MS4: Mobile Gaming

Write a short review of a mobile game that you have played recently.

Pet Rescue Saga- This is the new game created by King; the creators of Candy Crush Saga. At first I thought that the game was fun to play and a little different from the normal Facebook games. However once you get to levels 20+ they get difficult and I find it hard to pass level 32. I am not a fan of the game anymore and play it when I get bored/loose lives in all the other games that I play. 

Identify another mobile game app and justify your answer. 

Fruit Ninja- The objective of this game is to slice all of the fruit without hitting the bombs. There are 3 different modes : Classic, Arcade and Zen which give you slightly different ways of playing the same game. 

This is a stereotypical mobile game app in many ways: 
* It has easy controls - Just swipe with your finger 
* Good for the casual gamer - You can play as many times as you want without losing lives  or having to start over. 
* Fast levels - Some of them are timed
* Work towards an end goal- Slice as many fruits as you can without hitting a bomb or running out of time.
*No Narrative
* Arcade Style - cartoon graphics
*Basic contextual music - Music that would be associated with 'Ninjas'. 
*In game purchases- you build up 'star fruits' to buy extra blades and also pay $/£ for them.

Identify an app you use that is NOT a game and justify your answer.

Barclay's Online Banking - This is an app that allows you to view your bank balance wherever you are. Other than the title there are other factors that mean it is not a mobile gaming app:
*It requires a password to access the Data 
* Allows you to transfer money to other accounts 
* Colours are basic and match the banks colours
* No music
*Simple Layout 
* Small Images 
* All text/ information 

MS4 :Mobile Gaming: Angry Birds

Identify and explore two other games similar to Angry Birds answering the following questions: 

1) Create a list of the shared characteristics 

2) How many of these characteristics are specific to mobile gaming? 

3) How would you classify these games? 

CRAZY CATS

1) This game has a range of similarities to the game Angry Birds.  

* The use of the sling shot 

* The two different types of species 

* One animal trying to kill another (Objective) 

*The faces on the dogs when they are hit 

*The 3 stars on each level

*How the cat is launched 

*Obstacles e.g. walls

*Changes to the dogs e.g the hair 

*The narrative is the same- rivalry between the cats and dogs

*Has a range of levels 

* The levels are quick and have only so many 'cats' 

2)Out of the list above the ones that are similar to mobile gaming conventions are: 

* The narrative is simplistic/concept only 

*The levels are quick 

*Simple Objective 

*Audience gratification 

3) The classification of this game:

Device- PC 

Audience- Casual game

Game Play- Puzzle 

Developer- Kill5Games 

LAND-A-PANDA

1) The similarities between Land-A-Panda and Angry Birds are: 

*Fast levels 

*Two main characters - the protagonists and the enemies

*Touch Screen Control 

* Small Narrative 
*Use of a slingshot 
*Have to unlock the levels 
*Different worlds
*You can collect objects e.g coins 
*Backgrounds change 

*One main objective throughout the game 

2)The characteristics above that are similar to mobile gaming conventions: 

* The levels are quick 

*Simple Objective

*Narrative in concept only 

3) The classification of this game : 

Device- Mobile and Multiplatform 

Audience-Casual Game

Developer-Big Pixel Studios 

Game Play- Puzzle 

MS3: Podcasts on Research Methods

As a helping hand towards the research part of the coursework my teacher gave us all a link from YouTube  and told us to listen to the pod casts as it would help with our coursework investigation. 

There are 3 parts to the podcast and they all follow on from each other. Each part was around 4 minutes long, and it was packed full of useful information that has given me ideas on how to conduct my coursework investigation. 

When listening to the podcast(s) I found that even though most of the information I already knew, some of the added detail to the information was completely new to me. For example I learnt that you could use search engines such as Google Advance to narrow down your search. I also learnt that there is a site called Library Catalogue that could help with finding documents on the web relating specifically to your search. 

Another research method that I learnt about would be Scholarly Journal Articles , which could help me to gain specific information that relates solely to my investigation. I also found that within any investigation when using newspapers that show a biased view of a topic or may not be entirely true , needs to be acknowledged within your investigation. 

