BCOP100 - Contexts of Practice
Audio in Games, A History.
The Indie Game Movie:
This movie shows 3 indie game developers in their development of their game's creation. I personally thought that it was a good movie, and all people who want to get into the game making industry should watch it. It shows both the struggles of creating a game and getting it out there. In the movie you can see the passion these people have when it comes to creating these games, They devote their whole time into these games. A small question I would ask about the movie would be, was the part with the developers scripted? or did they just go out and record small developers and hoped for the best?
This movie shows 3 indie game developers in their development of their game's creation. I personally thought that it was a good movie, and all people who want to get into the game making industry should watch it. It shows both the struggles of creating a game and getting it out there. In the movie you can see the passion these people have when it comes to creating these games, They devote their whole time into these games. A small question I would ask about the movie would be, was the part with the developers scripted? or did they just go out and record small developers and hoped for the best?
Research On The Year 2000:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2000s_in_science_and_technology
TV shows Debut in 2000:
My Family
Malcom in the Middle
Dora the Explorer
Jack-Ass
Big Brother
-http://www.imdb.com/search/title?sort=moviemeter&title_type=tv_series&year=2000,2000
Films Released in 2000:
X-Men
Gladiator
Scary Movie
Cast Away
Pitch Black
Final Destination
The Emperor’s new groove
Dude where’s my Car
Battle Royale
Chicken Run
Meet the Parents
-http://www.imdb.com/search/title?sort=moviemeter,asc&title_type=feature&year=2000,2000
- TV networks started streaming shows online.
- DVDs, and subsequently Blu-ray Discs, replaced VCR technology as the common standard in homes and at video stores, although inexpensive VCRs and videocassettes could still be found at some thrift stores and discount stores.
- Flat panel displays began displacing cathode ray tubes. This was a dramatic change during the decade, as very few flat panels were sold through the mid-2000s (decade) and the majority of stores sell only flat panel TVs by the end of the decade.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2000s_in_science_and_technology
TV shows Debut in 2000:
My Family
Malcom in the Middle
Dora the Explorer
Jack-Ass
Big Brother
-http://www.imdb.com/search/title?sort=moviemeter&title_type=tv_series&year=2000,2000
Films Released in 2000:
X-Men
Gladiator
Scary Movie
Cast Away
Pitch Black
Final Destination
The Emperor’s new groove
Dude where’s my Car
Battle Royale
Chicken Run
Meet the Parents
-http://www.imdb.com/search/title?sort=moviemeter,asc&title_type=feature&year=2000,2000
Promotional Poster Review
These posters are for the movie 'X-Men - Days of Future Past' (2014). The posters shows two of the main characters, both future and past versions of themselves, Witch the younger self being inside a big 'X'. This is the only text on the poster, they can get away with this because this movie is a sequel to a well-known series of movies, and fans of the series will know that the big 'X' stands for 'X-Men'. The only colours within the posters are red and blue, These two colours concept the colours of good and evil, with only character shown as good and the other as evil, hinting at the plot of the movie. Outside of the coloured areas are greyed out, this is most likely to show that these characters are old, like how when people get older, their hair turns grey and is most likely why the colour grey represents old things. The placement of the 'X' is placed over the left eye, This has been done to show most of the face inside and out f the 'X', To have a half and half of each of the actors playing the characters, If the 'X' was placed in the middle, It would have shown a lot of the younger actor's details, but none of the older actor's details. Some things I don't like about the posters are that they only did the past version and future version with these two characters. There are more characters they could have don't this technique on, but I do understand that these are one of two most iconic characters of this movie series. But what I do like is the colours they used, only using one colour for each person and how that colour fits with the character. Both of these posters stick with the same theme, but are the only two (other than on with Wolverine (Hugh Jackman) which has the same style but only one actor - Poster) all the other posters have a different style. When you first look at these posters, your eye is drawn in by both the colour contrast from the grey and the lines of the 'X' drawing you into the centre of it. Where it is drawing you to is the younger versions of the characters. They may be to show that this is where the majority of the plot will take place, with these versions. Also, the younger and older selves are looking straight on and not at themselves. This could also hint at the plot, showing that these two versions of themselves will not meet during the plot and that their stories are separate. The next poster Is for the game 'Lego Star Wars 2 - The Original Trilogy'(2006) It was a sequel the first Lego Star Wars game (2005) The poster resembles the promotional poster for the original Star Wars movie (Poster) Which lets people know that this game is going to follow the original films. This image is an iconic image in history so pretty much everybody who sees it, is going to know that it is Star Wars. The two posters that I have chosen are completely different in the way they look, The X-men poster is up close and dramatic, while the Lego Star Wars poster is a bit silly, with the Ewok waving at the viewer while hanging onto the rope. The Star Wars poster uses a lot more colours than the X-men one, and is more colourful, hinting towards that this game is meant for younger audiences, along with the fact that generally, Lego is aimed for children. Something that I don't like about the Star Wars poster is that maybe they could have added a few more characters in the image, but the poster would still give the same effect no matter how many characters in it, so maybe it's better off with fewer, so it would be easier on the eye. |
Digital Game spaces.
