Lara Croft Go CSP blog tasks

Language

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

Lara Croft first appeared in 1996 Eidos Playstation game Tomb Raider and was the first computer game to feature a female character as the protagonist rather than a supporting role or a secondary character.

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

The narrative of Tomb Raider was influenced by Indiana Jones and featured the daughter of a Lord (later a famous archaeologist), called Lara Croft on various missions through settings such as jungles, tombs and jungles.

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

Lara Croft has featured in films (the first starring Angelina Jolie; 2018 version rebooted the character). She has appeared on magazine covers more times than any supermodel.

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

credited with bringing success on the Play Station

5) What type of game is Lara Croft Go?

This concept of action adventure exploring and uncovering relics from ancient civilisations

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

Lara Croft Go explores the ruins of an ancient civilisation in the Amazon Jungle while fighting menacing enemies, overcome dangerous obstacles and traps, and ultimately, uncover the myth of the Queen of Venom.  There is no specific timescale – but is modern-day in Lara’s weaponry.

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.

Her original back story was that she was the daughter of an aristocrat who had a plane crash in the Himalayas, causing her to re-evaluate her life and seek adventure, leading her to become a thief and mercenary, living outside the law. The second era changed the narrative to her father being an archaeologist and her wanting to discover the reason for her mother’s disappearance. A third era focused more on both her parents being archaeologists and her mother disappearing and her father dying.

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

fighting menacing enemies, overcome dangerous obstacles and traps, and ultimately, uncover the myth of the Queen of Venom

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

The ruins of an ancient civilisation in the Amazon Jungle

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?

Her journey took in two Hollywood films, numerous magazine covers and advertising campaigns but began in the comparatively unglamorous English city of Derby.

Representations

1) How are women usually represented in videogames?

Women in games often reflect traditional gender roles, sexual objectification, or stereotypes such as the "damsel in distress".

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

Object of sexual desire. Her body features were particularly exaggerated in early versions of games.

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

She is an action hero – traditionally a male stereotype in gaming. She is empowered female heroine – rare in gaming industry at the time.  “The heroine, Lara Croft, is an intelligent, butt-kicking, gun-wielding, sexpot, ready to take on whatever comes her way.

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

The growing presence of women in the gaming sphere, and subsequently publicized incidents of harassment towards women in this field, has pushed industry professionals to pay attention to sexism in video gaming.

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

While her initial design garnered attention for her physical attributes, the subsequent games developed her character and backstory, turning her into a multi-faceted, relatable protagonist. Lara was more than just a video game character; she became a symbol of female empowerment and a role model for many.

Industries

1) What does PEGI stand for?

PEGI stands for Pan European Game Information

2) What is PEGI's job?

Established to help consumers make informed decisions when buying video games or apps through the use of age recommendations and content descriptors.

3) Which company created Lara Croft Go?

Tomb Raider is a media franchise that originated with an action-adventure video game series created by British gaming company Core Design. Formerly owned by Eidos Interactive, it is now controlled by Square Enix after their acquisition of Eidos in 2009. 

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

Lara Croft Go is the combination of two successful franchises – Lara Croft Tomb Raider and the Hitman Go mobile game.

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

Tomb Raider (1996 | PS1, PC, Sega Saturn) Tomb Raider II (1997 | PS1, PC) Tomb Raider III: Adventures of Lara Croft (1998 | PS1, PC) Tomb Raider: The Last Revelation (1999 | PS1, PC, Dreamcast)

Audience

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

Entertainment and diversion > Audiences get enticed into the game as they solve puzzle-solving problems. - Social Interaction > Audiences talk to their friends about the game. - Personal Identity > Audiences find out who they really are.

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.

As the game is accessible on mobile devices gamers may enjoy playing this game whilst commuting (on a bus/train) or in their free time as the game is quick and easy to play

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

Acrobatics and platforming are key features of a Tomb Raider adventure, and we quickly realized that Lara had to be fully animated. Our animator did an amazing job of quickly producing a first batch of short animations for Lara, and immediately everything felt better. Again, we looked back at Lara’s classic animations from the first Tomb Raider and they fit right in with our turn-based game

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

The need to IDENTIFY personally with characters and situations in order to learn more about themselves (Personal Identity)

The need to be ENTERTAINED (Diversion) and escape daily life. 

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

• Those interested in the quality of the innovative game play.
• Those with brand loyalty to the Hitman Go series.
• Those with brand loyalty based on the feminine empowerment displayed.
• Those with brand loyalty based on nostalgia or even the sexualisation of Lara Croft (especially if they played older Croft games when at a formative age)

OSP & Videogames: An introduction

1) What were the first videogames like?

In October 1958, Physicist William Higinbotham created what is thought to be the first video game. It was a very simple tennis game, similar to the classic 1970s video game Pong

2) How have videogames changed over time?

