play value analysis

Possible things that could be used in our documentary. From start to finish i analysed an episode of "Play Value" a documentary series dealing solely on videogamesBegins with sponsors, continued with opening titles; a quirky animation feauturing the title of the episode as shown by mario and a chart showing the progression from primordial ooze to the newest generations of consoles, followed by shots of the presenters doing gaming based things, along with their names and primary proffesions.

The slogan then pops up, followed by the title again.

talking heads with plain blue background, with pictures at the side, slight notes underneath, intermitted by pictures/ video that fills whole screen ( clips from videogames).

old videogame style music in background.

Textual Analysis of Fable 2

Media Language -
the game is set from a third person perspective. there is also non- diagetic sounds reminiscent of olde worlde orchestral music.

Insitution -
the game was created by Lionhead studios and published by Microsoft game studios.

Genre -
the game, although advertised as a role playing game, is predominantly an action game with hints of role playing.

Representation -
the game, set in "Albion" a fictional world based on England. Has very stereotypical English voice actors. With spoofs on "yam yam" style accents.

Audience -
the game is a 16+ so i assume that is the games target demographic. however it is undeniable that the target audience of the xbox 360 is wider than that. so younger audiences are bound to play the game.

Ideology -
the game features a moral choice system, which although punishes the player for evil decisions. also offers some advantages for being evil. e.g getting a cooler looking "evil" dog, and also offers the ability to obtain stronger "evil" weapons.

Narrative -
the game starts with the player as a homeless orphan child. Whom gets shot along with his sister (who dies) by an evil dictator. Years later the player assumes the role of the character later on his adult life, wherein he decides to take revenge on the dictator who shoots him earlier in the game.

Proposal Form

Area to Research:
Video game genre with direct reference to videogame institutions

Research investigation methods to use:
Textual analysis of similar media texts, as well as primary and secondary research of game institutions

Linked Production:
Play Value: an internet series that documents the history of videogames

How my research will inform my production:
After textual analysis, apply several factors from similar texts to my own production

Why i chose this idea:
i chose this as it is an area that i am well informed in and enjoy researching and discussing

Textual Analysis of Sega vs Nintendo

I have decided to do my textual analysis based on the internet documentary series "Play Value" , or more specifically the episode called Sega Vs Nintendo. I have decided to use this for my textual analysis as it is very similar to the production that me and my group are doing for our final production, for the textual analysis i decided to use the "MIGRAIN" textual analysis technique.


Media Language:
the series consists of mostly close ups, specifically of a talking head type, this is to show more emotion whilst discussing the certain events so the audience knows what the presenters think of the event.

Ideology:
the episode discusses a disagreement between Sony and Nintendo, in which nintendo make sony seem foolish, with the outcome being that sony made the playstation and made a lot more money than nintendo. The presenters seem pleased with this, which thusly indicates a dominant ideology of fair play.


Genre:
the series is a documentary based on the history of videogames.

Audience:
the target audience for this series is clearly both young gamers who want to further research the history of videogames, or an older videogame enjoying audience who want to watch the series for nostalgic value.

Institution:
the episode discusses various Institutions, but predominantly Sony and Nintendo.

Narrative:
as with all the episodes in the series, this episodes discusses the events in chronological order.

Kojima is an Auteur

Kojima Productions have a very auteuristic stlye throughout the majority of their videogames (specifically the "Metal Gear" series of games). Although the metal gear games make up most of their library of games and thusly it could be argued that in fact they are not auteuristic but are simply complying to the staple of that series, the aspect of Intriguing and well told storylines are always shown in all of their games. From Metal gear ( a game series well known for its in depth story) to castlevania (a series that although primarily action based is still very well known for its in depth story ( albeit less in depth than Metal gear) ) this clearly shows Kojima Productions and the C.e.o of the company Hideo Kojima as an Auteur

Auteur Theory

the Auteur Theory is a 1950's theory that states that all audio visual media, and indeed in some cases print based, is effected directively or passively by the creative vision of the director.

One criticism is that although this may be apparent in some kinds of media, it is not always the case, the director may be influenced by other peoples work and use their ideas and themes rather than those they would have thought to do.

If i did a comic book based around villains of Gotham city, i could change the way they are represented based on what i think would suit each character.

Initial Ideas

For my media studies AS2 course i had the idea to produce a documentary based about how videgames have evolved since the original production of space war in 1977. we would attempt to gain access to various videogame based people and get their opinion or there view on the history of videogames