Videogames: The Sims FreePlay part 3 - Representation
Textual analysis
Re-watch some of the expansion pack trailers and answer the following questions:
1) How do the expansion pack (DLC) trailers reinforce or challenge dominant ideologies?
The chic boutique represents capitalist ideologies and materialism.
Teen updates target the specific audience
2) What stereotypes have you identified in The Sims FreePlay?
More heterosexual relationships are shown - heteronormativity
Most of the videos feature white characters- lack of diversity
3) What media theories can you apply to representations in The Sims FreePlay?
masculine toxicity- Men are created to play a certain role
Representation reading
Read this Forbes article on gender and racism in The Sims franchise and answer the following questions:
1) How realistic does The Sims intend to be?
Reflects the life in America in an ideal world.
“We’re not really looking for realism, we’re looking more for believability,”
2) How has The Sims tried to create more realistic representations of ethnicity?
adding more details to alter the appearance of a Sim with a less stereotypical ways of representing different ethnicities.
3) How has The Sims responded to racism and sexism in society?
We don’t really have a message—there’s no racism message, there’s no tolerance message. We have same-sex marriage in our game. Our Sims will not discriminate based on gender preference whatsoever.
4) What is The Sims perspective on gender fluidity and identity?
The Sims 4 seems inflexible on is gender identity.
“but I have no good response to that. We would need to take more time and consideration to really arrive at that destination.”
5) How does The Sims reinforce the dominant capitalist ideologies of American culture?
In the sims, in order to make money, you have to work hard. Furthermore, in Sims, there are collections of items you can buy which increase with value.
Also, the freemium model means the conglomerate makes a profit from the game.
Read this New Normative feature on LGBTQ representation in The Sims franchise (the website link no longer works but that will take you to the text of the article - you'll need your Greenford Google login to access). Answer the following questions:
1) How did same-sex relationships unexpectedly help the original Sims game to be a success?
the ability to make characters LGBTQ — proved to be a saving grace, drawing positive publicity to the title when it needed it most.
2) How is sexuality now represented in The Sims?
diversity in character sexuality across the whole of the medium.
3) Why have fans praised the inclusion of LGBTQ relationships in The Sims franchise?
For several fans, it was a way to learn about different sexual preferences in a safe way, or for the first time.
fans who had found a sense of acceptance through the game
4) Why did the Sims run into regulatory difficulties with American regulator the ESRB? How did EA respond?
ESRB corrected that after the game shipped and same-sex support was an automatic M.”
Through a lot of effort, determination and standing their ground, EA was able to convince the ESRB to maintain the game’s T-rating
5) How is sexuality represented in the wider videogames industry today?
progress is being made in better representing LGBTQ relationships in games, however slowly
Reality, postmodernism and The Sims
Read this Paste Magazine feature on reality and The Sims franchise. Answer the following questions:
1) What does the article suggest about the representation of real life in The Sims 4?
The sims reflect virtual life with no barriers or limitations meaning it is escapism because it is the life one hasn't lived.
2) What audience pleasures did the writer used to find in The Sims franchise?
Diversion, Personal identity, personal relationship
3) Why does the writer mention an example of a washer and dryer as additional DLC?
The writer added it as dlc however never used it because felt like it reflected real-life chores and therefore so no pleasure from it.
4) In your opinion, has The Sims made an error in trying to make the franchise too realistic?
Creating the franchise to be too realistic can backfire because most of the audience who play sims play for escapism not to be reminded of reality.
5) How does this representation of reality link to Baudrillard’s theory of hyperreality - the increasingly blurred line between real and constructed?
The actions you take in the game are closely linked to real-life however you create a life and characters which are not real. This causes a blurred line between reality and illusions.
The Sims FreePlay social media analysis
Analyse The Sims FreePlay Facebook page and Twitter feed and answer the following questions:
1) What is the purpose of The Sims FreePlay social media channels?
Promoting new features and DLC. Showing pictures of the gameplay. Retweeting sims related videos.
2) Choose three posts (from either Twitter or Facebook) and make a note of what they are and how they encourage audience interaction or response.
Unlock traditional Moroccan décor
New features encourage the audience to want to add and play
Hijabs are now available for child, tween, teenager and adult
Inclusive, Respects all religion
The Sims Freeplay- Moroccan Marvel House Tour
Interacting with the audience, engagement.
3) Scroll down the Facebook feed briefly. How many requests for new content can you find from players? Why is this such as an important part of the appeal for The Sims FreePlay?
Most of the comments have small criticism or tweets they want Sims to add or change.
4) What tweets can you find in the Twitter feed that refer to additional content or other revenue streams for EA?
The Moroccan/Arabian feature is constantly promoted. This new feature would make the gamers feel excited to check it out adding revenue for EA.
5) Linking to our work on postmodernism, how could The Sims FreePlay social media presence be an example of Baudrillard’s hyperreality and simulacra?
The game creates this hyperreality because the game itself is very close to reality however the game lets the player live a life with no limation and a life they haven't live. It blurs the line between reality and illusion because they are both closely link. This may be why it has been extremely successful because it creates a new sense of escapism.