An important part of game design is the game space The player interacts with, it can help make each game unique and fun. The main types of game spaces are:
Text-Based(Games where the player interacts by typing commands and the game gives you a description on the surrounding area.),
Contained 2D Space(Games where the game play takes place with-in the screen, and doesn't move. These games sometimes uses the edge of the screen as an advantage, Like in Pong the top and bottom act as walls while the sides act as goals.),
Wraparound Space(These games take place in a infinite looped world, when you move off of one side of the screen, you appear on the other side.),
Side scrolling(Games that scroll along the screen creating a long linear world. Games like Mario, and Flappy Bird.),
Scrolling along two axis(Games where the player moves in both X and Y axis. Games like Pokemon, and Zelda. Unlike side scrolling, these game spaces create open worlds that aren't linear.),
Adjacent Spaces(Games where you move from space to space, the game is set out like the grids on a map, and the player moves between them. Games like The Legend of Zelda.),
Scrolling with multiple Backgrounds(Similar to side scrolling, apart from when the player moves, the background(even foreground.) layers move at different speeds, creating depth.),
Limited 3D Space(Games that create the illusion of a 3D world, but are actually very linear.),
Isometric 3D Space(Games where the sprites are isometric to give a slight 3D effect. These types of games are usual world building games, like Sim City, and Roller Coaster Tycoon(and most Tycoon games in general.)),
Window to Outdoors(Games that act like a window into the outdoors, Games like Duck Hunt.),
Two Spaces on one screen(Similar to modern split screen, usually used for co-op game play.),
Video Capture(Games that use captured video footage as the games graphics, Games like Mortal Combat or The 7th Guest(Not used a lot any more)),
Mapped Space - Prepared Panoramas(Games where you click around to move and look around. Uses puzzle mechanics a lot. Games like Myst, and even Google street view),
Early 3D Space - One horizontal plane(Games like Doom, Where the player can move around in two dimensions but can't move in the third.),
and Full 3D Space(Games where you can move in all of the dimensions, most modern 3D games are like this.).
Text-Based(Games where the player interacts by typing commands and the game gives you a description on the surrounding area.),
Contained 2D Space(Games where the game play takes place with-in the screen, and doesn't move. These games sometimes uses the edge of the screen as an advantage, Like in Pong the top and bottom act as walls while the sides act as goals.),
Wraparound Space(These games take place in a infinite looped world, when you move off of one side of the screen, you appear on the other side.),
Side scrolling(Games that scroll along the screen creating a long linear world. Games like Mario, and Flappy Bird.),
Scrolling along two axis(Games where the player moves in both X and Y axis. Games like Pokemon, and Zelda. Unlike side scrolling, these game spaces create open worlds that aren't linear.),
Adjacent Spaces(Games where you move from space to space, the game is set out like the grids on a map, and the player moves between them. Games like The Legend of Zelda.),
Scrolling with multiple Backgrounds(Similar to side scrolling, apart from when the player moves, the background(even foreground.) layers move at different speeds, creating depth.),
Limited 3D Space(Games that create the illusion of a 3D world, but are actually very linear.),
Isometric 3D Space(Games where the sprites are isometric to give a slight 3D effect. These types of games are usual world building games, like Sim City, and Roller Coaster Tycoon(and most Tycoon games in general.)),
Window to Outdoors(Games that act like a window into the outdoors, Games like Duck Hunt.),
Two Spaces on one screen(Similar to modern split screen, usually used for co-op game play.),
Video Capture(Games that use captured video footage as the games graphics, Games like Mortal Combat or The 7th Guest(Not used a lot any more)),
Mapped Space - Prepared Panoramas(Games where you click around to move and look around. Uses puzzle mechanics a lot. Games like Myst, and even Google street view),
Early 3D Space - One horizontal plane(Games like Doom, Where the player can move around in two dimensions but can't move in the third.),
and Full 3D Space(Games where you can move in all of the dimensions, most modern 3D games are like this.).
