Question 7: Explain two reasons why a film company would release a video game linked to a film.
Releasing a video game keeps the brand, the film in the public eye for longer so increases the publicity for the film. This would help sell DVDs or streaming releases of the film. Also, this diversifies the company, if it is making money from more than one media form it spreads the risk that always is in releasing a film that you might lose money. The game could also attract a different target audience, who wouldn't usually watch the movie, but might play the game, so watch the movie afterwards. Information about the characters and setting, and some of the story is shown in the game, attracting the people who would just play the game to the film itself. Another reason would be that the game lets the audience become more involved in the story of the film, so this would attract a wide range of the target audiences, or appear to a different market. The game promotes the film, and the film promotes the game.
Question 8: Explain at least two uses and gratifications of video games using Blumler and Katz's theory. Refer to The Lego Movie Video Game to support your answer.
The Lego Movie Game is used as a distraction from real world problems, so the target audience can just play the game and not worry about anything. Also, by playing the game, the audience think about who they are, and what ideas and values they identify with. This is done, because they have to do what they feel is right in the game, so they would question themselves, as to what is the right thing to do. The games also gives the audience something to discuss with other people, helping then build relationships, whether that be online, or in person, to their friends, making them all feel involved, and part of a crowd of people, who can talk to each other about a game that interests them. By playing the game, the target audience gets a chance to find out new information, by playing the game, and talking to others about the game. They also take pleasure in knowing all this information about the game that they love.
Video games of movies also attract the target audience of the movie to buy and play the video game, because they like the movie so much that they would want to buy anything that is associated with the movie, especially the video game, because they could then feel more involved, and in control of their favourite characters, and can determine the fate of the villains, making themselves feel like the hero.
Also, some people may play the game, to feel like they fit in, so they are able to make friends and talk to other people about it, making them feel like they fit in, because everyone else is playing it, so they want it too, to fit in.
Question 9: Analyse how genre codes have been used in The Lego Movie poster campaign to appeal to a family audience. In your answer you must also refer to relevant media contexts.
The Lego Movie's main poster is bright, and uses a bright colour pallet of blue, red, black, white and yellow. This would attract the family audience, with young children, as they would be attracted to the bright colours, making it seem more interesting to them, so they will then want to see the movie. The movie also uses intertextuality, because the families with young children have children who would play with Lego, so when they see that a movie with all their favourite characters they would want to watch it, so because their parents know how much they like Lego, they would take them to watch the movie.
The other character posters show a close up of the main characters, and the name of the actor who plays them. There are some quite famous actors, who the whole family would know, so the parents would want to see some of their favourite actors. The children would also want to see some famous people in a movie all about their favourite toys. This would be one of the main things to attract the whole family to the movie.
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