From the 2000s and into the 2010s, the industry has seen a shift of demographics as mobile gaming on smartphones and tablets displaced handheld consoles, and casual gaming became an increasingly larger sector of the market, as well as a growth in the number of players from China and other areas not traditionally tied 

3) What do the most successful games have in common? Answer this in as much detail as you can. Think about audience pleasures - what do people like about playing videogames?

Storylines are a key component of successful games. They provide players with an immersive experience and give them something to invest in emotionally. A good storyline can keep players engaged for hours, days, or even weeks as they explore the game's world and uncover its secrets.

4) What criticisms have been made towards videogames?

Areas of controversy

• Violence. 
• Sexual themes. 
• Content regulation and censorship. 
• Portrayal of religion. 
• Portrayal of gender. 
• Portrayal of sexual orientation and gender identity. 
• Portrayal of race, nationality, and ethnicity. 
• Gaming addiction, gaming disorder, and other health-related concerns.

1) At the time of the article, how many Fortnite players were there worldwide? (Bonus question - how many are there now? Try Googling it.)

After bursting onto the scene in 2017, Fortnite has since become a worldwide phenomenon, amassing 500 million players across the globe as of March 2023, up from 400 million in May 2021.

2) Why is it so popular? What are the audience pleasures of the game?

Fortnite has used a combination of addictive gameplay, media/technological convergence and marketing to target a diverse and varied audience.

3) Why might some people criticise Fortnite?

They may not like how matches can go by quickly, or maybe the weapons feel too off from the mechanics and controls they're already used to. Perhaps they're not one for the game's visual style and would prefer something a little more “realistic”.

Newspapers final index

1) Newspapers: Introduction

2) December mock exam - learner response

3) Newspapers: Daily Mirror - Language and Representations

4) Newspapers: Daily Mirror - Audience and Industry

5) Newspapers: The Times - Introduction

6) Newspapers: The Times - Language and Representations

7) Newspapers: The Times - Audience and Industries

The Times - Audience and Industries

Audience

1) What is the main readership demographic for The Times newspaper? Add as much detail as you can.

Audience is older with over half the audience aged 55+. In terms of social class, they are overwhelmingly in the ABC1 social classes - 62% from social group AB. This means Times readers are likely to be professionals, managers or company owners. They are likely to be in the Succeeder psychographic group.

2) What aspects of the front page of the Times CSP edition suggest that their readers are likely to be more educated and interested in hard news rather than entertainment?

The times front cover suggests a traditional newspaper broadsheet which has a lot of writing and includes very few pictures mainly focused on rich politics and upper-class people.

3) Times readers are mostly over 55 years old. Why is this and how is this reflected or challenged by the new stories in the CSP pages we have studied?  

This can be seen as the front cover shoe cases politics which is a very interesting subject for those audiences above 55 years of age as The Times is right-wing and supports the Conservative Party. It is generally against the left-wing Labour Party. The Times newspaper will act as a voice for the establishment

4) What are the main audience pleasures offered by the Times? Use Blumler & Katz Uses and Gratifications theory.

Surveillance/Information 

The main reason we read newspapers is to find out what is going on in the world around us.  News, different opinions, information about current affairs. This includes British politics and Britain's place in world politics and economics (patriotic). The Times focuses on hard news that we expect from a broadsheet newspaper - politics, economics, world news etc.

Diversion/Entertainment

One of the main reasons we read newspapers is for entertainment. The Times has evolved over recent years to contain more stories that provide entertainment or diversion. It also targets people with disposable income and an interest in culture/status and how they are perceived. 

Personal Identity 

A Daily Mirror reader will probably think very differently from a Times reader. Even if a reader does not always agree with a viewpoint the newspaper puts forward, they may still be agreeing with the values being shared. The Times newspaper seems to endorse the Conservative party and show their strong affiliation with the political party by the way stories are constructed. The way businesses are represented also shows the Times values private companies over working class people. 

5) Why might a reader enjoy this CSP edition of the Times? Use Blumler & Katz Uses and Gratifications theory categories and write as detailed an analysis as you can.

Becoming an active participant 

Increasingly newspapers, especially online editions, encourage audience input through comments and email. The audience are not targeted with informal language or direct address as often, leading to a distance between journalist and reader. This encourages less dissent and comment and therefore more passive audience members who will accept the dominant view point of the paper. 

Politics

The Times is right-wing and supports the Conservative Party. It is generally against the left-wing Labour Party. The Times newspaper will act as a voice for the establishment (the wealthy and powerful) and will not support anything that threatens major changes to the status quo.

Industries

1) Who owns the Times? Write the name of the company AND the billionaire who owns the company.

