Lara Croft Go: blog tasks

 Video Games: Lara Croft GO

Language

1) When did Lara Croft first appear in a videogame?

In the 1996 game 'Tomb Raider'

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 has featured in films (the first starring Angelina Jolie; 2018 version rebooted the character). She has appeared on magazine covers more times than any supermodel. There have been advertising tie-ins, merchandise, comic books and  spin-offs featuring the character. The franchise has had numerous incarnations before Lara Croft Go in 2015. 

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

Phones, tablets and PCs

5) What type of game is Lara Croft Go?

A turn-based puzzle-adventure game

6) How does Lara Croft Go use narrative (storyline) to make the game enjoyable for the audience?

By having an underground lost city/ancient civilisation style setting to emphasise the fact that Lara Croft is an archaeologist

7) What iconography can be found in Lara Croft Go? How does this help communicate the genre of the game? Think about mise-en-scene and setting here.

Lara is depicted as athletic with brown eyes and hair, frequently tied back in a plait or ponytail. Her costume is usually a blue tank top, light brown shorts, calf high boots and long socks. Accessories / Props include gloves, a backpack, a utility belt with holsters and two pistols. Emphasising her role as an archaeologist

8) What other characters or enemies feature in the game?

Snakes, spiders and the main antagonist, the Queen of Venom

9) What is the setting for Lara Croft Go? How does this compare to previous Lara Croft or Tomb Raider games?

Similar ancient civilisations/lost cities in the Amazon 

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 25 years?

She has become less of a sex symbol and more of a pioneer for femininity and the empowerment of women

Representations

1) How are women usually represented in videogames?

Women are often objectified and depicted as incapable of protecting themselves, therefore always requiring the assistance of a man (damsel in distress)

2) How does the character of Lara Croft reinforce female stereotypes in the media?

Reinforces beauty standards due to her idealistic body and sexualised attire

3) How does the character of Lara Croft subvert female stereotypes in the media?

First ever female protagonist/heroine in a video game, character traits being intelligent, independent, courageous etc usually used to describe a man

4) Why do some people believe the videogames industry is sexist and needs to change?

Female characters are often created with the preference of men in mind instead of creating a character just as capable as a man without the need for objectification

5) Do you think Lara Croft is an empowering feminist icon or just another objectified woman designed to appeal to male gamers?

Both as even if she was the first heroine/female protagonist in a game, she is still seen as a sex symbol

Industries

1) What does PEGI stand for?

PEGI stands for Pan European Game Information 

2) What is PEGI's job?

A European video game rating system established to help consumers make informed decisions when buying video games or apps through the use of age recommendations and content descriptors.

3) Which company created Lara Croft Go?

Square Enix

4) What two popular videogame franchises were combined to create Lara Croft Go?

Lara Croft Tomb Raider and the Hitman Go mobile game.

5) What else is part of the Lara Croft/Tomb Raider franchise?

Lara Croft has featured in films (the first starring Angelina Jolie; 2018 version rebooted the character). She has appeared on magazine covers more times than any supermodel. There have been advertising tie-ins, merchandise, comic books and  spin-offs featuring the character. The franchise has had numerous incarnations before Lara Croft Go in 2015. 

Audience

1) Why might an audience enjoy playing Lara Croft Go?

 Because it is an non-stressful but still challenging game due to it requiring strategy and problem-solving skills to complete puzzles

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.

Because it is a mobile game it can be played anywhere at any time

3) How did Square Enix design Lara Croft to make it appealing to an audience?

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

5) Who is the target audience for Lara Croft Go? How does brand loyalty contribute to this target audience?