Videogames: Lara Croft Go blog tasks

 Language

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

1996- Tomb Raider

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 

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

Lara Croft has featured in films and has appeared on magazine covers more times than any supermodel.

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

 Android, iOS, Windows, and Windows Phone devices. Versions for PlayStation 4, PlayStation Vita and Steam were released in December 2016.

5) What type of game is Lara Croft Go?

Lara Croft Go is a turn-based puzzle video game in the Tomb Raider franchise. Its core gameplay and control-scheme is similar to its predecessor, Hitman Go.

6) How does Lara Croft Go use narrative (storyline) 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.

7) What iconography can be found in Lara Croft Go? How does this help communicate the genre of the game?

This game is a ‘turn-based puzzle’ which involves by-passing enemies and unlocking paths in a sequential manner which suits the ‘short time-span’ that people can sometimes commit to mobile gaming. It faithfully preserves element of original Tomb Raider game and brings the original adventure up to date. 

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

The opponents that Lara comes across are Lizards, Snakes and Spiders.

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

Lara Croft Go is set in a amazon jungle which faithfully preserves element of original Tomb Raider game and brings the original adventure up to date. 

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 20 years? 

She used to a charcter which was designed mainlkty for a more male dominant audience toi a character being targeted to women also as in the later games she doesn't have always perfect make-up which makes the games feel more realistic.

Representations

1) How are women usually represented in videogames?

They were usually represented as objects and majority of the time were catered towards a male audience.

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

the character reinforces female stereotypes as she wears skin tight cloths 

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

Lara croft subverts stereotypes as she is the main character and there  any dominant then any male figures

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

Over the past decade, news media reports have characterised gaming as a male-dominated industry in which women are in the minority and regularly experience harassment and mistreatment.

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

 I think that at the start of the franchise the character was very much so designed to appeal to a male audience as the majority of gamers were men. However as time proceeded and the female population of gamers increased,so Lara crofts design was altered to make the games fell more realistic as you wouldn't have perfect make-up all the time especially in an environment such as tomb-raider.this was done so that they could appeal to the female audience as they are looking for a powerful independent woman.

Industries

1) What does PEGI stand for?

Pan European Games information

2) What is PEGI's job?

PEGI provides age classifications for video games

3) Which company created Lara Croft Go?

Square Enix Montreal

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

Lara Croft Tomb Raider and the Hitman Go mobile game.

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

The video games and films

Audience

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

Audiences get enticed into the game as they solve puzzle-solving problems

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.

Tomb Raider fans who are dedicated and are fully involved in the tomb-raider landscape.

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

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

diversion and personal relationships

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

 Tomb Raider fans who find the video game nostalgic / appreciate the sexualisation of Lara Croft Go (particularly male teenagers) / audiences who enjoy the quality of the game (female audiences).