Create a new blogpost called 'The Sims FreePlay case study part 3 - Representations' and complete the following tasks.
Textual analysis
Re-watch some of the expansion pack trailers and answer the following questions:
1) How do the expansion pack (DLC) trailers reinforce or challenge dominant ideologies?
1) How do the expansion pack (DLC) trailers reinforce or challenge dominant ideologies?
The main ideologies that are enforced in the trailer are:
Capitalism is the main ideology that is present in the trailer
2) What stereotypes have you identified in The Sims FreePlay?
3) What media theories can you apply to representations in The Sims FreePlay?
Van Zoonen - The idea that gender is constructed through media language
Stuart Hall - Identity being constructed rather than being given to us
Gauntlett - Masculinity theories
Representation reading
Read this Forbes article on gender and racism in The Sims franchise and answer the following questions:
1) How realistic does The Sims intend to be?
The Sims intends to be as realistic as possible with the technology available. This is done through serious emphasis on relationships, family, and money
2) How has The Sims tried to create more realistic representations of ethnicity?
Using more realistic character models
3) How has The Sims responded to racism and sexism in society?
By stating the game is entirely under the player's control
4) What is The Sims perspective on gender fluidity and identity?
The sims, seems to not focus on the idea of gender fluidity seeing that the game has you choose a specific gender at the beginning. They have stated although, that the idea of gender fluidity is interesting, but needs to be explored properly before hand.
5) How does The Sims reinforce the dominant capitalist ideologies of American culture?
Purchasing and a meritocracy mindset is a very visible
The availability of the "love bed" and sex between sims made the ratings for the game difficult to determine
Reality, postmodernism and The Sims
Read this Paste Magazine feature on reality and The Sims franchise. Answer the following questions:
1) What does the article suggest about the representation of real life in The Sims 4?
It suggests that The Sims 4 is quite realistic, so much so that it can take away from diversion as it makes you lead a domestic life
2) What audience pleasures did the writer used to find in The Sims franchise?
Escapism, this audience pleasure is extra amplified with the sci-fi and fantasy expansion packs
3) Why the does the writer mention an example of a washer and dryer as additional DLC?
It was a way of further showing the extent of domesticity the game shows
4) In your opinion, has The Sims made an error in trying to make the franchise too realistic?
I feel an element of fantasy/unrealistic content is vital to make the game different as making it more realistic ruins the point of a game. You can't escape from reality if the game you're playing resembles your reality
5) How does this representation of reality link to Baudrillard’s theory of hyperreality - the increasingly blurred line between real and constructed?
Hyperreality is the USP of Sims, its main goal is to blur the line between what's real and what's a game by trying to make their game as realistic as possible.
The Sims FreePlay social media analysis
Analyse The Sims FreePlay Facebook page and Twitter feed and answer the following questions:
1) What is the purpose of The Sims FreePlay social media channels?
To help promote the game, keeping fans updated with brand new content, incentivising purchases of currency by stimulating interest
2) Choose three posts (from either Twitter or Facebook) and make a note of what they are and how they encourage audience interaction or response.
3) Scroll down the Facebook feed briefly. How many requests for new content can you find from players? Why is this such as an important part of the appeal for The Sims FreePlay?
There are constant requests to add brand new content from fans of the game, this kind of interaction is important as it helps the game developers get opinions and ideas for the games improvements
4) What tweets can you find in the Twitter feed that refer to additional content or other revenue streams for EA?
Merges reality and the Sims by being a real world media product but being based on the Sims world
Capitalism is the main ideology that is present in the trailer
2) What stereotypes have you identified in The Sims FreePlay?
Gender stereotypes
Sexuality stereotypes
Traditional family ideals
3) What media theories can you apply to representations in The Sims FreePlay?
Van Zoonen - The idea that gender is constructed through media language
Stuart Hall - Identity being constructed rather than being given to us
Gauntlett - Masculinity theories
Representation reading
Read this Forbes article on gender and racism in The Sims franchise and answer the following questions:
1) How realistic does The Sims intend to be?
The Sims intends to be as realistic as possible with the technology available. This is done through serious emphasis on relationships, family, and money
2) How has The Sims tried to create more realistic representations of ethnicity?
