Assasins Creed - audiences and industries

who published AC3:Lib and what kind of company are they?

ubisoft

- large global company, powerful, have created many other successful video games

how does the publisher of AC being a global company impact them positively?

- can globally distribute

- spend a lot of money on marketing

- had promo video for ac3 that included gameplay footage, essential for advertising as players want to see how game will look and play

- filmic sections

- players want big budget games

how did the poster cater to pre-sold audiences?

poster had intertextual references to other AC games and fans would recognise the poster/marketing through posing and familiar characters etc.

why was the exclusive release on PS Vita a positive?

- vita had very small choice of games

- synergy with sony because two product work alongside and increased demand

- PS vita offered wifi online capabilities could play games regularly with friends

Why was PS vita a good console to release at the time?

- handheld gaming was becoming more popular

- Gameboys, Nintendo ds, then PS Vita and recent editions likes switch are all consoles with portable gaming in mind.

- hardcore gamers wanted to be the first to try out the vita.

why was Aveline an unusual protagonist?

- she's a female playable character and mixed race.

- usually women in games are underrepresented or presented in hugely stereotypically ways. Usually sexualised and 'damsel in distress' convention.

how did Aveline attract a new audience?

Unique selling point. may attract female gamers. ethnicity may attract an ethnic minority audience because of her strong role.

how did narrative attract a certain audience?

Narrative is based around the slavery. audience engaged with history. Appeals to mixed/ethnic minority audience. more educated audience in politics and history.

apply hesmondhalgh and curran and seaton to ubisoft and AC

- Ubisoft tried make more money for the game

- Remastered ac3 lib in HD on new technology. Dedicated fans would buy this version

apply livingstone and lunt to AC and ubisoft

- can downalod games via xbox stores, steam, etc.

(difficult regulating)

- violence 'unjustififed' not necessarily gory.

rated pegi 18

how did the dlc improve AC3 lib?

Variety of DLC. Donwload extra stories. Also could unlock ability after finishing it to play as connor from main game.

More content if you bought C3 and Liberation.

apply bandura to AC3:lib

(theory can be outdated).

- Parents should maybe take responsibility for lack of regulation and not allow kids to play

- moral panic about media and effect on young people

- in AC you commit violence through your character, not same as watching an actor in a film commit violence for example.

- immersive game, can be harder to tell what is real

how did Ubisoft advertise AC games unconventionally?

- Gaming conventions used to advertise games e.g. Comicon

- e.g. AC3 obstacle course. engages super fans.

- Ubisoft released videos on YouTube about the game e.g. gameplay and tips/tricks