The Times is owned by News UK (a subsidiary of News Corporation). News Corporation is a conglomerate mostly owned by Rupert Murdoch, an Australian media mogul with many business interests worldwide such as the Fox network in the USA.  

2) What was the The Times's circulation in 2019? How many papers did the Times used to sell back in the 1990s?

The Times circulation in 2019 was 376,000, down 12% in a year and much lower than the high point of over 800,000 in the 1990s. Since 2020, The Sun and The Times have not published their circulation figures, perhaps to prevent knowledge of how many readers they have lost.

3) How has the Times reacted to the decline in print sales and the growth of the internet?

Moved towards a multi-platform landscape. This means that it publishes and synchronises across its print, desktop and mobile platforms. Some newspapers (e.g. The Times) have a paywall on their online content. The Times has had a hard paywall since 2010, but it often experiments with making content available for free. Last summer, it began free registrations and has been adding around 30,000 a week.

4) What does IPSO stand for and what is IPSO's job?

The role of the Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO) is to:

• Regulate 1500 print and 1100 online titles.
• Listen to complaints about press behavior.
• Help with unwanted press attention.
• Advise publication editors .
• Provide information to the public.
• Provide a journalist whistleblowing hotline.

5) Why do some people want stronger regulation of British newspapers? 

 Some people argue that the newspaper industry cannot be trusted to regulate itself using IPSO and that stronger, statutory regulation should be introduced instead. This would also implement the recommendations of the Leveson Inquiry which followed the phone-hacking scandal.

The Times - Language and Representations

Language

1) What is the main story on the front cover of the Times CSP edition and why does it appeal to Times readers?

The main story focuses on climate change and cop26 which may appeal to the audience as they are likely to be interested in current global issues

2) List the other news stories and kickers on the front page of the Times CSP edition. Why do you think the Times selected these for the front page?

The super rich staffing crisis - aimed at upper class readers

Free home delivery - trying to grow the number of readers 

3) What is the main story on the inside page of the Times CSP edition and how is it constructed to appeal to Times readers? 

Main story focuses on global warming issues and the politics behind what is happening the cop26 summit. The photos used purposefully construct Boris Johnson

4) How are the Times front and inside pages designed to reflect broadsheet newspaper conventions?

Technical Codes: Whilst The Times employs colour, it is much more understated than the tabloid Mirror.  More traditional fonts, styles and sizes reinforce this traditional symbolism.

Conventions: The Times observes more traditional codes and conventions than the Daily Mirror, with less direct address and a more formal, authoritative tone as if giving the reader less active participation and more passive access to information.

5) What does a close analysis of the news stories in the Times CSP edition suggest about the Times's political beliefs?

Representations

1) What representation of the Conservative Party can be found in the main story on the front page?

Reflects the Times's position as patriotic and a traditional supporter of the Conservative party with a story about a row with French President Emmanuel Macron. Also prioritizes Prime Minister Boris Johnson's message for the COP26 summit in Glasgow.

2) What representations of Britain can be found on the front of the Times?

By using the crest in its masthead, the newspaper is associating itself with being British and part of an established heritage and tradition.

3) How are the super rich represented on the Times front page?

Kicker focuses on the super rich and their struggles to find staff. This is sympathetic to very rich people and also suggests to Times readers that the super rich are important and should feature on the front cover.

4) How is climate change represented as an issue in the Times? Are there similarities or differences with how it is represented in the Daily Mirror?

Climate change story is surprising and subverts what we might normally expect in the Times. The headline is sympathetic to young people and suggests they are 'right to be angry'. Perhaps appeals to younger readers

5) What representations can you find in the inside pages of the Times CSP? Focus on headlines, articles and images.

Main image has an advert in the background saying 'No time for delays' - this is a joke (the passengers are all delayed) but also a reference to Boris Johnson's message to COP26. 

The Times - Introduction

1) What year was The Times founded and when did it start using the Times name?

It began in 1785 under the title The Daily Universal Register, adopting its modern name on 1 January 1788.

2) What content did John Walter suggest the paper would offer in the first edition?

This included stories of the latest scandals and gossip about famous people in London.

3) Who owns The Times today and how is editorial integrity protected?

Published by Times Media Limited, wholly owned by News UK & Ireland Ltd.

4) What did The Times introduce in 2010 and why?

paper introduced digital subscriptions in 2010 to help ensure a sustainable future for their journalism

5) What was The Times named in 2018 by the Reuters Institute for Journalism at Oxford University?

The titles are the biggest-selling quality print newspapers in the UK and in 2018 The Times was named Britain's most trusted national newspaper by the Reuters Institute for Journalism at the University of Oxford.

6) What does the section on Editorial Standards say about The Times and newspaper regulation?

ii) They must not be approached or photographed at school without permission of the school authorities. iii) Children under 16 must not be interviewed or photographed on issues involving their own or another child's welfare unless a custodial parent or similarly responsible adult consents.

