Video Games Ratings

Age ratings are system types that are used to that the content in films, videos, DVDS, and Video games are labelled to the correct age group.  Ratings provide information to customers which allows them to know what age rating certain games are and it helps in their decision whether it is suitable for the child to get. Computer and Video Games are now enjoyed by millions across the world In the UK alone 37% alone between 16 and 49 are described as active gamers.  The rating on a game confirms that it is suitable for players at a certain age.  An example is PEGI 7 game is suitable for those aged 7 and above.  PEGI the Pan-European Game Information this is a system that has been created to help parents make informed decisions when purchasing computer games. 

PEGI was launched in the spring of 2003 this replaced systems of age rating with just one system now that is used throughout Europe in 30 different countries this system is supported by the major consoles this includes Sony, Microsoft and Nintendo.  Games used to be separately rated by BBFC but due to the high amount of games rated by PEGI it became the sole system in rating video games with the introduction of PEGI this helps them because they are told the rating and this helps them choose what content they should include in their game and because it has become a law in shops any person who is under age is unable to purchase the rated game this shows that it is enforceable this is not a new law because in place when BBFC was the system but due to PEGI this now includes the majority of the games on the shelves in the shops today

However with Digital distribution becoming more popular how are companies meant to know if someone purchasing a game via Xbox or PS3 is under age how are they meant to know?.

MMORPG: Star Wars The Old Republic

Star Wars the Old Republic falls in the genre of MMORPG (Massively Multiplier online role playing game)

To download the game it is completely free but to subscribe thee is different offers like for 60 days it is $29.99 and this is billed once, for 30 days it is $14.99 and is billed every 30 day and for 90 days $13.99 and is billed every 90 days, 180 days is $12.99 and is billed every 180 days.  The game is published by EA and developed by Bio ware; it was released in December 2011.  The game had 1 million subscribers in 3 days after the release, it was estimated to have made between $150- $200 million in profit.  This game differs from a consoled base game because it is based on the PC and any one in the world can play this game.

The term MMORPG was coined by Richard Garriott, the creator of Ultima Online, in 1997. MMORPG titles now exist on consoles and in new settings, and their players enjoy higher-quality game play. The current market for MMORPGs has Blizzard Entertainment's World of Warcraft dominating as the largest MMORPG .  There is no limit to were this game is it is accessible in every country if need be, the target audienece for the majority of the developers of MMORPG games are the fantasy gamers who enjoy in gameplay to go on quests with friends and have a free world to roam. Some of the different websites are

http://www.mmorpg.com/discussion2.cfm/post/5380442#5380442

http://www.mmofansites.com

http://www.swtor.com

http://us.battle.net/wow/en/

These above are different websites/fan sites about different MMORPG games there is one from World of Warcraft and Star Wars the Old Republic on these websites there are general discussions about the games and upcoming new games.

This picture shows the different topics players from the World of Warcraft game can talk about and comment on.

This Print above shows a general discussion about a new MMORPG game called Darkfall: Unholy Wars closer, this person has blogged about this new game and has researched about the different wikis for this game, also about the players playing this game. 

 

GTA V Trailer Analysis

GTA V Trailer 

The opening of the GTA V trailer opens with Stevie Wonder song Skeletons.  Then while the song is being played a back drop is shown of the game setting of Los Santos.  This is used to show of GTA graphic power after this the scene then fades out and switches to expensive houses flash cars and perfect scenery  this is to show the wealth in this certain area, the first type of camera show we see is a low angle shot of the car outside the expensive house in the back ground.
In this scene we are introduced to the first protagonist of the game and while the camera is on him there is background noise of to women arguing, what we see of the character in this scene is him relaxing in his garden in the sun, drinking a glass of whiskey showing us he has a prefect lifestyle.
In the next scene we are introduced to the second protagonist of the game who the first impressions we get that he is mental insecure  and unstable, what Persuades are thought of this character is the jump cuts in between this scene the music in the background is loud and fast.  Also in his introduction their are a lot of explosions and events that make it look like an actual move like the train crash were jumps of just before they collide this also counteracts with the style of them game that it is about gangs and explosions.
The we are introduced to the third protagonist how seems to be a young man who is caught up in the expensive houses and flash cars and sees the world as his playground to do what ever he wants.
This trailer also has humor in it which is good with the audience because an example is when the line my son is a good man then it cuts to him causing havoc in the city this shows the audience that they have covered all corners with this game involving violence action entertainment and humor  and also a new feature within the game which catches the audience attention is their is animal within the game now.

GTA V: What we know so far

 GTA 

GTA is created in the United Kingdom and the creators of this game are David James and Mike Dailly, but then it was furthered by Dan and Sam Houser, it was developed by Rockstar North which was formally DMA design, GTA game play is open world type in this game it is optional for the player to choose to perform missions or just to wonder around the map and do what ever they wish to do there are different types of elements to this game, action- adventure, drving, role playing, stealth and race elements are within this game so it offers the players different types, so this will bring more players and this will bring more money in. There are 5 of the games GTA, GTA 2, GTA: Liberty city, San Andreas, Vice City, GTA 4, there are different settings like New York LA and San Francisco but GTA have to change the names due to copy right but they set it out as the actual setting just with some small changes. The franchise of GTA it is a first party game because it is owned by Microsoft it is mostly released on Xbox 360, the GTA franchise is mostly published by Rock Star north.

There have been different images released about GTA V this is a tactic used by Rock Star by leaking a little about the game at a time to get the audience hyped up and more excited just of one of these photos people will keep looking at them to find out as much information about the game of just the one photo, I have found three Photos one of a quad bike another of the setting and the cars of these three pictures there will be essays about these.  The game is being developed by Rock Star North and will be distributed by Take-Two interactive, the platforms we know it is on is PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360.  The different marketing strategies which Rock Star use is they will promote their product on websites shops adverts and billboards so every one can see them, the game has just become available to pre order of websites like game and gamestation for the price for £44.99 there are not yet any pre order details yet or any add ones we know if you pre order the game,  the use of cross media convergence is the use of music which is the radio stations in GTA V this offers the gamers a experience it makes the game more realistic also is is cross media to make the game available and become a must have game

Top 20 Games

This table below shows the top 20 grossing video Games of the past week this shows us important  information  about which games are more popular than others and which are making more money and why, some of the games which are at the top like Assassins Creed 3 is the top of the pile because it is the latest game realised, the most successful publisher in this list is EA this is because it has 3 of its games in the top 6: FIFA 13, Need for Speed: Most Wanted, Medal of Honour: War fighter, the second most popular game in the list is FIFA 13 this is mainly because it is on nearly every available platform there is so it is open to use for every no matter what console they have the different consoles it is available on is: Xbox 360, PS2, PS3, Wii, DS, PSP, 3DS, Wii U, Vita,  There are 3 examples of first party games these are, Forza Horizon, Professor Layton and the miracle mask, Pokémon Black and White 2 these are the only first party games Nintendo and Microsoft.  The new IP which has been released which has not had any following games is Dishonoured this is a new IP because it has no previous games before it it is a totally brand new game

The three main platforms in the top 20 list is Xbox 360 which has 14 games available on this platform the next one is PS3 which has 13 games available on its platform and the final one is PC with 11 these are the top patform holders, This is going to benifit Xbox 360 the most because they have the most games on their platform so thismeans they are going to make the most profit out of any other of the platforms.

Halo 4 & Mountain Dew

An example of symbiosis is Halo 4 with mountain Dew this benifits Halo 4 becasue it becomes more know and widely spread game but it also benifits Mountain Dew because it becomes more know within the Halo Community and it will start to make more money.

VIVENDI

GTA Graph