Video games - exam style question

 To what extent do video game makers target audiences through changing representations?

(arguing your viewpoint)

Refer to two of your three Videogames Close study products to support your answer. 

[25 marks]

PLANNNING

Intro – your opinion/ thesis statement – link to question and keywords

2nd para - Tomb Raider – Representations

3rd para – Sims – Representations

4th para – Tomb Raider – Audiences / Industries

5th para – Sims – Audiences / Industries

Sim's Freeplay and Tomb Raider has definitely changed its representation to some extent as time passed to target its target audience. The target audience for Sim's Freeplay has been more targeted towards generation Z whereas Tomb Radier is targeted more towards millennials and this has resulted in the representation for Sims to progress further then Tomb Raider. However, some representation in both game is still stereotypical.

Tomb Raider can definitely be credited for its representation since Lara Croft is the first female protagonist however the game has been criticised for over-sexualising her. This can be seen on the game cover she is posed to focus on her physique. Van zoonen's theory can be applied to show how Lara Croft has been objectified and women have been made to see as a spectacle. Furthermore, on the cover, Lara croft's costume is quite revealing and impractical. This eliminates the power and purpose of the character she is. Her clothing is made to accentuate her body figure and that is seen as a greater concern rather than how efficient her clothing should be. This also appeals to a male audience which is 60% of the game's demographic (male gaze). Furthermore, most of the audience who play the gameplay for nostalgia which may explain why the video game makers of  Tomb Raider may be resultant to drastically change the representations of the game because it won't cater towards their target audience.

On the other, Tomb Raider can be seen as an empowering game for females and its changing representation of a female protagonist is the reason it has been very successful. The game also includes exploration, overcoming physical obstacles and fighting shows how it subverts other female protagonist games. In the later franchise, 'Rise of the Tomb Raider', you can see how different Lara Croft's physique and the costume is. Her wearing more practical clothes and a more realistic body form shows how the franchise has changed its representation of Lara Croft.

Sim's Freeplay has definitely changed its representation to cater to its target audience. The sims were created to offer a range of representation for age, gender, race, ethnicity and many more. In order for the franchise to be as successful as it is, it always changed and created different kinds of representation through its updates and extension packs. The Sims have created features allowing same-sex marriage and inclusions of LGBTQ relationships. This change in representation has benefited the Sims a lot with greater support from fans. Relating to Gauntlett theory on the fluidity of identity, the game allows the player to decide whichever identity they would like. Furthermore, they added a Morrocan extension which allows characters (whether they are a child, teenager or adult ) can wear a hijab. This shows the games are inclusive of all regions and beliefs

However, to some extent, Sims does reinforce stereotypical representations and try to promote the American Dream. This can be on the cover poster where the game represents a heterosexual couple and its idealist middle class life. The game is praised for its freedom of how the player can live another representation of reality however many of the tasks in the game are made to cater towards an ideal American Dream. This creates hyperreality because the line between reality and illusion is blurred. 

Furthermore, the game represents capitalist ideologies that don't their target audience. Generation z is seen as more liberal. In the sims, in order to make money, you have to work hard and the freemium model means the conglomerate makes a profit from the game. This shows the lack of changing representation and also shows how the game. The representation of genders can also seem to limit. There is a distinctive difference between male clothes and female clothes. The clothes confide stereotypical clothes worn by the genders, for example, the female clothes are more skirts and dresses whereas the male clothes are more cargo pants and button-up shirts. Also, the clothes available for male are fewer than for girls. This may be because their target demographic is mostly female however there is an increasing amount of male players.

In conclusion, both video games have has a gradual change in their representation however Sims had an increase of change because their target audience has significantly changed however some representations has stayed the same like gender representation. Tomb Raider has had fewer changes however in their recent franchise there has been a significant difference.