Textual analysis
- Reinforces a capitalist society where you have to work and be successful.
- People as consumers- lots of examples of Sims spending money and this being desirable
- Gameplay has been feminised to appeal to the female audience
- Reinforces some gender stereotypes
2) What stereotypes have you identified in The Sims FreePlay?
Female Sim in pink bedroom doing her homework/schoolwork where as the male Sim is in a blue bedroom. The male character is also shown to do more masculine stereotyped activities like doing karate and playing drums. Mainly female Sims shown to shop and catwalk etc HOWEVER Chic Boutique extension pack uses male Sims also and feminises masculinity
Female Sim in pink bedroom doing her homework/schoolwork where as the male Sim is in a blue bedroom. The male character is also shown to do more masculine stereotyped activities like doing karate and playing drums. Mainly female Sims shown to shop and catwalk etc HOWEVER Chic Boutique extension pack uses male Sims also and feminises masculinity
3) What media theories can you apply to representations in The Sims FreePlay?
- Van Zoonen - gender stereotypes
- bell hooks - power structures in society
- Gauntlett - fluidity of identity
- Hall- approaches to representation /encoding and decoding
- Gramsci - marxism and hegemony
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?
1) How realistic does The Sims intend to be?
Realistic enough to make it believable without having to over step boundaries.
2) How has The Sims tried to create more realistic representations of ethnicity?
By making the character's look less cartoonish.
3) How has The Sims responded to racism and sexism in society?
Sim's are only ever judged by their characteristics rather than their appearance meaning it's literally impossible for Sim's to be either racist/sexsist as they are coded to only judge others based of randomly generated characteristics.
4) What is The Sims perspective on gender fluidity and identity?
It allows same sex marriage and people to create whatever character they wish to make so it in a way supports the idea through giving all the players the option to do it.
5) How does The Sims reinforce the dominant capitalist ideologies of American culture?
The main insentive used by the game to get people to continue playing is by giving money to players for completing certain tasks. One of the main goals that the game offers from the beginning to the end of the game is increasing the worth of the town and how much the town is worth overall.
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 were probably the main factor that led to the game's popularity. During a showcase of the game at E3, audiences were shocked and pleased when they were able to form relationships between the same-sex. It was something that had never been done before in the gaming industry and it received massive positivity from gamers and critics".
2) How is sexuality now represented in The Sims?
There is now a lot of freedom and it is now possible to have same sex relationships etc.
There is now a lot of freedom and it is now possible to have same sex relationships etc.
3) Why have fans praised the inclusion of LGBTQ relationships in The Sims franchise?
It was praised as it giving a good representation of what LGBTQ+ rights should be like.
It was praised as it giving a good representation of what LGBTQ+ rights should be like.
4) Why did the Sims run into regulatory difficulties with American regulator the ESRB? How did EA respond?
ESRB rated the game higher than before, meaning the game becomes unacceptable for younger audiences due to the addition of Sex. This meant that The Sims had two options, either removing the option and disappointing a lot of fans, or taking the M rating. They ended up teaming up with EA and managed to convince the ESRB that they should be granted a T-rating.
5) How is sexuality represented in the wider videogames industry today?
There's a much wider acceptance of characters that identify with the LGBTQ and giving them representation in video games.
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 doesn't have the magic or fantasy to provide escapism, the more realistic simulation of life drives away from the games original idea of diversion(Uses and Gratifications).
2) What audience pleasures did the writer used to find in The Sims franchise?
Diversion.
3) Why the does the writer mention an example of a washer and dryer as additional DLC?
They didn't want their Sims to do something that they didn't like doing in real life.
4) In your opinion, has The Sims made an error in trying to make the franchise too realistic?
No, The Sims still uses unrealistic aspects of time and the freedom the user has to do whatever they want is still an appealing aspect to the game.
5) How does this representation of reality link to Baudrillard’s theory of hyperreality - the increasingly blurred line between real and constructed?
There is a simulation of real life inside a game played by real people.
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 doesn't have the magic or fantasy to provide escapism, the more realistic simulation of life drives away from the games original idea of diversion(Uses and Gratifications).
2) What audience pleasures did the writer used to find in The Sims franchise?
Diversion.
3) Why the does the writer mention an example of a washer and dryer as additional DLC?
They didn't want their Sims to do something that they didn't like doing in real life.
4) In your opinion, has The Sims made an error in trying to make the franchise too realistic?
No, The Sims still uses unrealistic aspects of time and the freedom the user has to do whatever they want is still an appealing aspect to the game.
5) How does this representation of reality link to Baudrillard’s theory of hyperreality - the increasingly blurred line between real and constructed?
There is a simulation of real life inside a game played by real people.
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?
The social media oages are there to promote the game. The Twitter page posts updates on game patches, retweets people who play walkthroughs or gameplay videos.
The Facebook page shows things that the player can do inside the game, usually more aspects of gaining ideas on what the consumer wants to see.
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.
https://twitter.com/TheSimsFreePlay/status/1108853712378781697
Tells the audience to watch the gameplay video - create more interest in the game.
https://twitter.com/TheSimsFreePlay/status/1108582305012259473
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?
The social media oages are there to promote the game. The Twitter page posts updates on game patches, retweets people who play walkthroughs or gameplay videos.
The Facebook page shows things that the player can do inside the game, usually more aspects of gaining ideas on what the consumer wants to see.
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.
https://twitter.com/TheSimsFreePlay/status/1108853712378781697
Tells the audience to watch the gameplay video - create more interest in the game.
https://twitter.com/TheSimsFreePlay/status/1108582305012259473
Asks the audience what they want to see for interior design styles.
Ask the audience what they like from events in the game, so the developers know what they can add more of to promote gameplay.
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?
Almost every post has players asking for new content, it shows how the developers actually put things into the game that the players want to see, it makes them keep playing.
4) What tweets can you find in the Twitter feed that refer to additional content or other revenue streams for EA?https://twitter.com/AppStore/status/1096261625450037249
5) Linking to our work on postmodernism, how could The Sims FreePlay social media presence be an example of Baudrillard’s hyperreality and simulacra?
Almost every post has players asking for new content, it shows how the developers actually put things into the game that the players want to see, it makes them keep playing.
4) What tweets can you find in the Twitter feed that refer to additional content or other revenue streams for EA?https://twitter.com/AppStore/status/1096261625450037249
5) Linking to our work on postmodernism, how could The Sims FreePlay social media presence be an example of Baudrillard’s hyperreality and simulacra?
It shows how reality and fiction can link with each other. Real people are playing a fake game that tries to imitate real life through simulation.
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