Gender and the Gaze.
One of the main issues discussed about in video games(and art in general) Is the way women are displayed. Usually about their looks and what they are wearing. The most brought up female character is Lara Croft(Tomb Raider), with the complaints being about her lack of clothing, or her over average breasts. As a counter to this argument (which is true) people bring up that as a character, she is strong and a good role model.
Most video games are just stories, and usually told from a characters perspective. Whether this character is male is female isn't really an issue, and can depend on the story. But with games like RPG's(such as World of Warcraft or Guild Wars 2) where the Player has to bond with their character, having the option to chose between male and female roles are accentual. Sometimes the female role though it shown to wear skimpy armour that logically would not work. Which can be view as the game designers sexualising the female characters for their enjoyment.
When asked about how he writes female characters so well in his books, George RR Martin(A Song of Ice and Fire) responded by saying that he's always considered women to be people.
In "Does Lara Croft Wear Fake Polygons? Gender and Gender-Role Subversion inComputer Adventure Games" Anne-Marie Schleiner talks about the issues brought up with Lara Croft, she also talks about the good points in Lara as well, like how she could be a good role model (Character or image wise). "Lara Croft is seen as the monstrous off spring of science: an idealized, eternally
young female automaton, a malleable, well-trained techno-puppet created by and for the male gaze" In this quote she talks about how Lara is just there to be looked at by the male audience, and that she has the features of the perfect female body in the eyes of men.
In 1996 The first Pokemon games where released, and the lead role was a 10 year old boy. Then game was a big hit with both male and female audiences. Later in 1999, the sequels were released, and yet again the lead role was a 10 year old boy. But later a third sequel was released called Pokemon Crystal, where for the first time, you could choose to be either a ten year old boy, or a ten year old girl. Every Pokemon game since then has had this option, Allowing female audiences to connect better with their characters. In the first Pokemon games, the genders of the Pokemon were not stated, but when the sequels were released, The Pokemon could be either male or female(with some only able to be male or female).
Most video games are just stories, and usually told from a characters perspective. Whether this character is male is female isn't really an issue, and can depend on the story. But with games like RPG's(such as World of Warcraft or Guild Wars 2) where the Player has to bond with their character, having the option to chose between male and female roles are accentual. Sometimes the female role though it shown to wear skimpy armour that logically would not work. Which can be view as the game designers sexualising the female characters for their enjoyment.
When asked about how he writes female characters so well in his books, George RR Martin(A Song of Ice and Fire) responded by saying that he's always considered women to be people.
- "George Stroumboulopoulos: There's one thing that's interesting about your books. I noticed that you write women really well and really different. Where does that come from?
- George R.R. Martin: You know, I've always considered women to be people."
In "Does Lara Croft Wear Fake Polygons? Gender and Gender-Role Subversion inComputer Adventure Games" Anne-Marie Schleiner talks about the issues brought up with Lara Croft, she also talks about the good points in Lara as well, like how she could be a good role model (Character or image wise). "Lara Croft is seen as the monstrous off spring of science: an idealized, eternally
young female automaton, a malleable, well-trained techno-puppet created by and for the male gaze" In this quote she talks about how Lara is just there to be looked at by the male audience, and that she has the features of the perfect female body in the eyes of men.
