Lara Croft Go CSP case study

 Language

1) Who is Lara Croft and when did she first appear in a videogame? Lara croft is a game from the Tomb Raider franchise and she is the first female protagonist in videogames.

2) What classic films influenced the creation of Lara Croft and the Tomb Raider games? 

Indiana Jones

3) How has Lara Croft and Tomb Raider moved beyond just being a videogame? Lara Croft and Tomb Raider they are turned into movies, merchandise and spin-off characters.

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

5) What type of game is Lara Croft Go? Adventure/Action

6) How does Lara Croft Go use narrative (storyline) to make the game enjoyable for the audience? There is a narrative in the game by there being quests, discoveries and uncovering myth.

7) What iconography can be found in Lara Croft Go? How does this help communicate the genre of the game?  Setting- Amazon Jungle, Ancient Civilisation, has a map to work through. Has bright colour lighting. 

8) What other characters or enemies feature in the game? The venom queen who is Lara Crofts enemy (Propp character type)

9) What is the setting for Lara Croft Go? How does this compare to previous Lara Croft or Tomb Raider games?  Setting is of Amazon Jungle and so was the previous setting of Lara Croft games and Tomb raider games as they are set in the 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 20 years?  The character design of Lara Croft had revealing clothing and emphasised body parts whilst now Lara Crofts character has combat clothes and less emphasised body parts.


Representation

1) How are women usually represented in videogames? Women are usually sexualised in videogames.

2) How does the character of Lara Croft reinforce female stereotypes in the media? Lara Croft reinforces female stereotypes as she is shown as an object of desire by her body parts being particularly exaggerated. Also, by Lara Croft being designed as attractive which what men expect women to look like.

3) How does the character of Lara Croft subvert female stereotypes in the media? Lara crofts character subverts female stereotypes in the media as normally in action/adventure video games the mc is male but here the mc is female. Also Lara Croft is presented as strong and dominant character who fights of snakes with her spear which has significantly changed compared to the early Lara Croft games where Lara Croft was heavily sexualised and didn’t even wear combat armour unlike the present Lara Croft who wears combat armour.

4) Why do some people believe the videogames industry is sexist and needs to change? Because most games target audiences are male and action video games are targeted at a male audience rather than a female one. And the most of the male consumers in the video game industry make women feel unwelcomed. Also most of the female characters animation and designs are heavily revealing and are what most men expect women to look like.

5) Do you think Lara Croft is an empowering feminist icon or just another objectified woman designed to appeal to male gamers? I think Lara Croft is an empowering feminist icon as she is independent ands fights herself and doesn’t need any saving. Plus she wears combat armour which represents her dominant side. However previous versions of Lara Croft were designed to appeal male gamers by having her bring objectified.

Industries

1) What does PEGI stand for? Pan European Game Information. 
2) What is PEGI's job? PEGI's job is to regulate video games and give them age ratings and descriptions.

3) Which company created Lara Croft Go? The company that created Lara Croft Go is Square Equix.

4) What two popular videogame franchises were combined to create Lara Croft Go? PEGI's job is to regulate video games and give them age ratings and descriptions.

5) What else is part of the Lara Croft/Tomb Raider franchise? Tomb Raider was formerly owned by Eidos interactive.

Audience

1) Why might an audience enjoy playing Lara Croft Go? Because of the game play? An audience may enjoy playing Lara Croft Go because of the gameplay as it is a puzzle and adventure game where your meant to solve puzzles on every level to get to the next. 

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. An audience will most likely play the video game on mobile and tablet and when they are at home. They audience may play this game in the evening when the audience is back from school or work. 

3) How did Square Enix design Lara Croft to make it appealing to an audience? Square Enix design Lara Croft to make it appealing to the audience by including the same features from Tomb Raider to create a sense of nostalgia for older audiences. The creator familiar settings to appeal to the audience and make connection to Hitman

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

Diversion -There is a narrative in the game by there being quests, discoveries and uncovering myth. Also it is a puzzle game 

Personal identity - Nostalgia for older audiences who used to play tomb raider king and hit man go 

5) Who is the target audience for Lara Croft Go? How does brand loyalty contribute to this target audience? The Target audience for Lara Croft Go is more older adults who are familiar or have played Hitman Go. The brand loyalty contributes to the target audience is the sexualisation of Lara Croft and those with brand loyalty based on the feminine empowerment displayed.