Horizon Forbidden West: Audience and Industry

 Audience

Look at this YouGov blog on the console gaming audience and answer the following questions:

1) What statistics can you find for the number of male / female players for the major consoles?

• PS5 have a 71% male vs 29% female audience whilst Xbox series X|S has 68% vs 32%. PC has 61% vs 39%, and switch has a 54% vs 46%.
• Assassins Creed - 70% vs 30%, Halo - 73% vs 27%.
• Animal Crossing - 39% vs 61%, Mario - 45% vs 55%.

2) What is the difference between 'hardcore' and 'casual' gamers - and which do you think would play Horizon Forbidden West?

Casual gamers play less often and play on smaller consoles like the Switch, however hardcore gamers play more often and play more bigger brand games like Red Dead Redemption etc. and on PC or consoles like PS or Xbox. Players who play Horizon Forbidden West are more likely to be hardcore gamers. 

3) What are the different reasons YouGov researched for why players play games? Which of these would apply to Horizon Forbidden West?

• To relax and wind down
• To pass the time
• To escape from reality for a while
• To challenge myself
• To complete challenges and puzzles
• To interact with games from around the world
• To do something I can't in real life
• To have an emotional connection to a story
• To gain mastery of something within the game
• Out of habit
• To create a world of my own

Look at the PlayStation website page for Horizon Forbidden West. Complete the following tasks: 

1) How is the game promoted to an audience?

There are a range of gameplay footage and the trailer. There is different section to read about the game and the different setting of the gameworlds within the game. There are quotes from Play Station stating how big of a game this is. There is also a character profile for the audience to get to know the characters (Blumler and Katz: Uses and Gratifications theory - Personal Relationships). 

2) What are the key features for the game listed on the site?

The different settings of the gameworlds, the different characters and the robots which you encounter. 

3) What information does the website offer players about the game world and characters? Give a few examples.

It talks about how the different setting are, and the atmosphere this creates, linking it to the storyline e.g. the underwater world holds mystery where you can unlock a hidden chapter in the ancient past which changes Aloy's life. The character profiles also introduce the character and tell the audience about the characters personality e.g. Aloy is presented to be independent and compassionate, she started as a outcast but has become a champion to mankind. She has a powerful drive.

4) What spin-offs and additional content are available as part of the Horizon franchise?  

Additional content available is that they have the soundtrack available, wallpaper and news about the game. 

5) Applying Henry Jenkins's work on fandom, what aspects of the website (you may need to scroll down) encourage fan activity and engagement with online Horizon communities?  

They have guides for cosplay on what the costume of the characters are like and the guides to make a paper origami of the monster robots - this allows the audience to engage with the product and create their own content.

Read this Wired feature on Horizon Forbidden West's open world design. Answer the following questions: 

1) Why did the writer enjoy Horizon Forbidden West?

As it was an open-world game, it allowed the writer to get lost in the game (Blumler and Katz: Uses and gratifications theory - Diversion). The writer suggests the game is "deliciously crafted".

2) How is Horizon Forbidden West structured for players when they first start the game?

It creates a structure and sense of the "goals for gameplay".

3) Why does the writer feel HFW created a more successful open world game than The Witcher 3?

As even though it was an open world game, it would take hours to do the quests and travel from one place to another, and you cannot do certain things within the game unless you complete them.

Industries

Industry research

1) Research Sony PlayStation Studios. 

2) What studios are part of Sony PlayStation Studios?

• Asobi
• Bend Studio 
• Bluepoint Games
• Firesprite 
• Firewalk Studios 
• Guerilla Games
• Haven Studios
• Housemarque
• Insomniac 
• London Studio 
• Media Molecule 
• Naughty Dog
• Nixxes
• Polyphony Digital 
• San Diego Studio 
• Santa Monica Studio 
• Sucker Punch 
• Valkyrie Entertainment

3) What notable games have they produced? 

Guerilla Games - Horizon Franchise 

Insomniac  - Marvels Spider-Man 

Naughty Dog - UNCHARTED 

Polyphony Digital - Grand Turismo franchise

4) Now research Guerrilla Games. Look at the 'Explore' page in particular. Who owns Guerrilla Games and how does it reflect the modern videogames industry?

It is an owned subsidiary of Sony Interactive Entertainment Europe. They employ more than 350 professionals from 50 different, so reflects the diversity of the gaming audience.  

5) Choose one of the 'Guerrilla Spotlight' features and write three things you learn about the videogames industry and/or Guerrilla Games from the interview.

1. A challenge faced in the industry is what would you want to implement and if it is possible due to the technical side of the industry.
2. Tips to get into the industry would be to make game by yourself and with other people.
3. To get into the industry, don't only play mainstream games but niche games too, to get in to the business side of the industry.

Read this USA Today feature on Guerrilla Games. Answer the following questions: 

1) Which three companies merged to become Guerrilla Games?

Orange Games, Digital Infinity and Formula Game Development. 

2) What other games and franchises were created by Guerrilla Games?

Nijmegen Adventure, Oh Sh*t, Zelda: The Magic Wand of Gamelon and Killzone.

3) How did Guerrilla maximise the Killzone franchise? 

There was a hype for Killzone before its release, and so over a million copies were sold which then allowed it to get Sony to draw up a first-party contract for Guerrilla Games.

4) What did Sony sign with Guerrilla in 2004? 

A first-party contract with Guerrilla games ensuring that from 2004 onwards, all the titles that they would develop would be only on PlayStation Consoles. 

5) How is Horizon Forbidden West described in the article and what is the next stage for the franchise?  

The article suggests that Horizon Forbidden West is a totally different atmosphere. It also suggests that Aloy's journey in the game shows a different, soft side to Guerrilla Games. A new project, which would be VR and partnered with Firesprite called 'Horizon: Call of The Mountain' is in the future for the franchise.

Regulation and PEGI

1) What is HFW's PEGI rating and what age rating do you feel would be appropriate? Why?

It is PEGI 16 which is understandable due to the violence and the kissing scene. 

2) Why is regulating videogames difficult in the digital age?

As due to being online, the rating can easily be passed and you could create a fake account and get someone else to get the the game for you.

3) Are attitudes towards media content and regulation changing as a result of the internet? Explain your answer.

Yes, people are becoming more cautious of the internet as it is very influential on the youth and has inappropriate content, so therefore regulation may be coming stricter. 

A/A* extension tasks

Read this fantastic GQ feature on Horizon Forbidden West - it takes in the history of the franchise, audience pleasures and also gender appeal and videogames. This is the kind of article that will make you an expert on the CSP and help you form opinions on the big media theories and debates. GQ is also another one of our in-depth CSPs too! 

Read Factsheet 258 - Exploring the consumption of computer games. Look particularly at the application of media theory on the last two pages. You can find it in our Media Factsheet archive.