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)