I also learnt that social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter could be used for primary research to create a bigger sample for your research. Sites such as Planet eStream or Google video , that are mentioned within the podcast, are new to me , which has given me a wider range of sources to find visual texts that can help me to get my point across to the audience that may read my investigation. 

Overall after listening to the podcast , I have learnt a number of different techniques to help me better my research to create a focused investigation that will help me to create my production piece correctly. 

If you would like to listen to the podcasts yourself, the links are listed below. 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BcB30eb9DPw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vWdWx0aSD1M
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OewsT0VIwtE

MS4 : Textual Analysis of Proffessor Layton and the Curious Village

The main representation within this game would be the English/British identity. The English representation is show through the main protagonists , Professor Layton and Luke ; his side-kick.  The grammar used when the characters 'talk' is correctly spelt and the punctuation is correct. The actual words spoken are straight to the point and very precise. The protagonist , Professor Layton is shown to be punctual, smartly dressed and well mannered, which represents English/British people to be friendly and polite. This representations mainly focuses on the male protagonist which hints that male British/English people are well mannered. 

However the stereotypical view that woman are the main ones that look after children and teach them/bring them up, isn't true in this game because the main protagonist ,Professor Layton, is the one who looks after his young side-kick ,Luke, and also teaches him certain things e.g manners, and how to go about solving puzzles/mysteries to uncover the truth. 

 At the very end of  the game the protagonists solve the mystery and find a young girl, which shows the stereotypical view that women are vulnerable and need to be looked after by men . It also shows that the female character is less important than the male characters and are in need of help e.g to be saved. Throughout the game all of the female characters that you meet are in dresses or skirts, or other feminine garments e.g hats, blouses, small heeled shoes, but there are not as many female characters as male; the game stereo-typically shows that men are the dominant gender.

Within the game you have the change to 'meet' a range of different people who may represent the different types of people you would meet in different towns/cities within real life. For example there is always a bartender within every town/city in real life and they are stereo-typically loud, boisterous, cheerful and happy to help, which is shown within this game through the dialogue shown on screen.

The theory that I think would apply most to this game would be the Constructionist Theory, because the narrative of the game is basically about a made-up world, which can show that our understanding of the world is constructed and created by representations e.g. the different characters within the game. The game itself does not convey realism because the game is essentially a cartoon being played out, but with you as the main character. 

MS4:Representations of women in Video Games

1) Who was the first woman video game character you can remember? Describe her.

Lara Croft , from the Tomb raider games and films. She is an independent woman who wears tight fitting clothing to show of her 'assets' and goes on adventures missions that include combat and bloodshed. Lara Croft has many different representations. She is shown as a strong, independent female that can hold her own and is fearless. However she is also shown in a sexualised way through her clothing e.g the hot pants and tight fitting top which are used to attract the male audience.


2) Who was the first woman you knew that played video games? Describe her?
The first woman that I know who played video games is one of my best friends from secondary school. She has a 'tomboyish' nature and has a very unique personality. She is a shy person but is not afraid to voice her opinon. Chloe is very interested in mostly cartoon games e.g Pokemon and kingdom Hearts, however she does enjoy games that include combat and fighting e.g the Call of Duty franchise.


3) Do you think the woman gamer felt she was ‘represented’ in the character you described? Why, why not?
I think that the woman gamer (Chloe) would feel she was represented in the character of Lara Croft because they are both strong headed woman and are not afraid to stand up for themselves  The character of Lara Croft also tends to have a range of good fighting skills and so does Chloe. However Chloe would not wear the types of clothes that the Lara Croft character is associated with.


4)Can you think of another female character that this woman would feel is a representation of her? Why?

Another female character that Chloe would feel representation of her would be Lightning from the Final Fantasy franchise because she is the main protagonist who tries to save the people who are close to her, which is what Chloe would do. She also carries weapons and Chloe is interested in weapons, especially the ones that you can carry e.g blades. The character Lightning is also smart and independent, just like Chloe.