VIDEOGAMES: LARA CROFT GO CSP BLOG TASKS

 Language

1) When did Lara Croft first appear in a videogame?

Lara Croft first appear in a videogame in 1996.

2) What classic films influenced the creation of Lara Croft and the Tomb Raider games?

The classic films that influenced the creation of Lara Croft and the Tomb Raider games are Indiana Jones movie and the Tomb Raider movie.

3) How has Lara Croft and Tomb Raider moved beyond just being a videogame?

Lara Croft and Tomb Raider moved beyond just being a videogame as they both became an icon, allowing other female characters to be made through Lara Croft being the first female star of a game.

4) What devices can you play Lara Croft Go on?

The devices that you can play Lara Croft on are mobile phones, PlayStation 4, and Linux.

5) What type of game is Lara Croft Go?

Lara Croft Go is a puzzle game where Lara also has opponents, unlocking paths and collecting items.

6) How does Lara Croft Go use narrative (storyline) to make the game enjoyable for the audience?

Lara Croft Go use narrative to make the game enjoyable for the audience by having different levels and as the play finishes one level it gets harder as it goes. 

7) What iconography can be found in Lara Croft Go? How does this help communicate the genre of the game? Think about mise-en-scene and setting here.

The iconography can be found in Lara Croft Go are the background of the Amazon jungle, the different creatures and how Lara Croft is laid down like from the movies such as Tomb Raider. This helps to communicate the genre of the game as it's adventurous as the setting is the Amazon jungle and how Lara Croft's costume shows a more masculine side as she wears a blue top and brown shorts which reinforces the challenges that she will face. 

8) What other characters or enemies feature in the game?

The characters or enemies that are featured in the game are different creatures such as the snake, spider and lizards. 

9) What is the setting for Lara Croft Go? How does this compare to previous Lara Croft or Tomb Raider games?

The setting for Lara Croft Go is the Amazon jungle and caves. This compares to previous Lara Croft or Tomb Raider games as she's more realistic in Tomb Raider. 

10) Read this BBC article on the history of Lara Croft and Tomb Raider. How has the character of Lara Croft evolved over the last 25 years?

The character of Lara Croft have evolved over the last 25 years from having a one liner before to a Lara Croft that's more bland and too serious.


Representations

1) How are women usually represented in videogames?

Women are usually represented in videogames as the heroin who needs to be saved and protected. 

2) How does the character of Lara Croft reinforce female stereotypes in the media?

The character of Lara Croft reinforce the female stereotypes in the media by emphasising the exaggerated features of Lara Croft's body such as her slim waist and bum. 

3) How does the character of Lara Croft subvert female stereotypes in the media?

The character of Lara Croft subverts female stereotypes in the media by showing how she's the star of the game and as the main character. This further shows her independent and braveness which subverts the female stereotypes.

4) Why do some people believe the videogames industry is sexist and needs to change?

People may believe the videogames industry is sexist and needs to change because most of the female characters are designed to have revealing costumes. Their physical features are emphasised such as their waist.

5) Do you think Lara Croft is an empowering feminist icon or just another objectified woman designed to appeal to male gamers?

Lara Croft is an empowering feminist icon due to her being the first female main character of a game which led to other games being produced where the main character is female, which are made for female players to play. However, most of these characters are still objectified due to their costumes being revealing and some of them are able to customise the costume by the players.



Industries

1) What does PEGI stand for?

Pan European Gaming Industry

2) What is PEGI's job?

PEGI's job is to maintain the age rating system for games.

3) Which company created Lara Croft Go?

The company that created Lara Croft Go are Lara Croft Tomb Raider and the Hitman Go.

4) What two popular videogame franchises were combined to create Lara Croft Go?

The two popular videogame that franchised to create Lara Croft Go are Tomb Raider and Hitman franchise.

5) What else is part of the Lara Croft/Tomb Raider franchise?

The other franchise that are part of the Lara Croft/Tomb Raider are Square Enix where this developed Hitman Go in 2014.


Audience

1) Why might an audience enjoy playing Lara Croft Go?

Audiences might enjoy playing Lara Croft Go as it is adventurous and there's a range of different levels which makes it more interesting due to the difficulty that it provides for each level as it is a puzzle game.

2) Where and when might an audience play a game like Lara Croft Go? Think about the device it is played on and the times of the day someone might want to play the game.

Audience may want to play a Game like Lara Croft Go when they're at home on their free time. They might also want to play it with friends as it is a puzzle game they can help each other out to complete the level. 

3) How did Square Enix design Lara Croft to make it appealing to an audience?

Square Enix designed Lara Croft to make it appealing to an audience by being fully animated and looked at Lara's animation from the first Tomb Raider where it fits with the genre of the game.

4) Which of Blumler and Katz's Uses and Gratifications theory might apply to Lara Croft Go?

Audience might enjoy playing Lara Croft Go through Blumler and Katz theory:

Diversion - audience may feel a sense of escapism due to Lara Croft being adventurous and a puzzle type of game.

Personal Identity - audience may feel that they can relate to Lara Croft due to the challenges that the character is facing and the different levels.

Personal Relationship - the audience may feel a sense of concern towards Lara Croft where the audience try their best for Lara to complete each level.

Surveillance - audience are able to learn through the game as it is a puzzle game where the audience can use their brain and thinking to be able to complete a level.

5) Who is the target audience for Lara Croft Go? How does brand loyalty contribute to this target audience?

The target audience for Lara Croft Go are female players as the main character is a female which is purposed to encourage female players to play the game. The brand loyalty contributes to the target audience as the game is from the Tomb Raider which makes it more appealing to the loyal players of the Tomb Raider players where the players are also entertained due to the game featuring a female character.