This is another in-depth CSP so will require significant work and research to complete your case study.
Background: mobile gaming
- The videogames industry has changed massively since the emergence of the smart phone and app store distribution model.
- Mobile gaming has changed the audience demographics for gaming and brought the industry into the mainstream.
- The app store model means tech giants such as Apple and Google are making significant sums from mobile gaming but mobile hits can still earn developers millions.
- Angry Birds made developer Rovio $200m in 2012 and broke 2 billion downloads in 2014. This paved the way for the market we see today.
The Sims FreePlay
- The Sims FreePlay is a spin-off from the hugely successful Sims franchise first published by Electronic Arts (EA) in 2000.
- The game is a strategic life simulation game (also known as the sandbox genre).
- The Sims FreePlay takes the game on to phones and tablets and uses the ‘freemium’ model that makes money via in-app purchases.
- The game has seen more than 200 million downloads since 2011 – remarkable success.
Representations
The Sims franchise offers range of representations on gender, age, race/ethnicity, sexuality, capitalism and even reality itself.
One aspect of The Sims is the values and ideologies that the game reinforces. Although it has been praised for its liberal values over, for example, LGBTQ+ representation, it could also be argued that the game reinforces dominant American capitalist ideologies.
Expansion pack trailers
A useful way to analyse representations in The Sims FreePlay is to study the trailers produced by EA to promote expansion pack DLC. For example:
Using these expansion pack trailers, we can study the representation of gender, age, race/ethnicity and much more.
The Sims and postmodernism
Watch this introduction to Baudrillard from 8-Bit Philosophy:
Baudrillard argued that our culture now perceives the ‘copy’ (media representation) as more real than the ‘original’ and stated that we live in a culture where the ‘fake’ is more readily accepted than the ‘real’ – therefore creating hyperreality. This blurs the line between fiction and reality.
The Sims franchise is a perfect study in hyperreality as it allows players to create an entirely constructed life through the game.
The Sims FreePlay social media channels also provide an example of simulacra – they are situated in the real world and interact with real players but feature entirely constructed fictional content from the game. Here, they also make intertextual references to real celebrities. Where is the line between fiction and reality?
The Sims franchise offers range of representations on gender, age, race/ethnicity, sexuality, capitalism and even reality itself.
One aspect of The Sims is the values and ideologies that the game reinforces. Although it has been praised for its liberal values over, for example, LGBTQ+ representation, it could also be argued that the game reinforces dominant American capitalist ideologies.
Expansion pack trailers
A useful way to analyse representations in The Sims FreePlay is to study the trailers produced by EA to promote expansion pack DLC. For example:
Using these expansion pack trailers, we can study the representation of gender, age, race/ethnicity and much more.
The Sims and postmodernism
Watch this introduction to Baudrillard from 8-Bit Philosophy:
Baudrillard argued that our culture now perceives the ‘copy’ (media representation) as more real than the ‘original’ and stated that we live in a culture where the ‘fake’ is more readily accepted than the ‘real’ – therefore creating hyperreality. This blurs the line between fiction and reality.
The Sims franchise is a perfect study in hyperreality as it allows players to create an entirely constructed life through the game.
The Sims FreePlay social media channels also provide an example of simulacra – they are situated in the real world and interact with real players but feature entirely constructed fictional content from the game. Here, they also make intertextual references to real celebrities. Where is the line between fiction and reality?
You can read more on Baudrillard, Hyperreality, postmodernism and The Sims in these notes - you'll need your Greenford Google login.
The Sims FreePlay CSP - Language & Representations blog tasks
Create a new blogpost called 'The Sims FreePlay CSP - Language & Representations' and complete the following tasks.
1) What elements of gameplay are shown?
Language / Gameplay analysis
Watch The Sims: FreePlay trailer and answer the following
questions:
1) What elements of gameplay are shown?
2) What audience is the trailer targeting?
3) What audience pleasures are suggested by the trailer?
Now watch this walk-through of the beginning of The Sims FreePlay and answer the following
questions:
1) How is the game constructed?
2) What audience is this game targeting?
3) What audience pleasures does the game provide?
4) How does the game encourage in-app purchases?
Representations
Re-watch some of the expansion pack trailers and answer the following questions:
1) How do the expansion pack (DLC) trailers reinforce or challenge dominant ideologies?
2) What stereotypes have you identified in The Sims FreePlay?
3) What media theories can you apply to representations in The Sims FreePlay?
