Horizon Forbidden West: Audience and Industry blog tasks

Audience

Look at this YouGov blog on the console gaming audience and answer the following questions:

1) What statistics can you find for the number of male / female players for the major consoles?

68% male; 29% female

2) What is the difference between 'hardcore' and 'casual' gamers - and which do you think would play Horizon Forbidden West?

Hardcore is people with a bit too much free time and casuals are employed people. HFW is for both as its an RPG so gamers can either play it for a long time and try to explore as much as possible or play it for an hour or two to relax.

3) What are the different reasons YouGov researched for why players play games? Which of these would apply to Horizon Forbidden West?

To see the difference between genders of gamers between platforms. Considering that HFW is a woke game with a lesbian main protagonist I would wager that it has a over 50% female gamers.

Look at the PlayStation website page for Horizon Forbidden West. Complete the following tasks: 

1) How is the game promoted to an audience?

RPG open world. Tells a bit about the world and the story.

2) What are the key features for the game listed on the site?

An epic action RPG adventure

3) What information does the website offer players about the game world and characters? Give a few examples.

Unravel startling mysteries

Uncover the secret behind Earth's imminent collapse and unlock a hidden chapter in the ancient past... one that will change Aloy forever.


Confront new dangers

Engage in strategic battles against enormous machines and mounted human enemies by using weapons, gear and traps crafted from salvaged parts.


Brave an expansive open world

Discover distant lands, new enemies, rich cultures and striking characters.


A majestic frontier

Explore the lush forests, sunken cities and towering mountains of a far-future America.


4) What spin-offs and additional content are available as part of the Horizon franchise?  

Complete Edition

PS5
  • Horizon Forbidden West™ for PS5®
  • Burning Shores expansion for PS5®
  • Carja Behemoth Elite Outfit and Bow
  • Nora Thunder Elite Outfit and Sling
  • Digital Art Book, Comic & Soundtrack
  • In-game resource pack
  • Pose and face paint (Photo Mode)
  • Apex Clawstrider Machine Strike piece

5) Applying Henry Jenkins's work on fandom, what aspects of the website (you may need to scroll down) encourage fan activity and engagement with online Horizon communities?  

Youtube content, wall papers.

Read this Wired feature on Horizon Forbidden West's open world design. Answer the following questions: 

1) Why did the writer enjoy Horizon Forbidden West?

It drew him in because of the well designed open world.

2) How is Horizon Forbidden West structured for players when they first start the game?

It draws in the player with its story for the first couple of hours and then lets the player explore and get immersed in the world.

3) Why does the writer feel HFW created a more successful open world game than The Witcher 3?

This kind of action stands in stark contrast to an open-world game like The Witcher 3, which, while expansive, is also just too overwhelming. A few days into the game, I threw down my controller in frustration when I arrived at a massive city and realized it would take hours to traverse all of its streets, talk to all of its NPCs, and finish the quests. I still enjoyed the game somewhat, but it failed to lure me in the way Horizon Forbidden West did.

Industries

Industry research

1) Research Sony PlayStation Studios. 

?

2) What studios are part of Sony PlayStation Studios?



3) What notable games have they produced? 

Bloodborne, Spider-Man 1 and 2, Ghost of Tsushima, God of War and GoD Ragnarök, Demon Souls.

4) Now research Guerrilla Games. Look at the 'Explore' page in particular. Who owns Guerrilla Games and how does it reflect the modern videogames industry? 

Guerrilla is one of Europe's leading game companies and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sony Interactive Entertainment Europe. 

This reflects how big companies own everything and have a lot of power.

5) Choose one of the 'Guerrilla Spotlight' features and write three things you learn about the videogames industry and/or Guerrilla Games from the interview.

Not sure where this 'Guerrilla Spotlight' features are.

Read this USA Today feature on Guerrilla Games. Answer the following questions: 

1) Which three companies merged to become Guerrilla Games?

Cant' access the link.


2) What other games and franchises were created by Guerrilla Games?


3) How did Guerrilla maximise the Killzone franchise? 


4) What did Sony sign with Guerrilla in 2004? 


5) How is Horizon Forbidden West described in the article and what is the next stage for the franchise?  


Regulation and PEGI

1) What is HFW's PEGI rating and what age rating do you feel would be appropriate? Why?


2) Why is regulating videogames difficult in the digital age?


3) Are attitudes towards media content and regulation changing as a result of the internet? Explain your answer.


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