8 MARKER
Tips for 8 markers:
Decide on your main points that clearly address the question and then expand
your knowledge.
Try and include a theory that relates to the question such as Hesmondhalgh or
Curran and Seaton.
Explain how changing audience demographics have
influenced the gameplay of video games. Refer to
Assassin’s Creed III: Liberation to support your points.
(8)
One way changing audience demographics have influenced the gameplay of video
games such as Assassin’s Creed is through the changing profile of gamers. For
instance, the assumption that video game players are lone male teenagers in their
bedroom has changed as gamers are now all ages and demographics, and of both
genders. It is estimated in the games market that female gamers represent 48% of all
gamers, although mostly play mobile games as the prevalence of games such as
Candy Crush widened the female market. This likely influenced Ubisoft’s decisions
as they may have chosen a female protagonist to appeal to a wider demographic and
ultimately make more profit as they were able to tap into the growing market for
women. This will have attracted female audiences as they don’t feel so alienated
from the gaming industry as the protagonist is likely to incline more females to play
as they identify with her. This may suggest that Ubisoft are driven by profit and
power which Curran and Seaton would argue is due to the fact that major
conglomerates are driven by profit and power, therefore the release of a female
protagonist enabled Ubisoft to show their power by making cultural changes in
order to ensure maximum reach.
ASSASSIN'S CREED III: LIBERATION