Real gamers interact through their characters.
Re-watch some of the expansion pack trailers and answer the following questions:
1) How do the expansion pack (DLC) trailers reinforce or challenge dominant ideologies?
The chic boutique represents capitalist ideologies and materialism.
Teen updates target the specific audience
2) What stereotypes have you identified in The Sims FreePlay?
More heterosexual relationships are shown - heteronormativity
Most of the videos feature white characters- lack of diversity
3) What media theories can you apply to representations in The Sims FreePlay?
masculine toxicity- Men are created to play a certain role
Representation reading
Read this Forbes article on gender and racism in The Sims franchise and answer the following questions:
1) How realistic does The Sims intend to be?
Reflects the life in America in an ideal world.
“We’re not really looking for realism, we’re looking more for believability,”
2) How has The Sims tried to create more realistic representations of ethnicity?
adding more details to alter the appearance of a Sim with a less stereotypical ways of representing different ethnicities.
3) How has The Sims responded to racism and sexism in society?
We don’t really have a message—there’s no racism message, there’s no tolerance message. We have same-sex marriage in our game. Our Sims will not discriminate based on gender preference whatsoever.
4) What is The Sims perspective on gender fluidity and identity?
The Sims 4 seems inflexible on is gender identity.
“but I have no good response to that. We would need to take more time and consideration to really arrive at that destination.”
5) How does The Sims reinforce the dominant capitalist ideologies of American culture?
In the sims, in order to make money, you have to work hard. Furthermore, in Sims, there are collections of items you can buy which increase with value.
Also, the freemium model means the conglomerate makes a profit from the game.
Read this New Normative feature on LGBTQ representation in The Sims franchise (the website link no longer works but that will take you to the text of the article - you'll need your Greenford Google login to access). Answer the following questions:
1) How did same-sex relationships unexpectedly help the original Sims game to be a success?
the ability to make characters LGBTQ — proved to be a saving grace, drawing positive publicity to the title when it needed it most.
2) How is sexuality now represented in The Sims?
diversity in character sexuality across the whole of the medium.
3) Why have fans praised the inclusion of LGBTQ relationships in The Sims franchise?
For several fans, it was a way to learn about different sexual preferences in a safe way, or for the first time.
fans who had found a sense of acceptance through the game
4) Why did the Sims run into regulatory difficulties with American regulator the ESRB? How did EA respond?
ESRB corrected that after the game shipped and same-sex support was an automatic M.”
Through a lot of effort, determination and standing their ground, EA was able to convince the ESRB to maintain the game’s T-rating
5) How is sexuality represented in the wider videogames industry today?
progress is being made in better representing LGBTQ relationships in games, however slowly
Reality, postmodernism and The Sims
Read this Paste Magazine feature on reality and The Sims franchise. Answer the following questions:
1) What does the article suggest about the representation of real life in The Sims 4?
The sims reflect virtual life with no barriers or limitations meaning it is escapism because it is the life one hasn't lived.
2) What audience pleasures did the writer used to find in The Sims franchise?
Diversion, Personal identity, personal relationship
3) Why does the writer mention an example of a washer and dryer as additional DLC?
The writer added it as dlc however never used it because felt like it reflected real-life chores and therefore so no pleasure from it.
4) In your opinion, has The Sims made an error in trying to make the franchise too realistic?
Creating the franchise to be too realistic can backfire because most of the audience who play sims play for escapism not to be reminded of reality.
5) How does this representation of reality link to Baudrillard’s theory of hyperreality - the increasingly blurred line between real and constructed?
The actions you take in the game are closely linked to real-life however you create a life and characters which are not real. This causes a blurred line between reality and illusions.
The Sims FreePlay social media analysis
Analyse The Sims FreePlay Facebook page and Twitter feed and answer the following questions:
1) What is the purpose of The Sims FreePlay social media channels?
Promoting new features and DLC. Showing pictures of the gameplay. Retweeting sims related videos.
2) Choose three posts (from either Twitter or Facebook) and make a note of what they are and how they encourage audience interaction or response.
Unlock traditional Moroccan décor
New features encourage the audience to want to add and play
Hijabs are now available for child, tween, teenager and adult
Inclusive, Respects all religion
The Sims Freeplay- Moroccan Marvel House Tour
Interacting with the audience, engagement.
3) Scroll down the Facebook feed briefly. How many requests for new content can you find from players? Why is this such as an important part of the appeal for The Sims FreePlay?
Most of the comments have small criticism or tweets they want Sims to add or change.
4) What tweets can you find in the Twitter feed that refer to additional content or other revenue streams for EA?
The Moroccan/Arabian feature is constantly promoted. This new feature would make the gamers feel excited to check it out adding revenue for EA.
5) Linking to our work on postmodernism, how could The Sims FreePlay social media presence be an example of Baudrillard’s hyperreality and simulacra?
The game creates this hyperreality because the game itself is very close to reality however the game lets the player live a life with no limation and a life they haven't live. It blurs the line between reality and illusion because they are both closely link. This may be why it has been extremely successful because it creates a new sense of escapism.
Real gamers interact through their characters.
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