In 1996 The first Pokemon games where released, and the lead role was a 10 year old boy. Then game was a big hit with both male and female audiences. Later in 1999, the sequels were released, and yet again the lead role was a 10 year old boy. But later a third sequel was released called Pokemon Crystal, where for the first time, you could choose to be either a ten year old boy, or a ten year old girl. Every Pokemon game since then has had this option, Allowing female audiences to connect better with their characters. In the first Pokemon games, the genders of the Pokemon were not stated, but when the sequels were released, The Pokemon could be either male or female(with some only able to be male or female).
Post Colonialism/ Orientalism
The issue with race in games is, a lot of them depict the main character as white. Even if the setting should say other wise, Like in "Prince of Persia", Which is set in the middle east, not known for its native Caucasian locals, but yet the main character is white. This could be for a lot of reasons, I like to think that, as an American(Canada) game, and with most Americans being white, would make the player connect easier to the character.
There are few games where you play as someone other than Caucasian, Mostly games where you create your own character, like "World of Warcraft" and "Runescape". A dlc pack on the game "Assassin's Creed: Black Flag" lets you play as an African pirate, but that is dlc and not a whole game.
In the text "Digital Arabs: Representation in Video Games" Sisler Mentions often that in video games, the Arabs and shown as the bad gay, the villain, The people to shoot at. Which in games like "Modern Warfare" this is true. It is the same with
There are few games where you play as someone other than Caucasian, Mostly games where you create your own character, like "World of Warcraft" and "Runescape". A dlc pack on the game "Assassin's Creed: Black Flag" lets you play as an African pirate, but that is dlc and not a whole game.
In the text "Digital Arabs: Representation in Video Games" Sisler Mentions often that in video games, the Arabs and shown as the bad gay, the villain, The people to shoot at. Which in games like "Modern Warfare" this is true. It is the same with
Reference
Research On The Year 2000:
-http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2000s_in_science_and_technology
-http://www.imdb.com/search/title?sort=moviemeter&title_type=tv_series&year=2000,2000
-http://www.imdb.com/search/title?sort=moviemeter,asc&title_type=feature&year=2000,2000
Posters:
Days of Future Past Poster-http://www.seanpaune.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/X-Men-Days-of-Future-Past-promo-posters.jpg
Wolverine DOFP Poster-http://fc08.deviantart.net/fs71/f/2013/208/a/2/x_men__days_of_future_past___wolverine_by_superdude001-d6fgjk3.png
Lego Star Wars Poster-http://www.flickeringmyth.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/LEGO-Star-Wars-II-The-Original-Trilogy-1-LFZ3R78YGH-1024x768.jpg
Original Star Wars Poster-http://www.everythingzoomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/Original-Star-Wars-Poster-1977.jpg?source=zoomermag
Vit Sisler: Digital Arabs
Theories of Fun: Huizinga and CailoisFile
Johan Huizinga: Nature & Significance of Play as a Cultural Phenomenon-http://www.nideffer.net/classes/270-08/week_01_intro/Huizinga.pdf
-http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2000s_in_science_and_technology
-http://www.imdb.com/search/title?sort=moviemeter&title_type=tv_series&year=2000,2000
-http://www.imdb.com/search/title?sort=moviemeter,asc&title_type=feature&year=2000,2000
Posters:
Days of Future Past Poster-http://www.seanpaune.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/X-Men-Days-of-Future-Past-promo-posters.jpg
Wolverine DOFP Poster-http://fc08.deviantart.net/fs71/f/2013/208/a/2/x_men__days_of_future_past___wolverine_by_superdude001-d6fgjk3.png
Lego Star Wars Poster-http://www.flickeringmyth.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/LEGO-Star-Wars-II-The-Original-Trilogy-1-LFZ3R78YGH-1024x768.jpg
Original Star Wars Poster-http://www.everythingzoomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/Original-Star-Wars-Poster-1977.jpg?source=zoomermag
Vit Sisler: Digital Arabs
Theories of Fun: Huizinga and CailoisFile
Johan Huizinga: Nature & Significance of Play as a Cultural Phenomenon-http://www.nideffer.net/classes/270-08/week_01_intro/Huizinga.pdf