Using more realistic character models
3) How has The Sims responded to racism and sexism in society?
By stating the game is entirely under the player's control
4) What is The Sims perspective on gender fluidity and identity?
The sims, seems to not focus on the idea of gender fluidity seeing that the game has you choose a specific gender at the beginning. They have stated although, that the idea of gender fluidity is interesting, but needs to be explored properly before hand.
5) How does The Sims reinforce the dominant capitalist ideologies of American culture?
Purchasing and a meritocracy mindset is a very visible
Read this New Normative feature on LGBTQ representation in The Sims franchise and answer the following questions:
1) How did same-sex relationships unexpectedly help the original Sims game to be a success?
Same-sex relationships helped show the flexibility of Sims, showing that the game allows players to truly do what they want
Same-sex relationships helped show the flexibility of Sims, showing that the game allows players to truly do what they want
2) How is sexuality now represented in The Sims?
Autonomy is given to players by allowing to do exactly what they want. Same-sex relationships are normal in the game.
Autonomy is given to players by allowing to do exactly what they want. Same-sex relationships are normal in the game.
3) Why have fans praised the inclusion of LGBTQ relationships in The Sims franchise?
It acts as a means of normalising same sex relationships as it's being made by a massive gaming company
It acts as a means of normalising same sex relationships as it's being made by a massive gaming company
4) Why did the Sims run into regulatory difficulties with American regulator the ESRB? How did EA respond?
The availability of the "love bed" and sex between sims made the ratings for the game difficult to determine
5) How is sexuality represented in the wider videogames industry today?
Far more inclusive than before in all respects.
Far more inclusive than before in all respects.
Reality, postmodernism and The Sims
Read this Paste Magazine feature on reality and The Sims franchise. Answer the following questions:
1) What does the article suggest about the representation of real life in The Sims 4?
It suggests that The Sims 4 is quite realistic, so much so that it can take away from diversion as it makes you lead a domestic life
2) What audience pleasures did the writer used to find in The Sims franchise?
Escapism, this audience pleasure is extra amplified with the sci-fi and fantasy expansion packs
3) Why the does the writer mention an example of a washer and dryer as additional DLC?
It was a way of further showing the extent of domesticity the game shows
4) In your opinion, has The Sims made an error in trying to make the franchise too realistic?
I feel an element of fantasy/unrealistic content is vital to make the game different as making it more realistic ruins the point of a game. You can't escape from reality if the game you're playing resembles your reality
5) How does this representation of reality link to Baudrillard’s theory of hyperreality - the increasingly blurred line between real and constructed?
Hyperreality is the USP of Sims, its main goal is to blur the line between what's real and what's a game by trying to make their game as realistic as possible.
The Sims FreePlay social media analysis
Analyse The Sims FreePlay Facebook page and Twitter feed and answer the following questions:
1) What is the purpose of The Sims FreePlay social media channels?
To help promote the game, keeping fans updated with brand new content, incentivising purchases of currency by stimulating interest
2) Choose three posts (from either Twitter or Facebook) and make a note of what they are and how they encourage audience interaction or response.
- brand new Nightclub in SimTown
- Daring Do's Hobby Event is back
- Sims 20th birthday, House competition
All three of these events offer an incentive to come back to the game, from competitions and limited time events, the instagram page shows an interest in maintaining an interactive audience
3) Scroll down the Facebook feed briefly. How many requests for new content can you find from players? Why is this such as an important part of the appeal for The Sims FreePlay?
There are constant requests to add brand new content from fans of the game, this kind of interaction is important as it helps the game developers get opinions and ideas for the games improvements
4) What tweets can you find in the Twitter feed that refer to additional content or other revenue streams for EA?
- " Do your Sims love to live the high life" ... " Complete the glam mansion special event
- "Wish you were a little kid again? Tap into your Sims 'inner child' with the quest re-run, live in game now!"
- "Executive producer & general manager of the sims franchise held a discussion with he Women's ultimate team in Melbourne. She spoke about her 17+ year game development".
Merges reality and the Sims by being a real world media product but being based on the Sims world
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