7) What does the section on Ownership say about The Times and who is the current editor? 

Tony Gallagher (born 2 November 1963) is a British newspaper journalist, and is currently editor of The Times. He was editor of The Daily Telegraph, joint deputy editor of the Daily Mail, and editor of The Sun in 2015, before being appointed editor of The Times in 2022.

8) Write down three key statistics from this page.

Average daily readership: 1.04m 

Times readers have a mean family income: £55,885 

Social grade: AB 62% 

9) Look at the various sections of the newspaper outlined on this page (e.g. Entertainment, Announcements, Travel). What do these sections suggest about The Times newspaper's audience?

According to the British Business Survey (Sept 2011), The Times is the No.1 daily newspaper for business readers and reaches 50% more decision makers than the Financial Times or the Daily Telegraph. The Times won the Business and Finance Newspaper Team of the Year Team Award at the 2011 Press Awards

10) Click on three of the sections - your choice. Write down one key detail for each section you choose e.g. Travel - more Times readers took a holiday abroad last year than any other newspaper.

We know our readers are animal lovers with a significant 1.4 million owning a pet.

We are pleased that the engagement of Benedict Cumberbatch to the actress and director Sophie Hunter with a classified advertisement in the Births, Marriages and Deaths columns of The Times on Wednesday November 5 2014 using this Self-Service website

Daily Mirror - Audience and Industries

 Audience

1) What is the Daily Mirror's audience? List the key statistics here.

The Daily Mirror audience is older with almost half the audience aged 65+. In terms of social class, most are in the C1, C2 DE social classes. They are likely to be in the Struggler, Resigned or Mainstream psychographic groups. 

2) Why do the Mirror stories on the CSP pages appeal to the Daily Mirror audience?

With the increase in technology, the Daily Mirror now offers its audience opportunities to engage with the stories on a much more personal level as well as watching video content. The newspaper is speaking directly to the reader and allows them to comment or share their views on social media.  

3) Why might a reader enjoy the Daily Mirror? Use Blumler & Katz Uses and Gratifications theory to add detail to your answer.

Surveillance – the main reason we read newspapers is to find out what is going on in the world around us.  We find out news, different opinions and catch up with the latest gossip and scandal. 

Diversion/Entertainment – One of the main reasons we read newspapers is for entertainment.  Whether it’s enjoying reading the opinions of others, reading the cartoons or completing crosswords.  We want to be entertained. 

Personal Identity – the newspaper you read reflects what type of person are.  A Daily Mirror reader will probably think very differently from a Times reader. Even if a reader does not always agree with a viewpoint the newspaper puts forward, they may still be agreeing with the values being shared and thus reinforcing their own values.

Becoming an active participant – increasingly newspapers, especially online editions, encourage audiences to get involved through comments and social media. This contributes to a sense of personal identity for audiences.

4) Why are print newspapers generally read by older audiences?

The younger generations now have access to accessible to on demand news which interests them and is free. However since older people aren't as active on technology they prefer traditional paper prints.

5) How is the inside-page story on our CSP pages constructed to appeal to Daily Mirror readers? Think about text and selection of images.

The story applies to a wider audience as it mentions kids and global problems 


Industries

1) What company owns the Daily Mirror and why are they struggling? 

The Daily Mirror is owned by Reach, which used to be called Trinity Mirror. Reach publishes over 240 regional titles in addition to the Daily Mirror and Sunday Mirror - including our local newspaper website getwestlondon.

The Daily Mirror's circulation has fallen drastically over the years from over 3 million a day in 1990 down to around 250,000 a day in 2023.

2) Who was the Daily Mirror editor between 2018 and 2024 and what was the Partygate scandal that the Daily Mirror exposed?  

The Daily Mirror recently announced its editor Alison Phillips will be leaving the newspaper after more budget cuts at Reach. Phillips was the Mirror's first female editor since 1903 and was loved by the staff at the paper. While Phillips was editor, the Mirror ran major investigations including into special advisor Dominic Cummings and Barnard Castle

3) What is the Daily Mirror's circulation in 2023? How many papers did the Daily Mirror used to sell back in the 1990s?

245,829 in 2023 and 3 million in 1990

4) How has the Daily Mirror reacted to the decline in print sales and the growth of the internet?

 Recent falls have been due to the rise of the internet which is why the Mirror's audience is much older now.

5) List five of Galtung & Ruge's News Values and explain how they link to the stories in our CSP edition of the Daily Mirror.

Immediacy: Global warming and climate change is a current environmental issue

Familiarity: Includes representation of our own politicians (Boris Johnson)

Amplitude: is it a big event or one which involves large numbers of people?

Frequency: does the event happen fairly regularly?

Unambiguity: is it clear and definite?