Representation reading
Read this Forbes article on gender and racism in The Sims franchise and answer the following questions:
1) How realistic does The Sims intend to be?
2) How has The Sims tried to create more realistic representations of ethnicity?
3) How has The Sims responded to racism and sexism in society?
4) What is The Sims perspective on gender fluidity and identity?
5) How does The Sims reinforce the dominant capitalist ideologies of American culture?
Reality, postmodernism and The Sims
Read this Paste Magazine feature on reality and The Sims franchise. Answer the following questions:
1) What does the article suggest about the representation of real life in The Sims 4?
2) What audience pleasures did the writer previously find in The Sims franchise?
3) Why the does the writer mention an example of a washer and dryer as additional DLC?
4) In your opinion, has The Sims made an error in trying to make the franchise too realistic?
5) How does this representation of reality link to Baudrillard’s theory of hyperreality - the increasingly blurred line between real and constructed?
1) How do the expansion pack (DLC) trailers reinforce or challenge dominant ideologies?
2) What stereotypes have you identified in The Sims FreePlay?
3) What media theories can you apply to representations in The Sims FreePlay?
Representation reading
Read this Forbes article on gender and racism in The Sims franchise and answer the following questions:
1) How realistic does The Sims intend to be?
2) How has The Sims tried to create more realistic representations of ethnicity?
3) How has The Sims responded to racism and sexism in society?
4) What is The Sims perspective on gender fluidity and identity?
5) How does The Sims reinforce the dominant capitalist ideologies of American culture?
Read this New Normative feature on LGBTQ representation in The Sims franchise (the website link no longer works but that will take you to the text of the article - you'll need your Greenford Google login to access). Answer the following questions:
1) How did same-sex relationships unexpectedly help the original Sims game to be a success?
2) How is sexuality now represented in The Sims?
3) Why have fans praised the inclusion of LGBTQ relationships in The Sims franchise?
4) Why did the Sims run into regulatory difficulties with American regulator the ESRB? How did EA respond?
5) How is sexuality represented in the wider videogames industry today?
Reality, postmodernism and The Sims
Read this Paste Magazine feature on reality and The Sims franchise. Answer the following questions:
1) What does the article suggest about the representation of real life in The Sims 4?
2) What audience pleasures did the writer previously find in The Sims franchise?
3) Why the does the writer mention an example of a washer and dryer as additional DLC?
4) In your opinion, has The Sims made an error in trying to make the franchise too realistic?
5) How does this representation of reality link to Baudrillard’s theory of hyperreality - the increasingly blurred line between real and constructed?
The Sims FreePlay social media analysis
Analyse The Sims FreePlay Facebook page and Twitter feed and answer the following questions:
1) What is the purpose of The Sims FreePlay social media channels?
2) Choose three posts (from either Twitter or Facebook) and make a note of what they are and how they encourage audience interaction or response.
3) Scroll down the Facebook feed briefly. How many requests for new content can you find from players? Why is this such as an important part of the appeal for The Sims FreePlay?
4) What tweets can you find in the Twitter feed that refer to additional content or other revenue streams for EA?
Extension: Postmodernism academic reading
If you're interested (or planning on studying Media or Cultural Studies at university), read this highly academic and challenging summary of hyperreality, implosion and postmodern theory from the University of Chicago. Consider how these approaches apply to the digital media landscape we’ve been studying and in particular the videogame industry and franchises like The Sims. For example, linking to our work on postmodernism and The Sims, how could The Sims FreePlay's social media presence be an example of Baudrillard’s hyperreality and simulacra?
Analyse The Sims FreePlay Facebook page and Twitter feed and answer the following questions:
1) What is the purpose of The Sims FreePlay social media channels?
2) Choose three posts (from either Twitter or Facebook) and make a note of what they are and how they encourage audience interaction or response.
3) Scroll down the Facebook feed briefly. How many requests for new content can you find from players? Why is this such as an important part of the appeal for The Sims FreePlay?
4) What tweets can you find in the Twitter feed that refer to additional content or other revenue streams for EA?
Extension: Postmodernism academic reading
If you're interested (or planning on studying Media or Cultural Studies at university), read this highly academic and challenging summary of hyperreality, implosion and postmodern theory from the University of Chicago. Consider how these approaches apply to the digital media landscape we’ve been studying and in particular the videogame industry and franchises like The Sims. For example, linking to our work on postmodernism and The Sims, how could The Sims FreePlay's social media presence be an example of Baudrillard’s hyperreality and simulacra?
Due date: on Google Classroom
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