a
more emotional and personal way.
The game also addresses the player in a calm, formal,
friendly, stern address for instance if the game is speaking to the player it
will speak to the player in a calm, friendly way but it will also talk to the
player like they are the character in a mature, collective, stern way. The game
addresses younger audiences by making sure the game is not to inappropriate for
the younger ages for instance there isn’t much violence or gore and the game
does give orders in a calm way and not in a sergeant, screaming tone of voice.
Having common code and conventions from the game genres help address the
players which are there for that specific genre for instance if a player is
playing star wars battlefront for the action then the player is going to expect
violence, hero persona, collectables etc so having the most common codes and
conventions in the game will help satisfy the players which come for the specific
game genre. For instance if the player used to be a star wars fan then they are
going to expect lightsaber’s, rebels, storm troopers and more. Which I do think
they did because one of the audience from battlefront expressed how much he
used to love the movies and how the game is what he wished for when he was
younger.
'I used to watch the films as a kid, my dad brought me up to think star wars was the one. When I play this game I don’t feel like this game is amazing, you feel like you are a part of star wars and apart of what you wanted to do when you were a kid watching the star wars movies. '