The document discusses the gaming industry and the Assassin's Creed III: Liberation game. It provides context on the growth of the gaming industry and discusses how technology has changed gaming. It then focuses on Assassin's Creed III: Liberation, noting that it was originally released for the PlayStation Vita in 2012 and was later released for other consoles in 2014. The game aimed to bring high production gaming to mobile platforms and targeted both existing Assassin's Creed fans and new audiences through its use of a female protagonist.

2. Industries

3. The
Gaming
Industry

4. Getting Started
• How many of you own a games console?
• How old were you when got your first games
console?
• How many games consoles are there in your
household?
• At what age did you first play an 18+ game?
• Which is better: Xbox or PlayStation?

5. Historical Context
• Broadly speaking, the video games industry is
relatively new, compared to other media
industries.
• Its growth and expansion has been rapid.
• It is seen as a serious media industry.
• The profits within the industry rival those of
major films.
• The demographic profile of gamers has changed
enormously since the early days of video games.

6. Questions to consider…
• What is the future of mobile gaming?
• Is the 'console decline' a reality?
• How does PC gaming fare in the overall
market?
• Is VR becoming more mainstream?
• How does ownership and usage compare
globally, and by market?

7. How has technology changed gaming?
https://www.digitaledge.org/5-ways-
technology-has-changed-gaming/

8. https://vulcanpost.com/603333/technology-
changed-gaming/

9. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=91aRtGid2og

10. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/connect/small-business/driving-growth/uk-
gaming-industry-growing-so-fast/

11. PSVITA – Gaming on the go

12. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R
IaJHh60hQY

13. Regulation
• Games in the UK were regulated by the Pan-
European Game Information age rating system
(PEGI) and the BBFC until 2012. This is now
the responsibility of the Video Standards
Council (VSC).
https://legalgamer.weebly.com/blog/the-legal-
status-of-age-ratings-uk

14. Regulation
• The regulation of games is a delicate issue and
the main worries centre around the suitability of
the content (sex and violence) and accessibility
for younger gamers (think of recent complaints
about ‘Grand Theft Auto’, ‘Call of Duty’ etc.).
• Research has shown that younger children
routinely have access to games well beyond their
chronological age, raising concerns with parents
and the government.
https://legalgamer.weebly.com/blog/the-legal-
status-of-age-ratings-uk

15. PEGI
• The Pan-European Game Information age
rating system was established to help
European parents make informed decisions on
buying computer games. It was launched in
spring 2003 and replaced a number of
national age rating system with one single
system.
KEY TERM

16. Economic and Political Contexts:
• Video games are culturally and financially significant
across three major territories (Japan, Europe and the
USA). The release of new gaming technology (PS Vita is
considered part of the 8th generation of game
technology) or games from popular franchises can be
major economic events.
Extension TASK: Explore the way that games and
technology (and specifically those from within the
Assassin’s Creed game franchise) have been marketed
and received across the three major territories.

17. Economic Context
• Originally, the game was exclusive to
PlayStation Vita, but given the competitive
nature of the video games industry, a larger
HD version of the game was inevitable.
• Consequently, it was released in 2014 across a
larger range of consoles and devices, including
PS3 and Xbox 360.
Challenge: What sales figures can you find?

18. Construct Meaning
Define the following terms, citing examples for
each:
• MMORPG
• Persistent worlds
• CRPG
• Augmented reality
• Avatar
KEY TERMS

19. What is the appeal of video games?
• In groups, or pairs, discuss the appeal of video
games and try to suggest reasons why this
media form is so popular.
• Try to incorporate some of the ideas below
into your discussion:
The uniqueness of MMORPG
Persistent worlds
CRPGs
Augmented reality
Teamwork
Competition Challenging tasks
Intertextuality
Single player –vs- Multi-player
First person – vs – Third person
Avatars
The range of platforms

20. Assassin’s Creed III: Liberation
• Assassin’s Creed III: Liberation, part of the very successful
games franchise, was developed by Ubisoft and released on
October 30 2012, along with Assassin’s Creed III.
• The game was originally exclusive to the PS Vita but was
later (2014) released in a modified HD version across a
large range of consoles and platforms (including PS3, Xbox
360 and Microsoft Windows).
• Assassin’s Creed III: Liberation offers familiar pleasures to
existing fans (narrative situation of the Assassins v the
Templars, open world gameplay etc.) along with new
elements to target a wider audience (e.g. the use of a
strong female protagonist).
Challenge: Watch the trailer for the game and consider its importance
in the marketing.

21. Watch the trailer for the game. What are your first
impressions?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q5RxYUw4DFY

22. Assassin’s Creed III: Liberation
Research this game online and compile a detailed case
study. Focus on Production, Distribution and Circulation.
Ask yourself:
• Who developed it?
• On which platform was the game first released?
• Alongside which other game?
• How many official trailers were made?
• What YouTube videos supported the release?
• What additional content was downloadable?
• What extracts from the game can you play online?
Challenge: Watch the trailer for the game and consider its importance
in the marketing.

23. Watch the trailer for the game again. Consider its
importance in the marketing.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q5RxYUw4DFY

24. https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2012-11-12-marketing-
murder-the-secrets-of-selling-assassins-creed-iii

25. Check out the website
https://ass
assinscree
d.ubisoft.c
om/game/
en-
gb/home/

26. Consider processes of production, distribution
and circulation:
• The game was released on the Sony hand held device
PlayStation Vita. It was developed by Ubisoft and
released alongside Assassin’s Creed III on the
PlayStation 3.
• This simultaneous release might be discussed in terms
of an attempt to have maximum impact on the three
major markets for console and video game release
(Japan, North America and Europe).
• In terms of production the game was a multinational
development which is typical of game production in
larger studios such as Ubisoft.

27. Consider the relationship of recent technological change and
media production, distribution and circulation:
• The ways in which the PS Vita was attempting to tap into the
increasing success of mobile gaming (smart phones, tablets etc.).
The PS Vita was designed with many features usually associated
with smart phones (touchscreen as well as Wi-Fi, 3G and Bluetooth
capability).
• The game itself as part of a well-known and popular franchise may
be seen as an attempt to bring high game production values to the
burgeoning new mobile gaming arena. It is significant that the game
was originally exclusive to the PS Vita but was later (2014) released
in a modified HD version across a large range of consoles and
platforms (including PS3, Xbox 360 and Microsoft Windows).
• In terms of distribution these versions of the game could be
purchased over the internet using such outlets as Steam, the
Playstation Network or Xbox Live Arcade.

28. Consider the impact of digitally convergent media platforms
on global production, distribution and circulation:
• It is significant that the Assassin’s Creed III: Liberation
hand held game could be linked to the full PS3 console
version of the game (owning both versions would
unlock additional game content). This use of
convergence is relevant in terms of
promotion/marketing and circulation.
• The internet/Wi-Fi functionality of the PS Vita allows
users opportunities to download additional content
(DLC) such as weapons, characters and “skins” or
outfits. It also affords users the chance to engage in
multiplayer versions of the game. These features
promote gamer engagement and identification with
the game.

29. Theorist #1 – Albert Bandura
(Media Effects Theory)
Bandura suggested that:
• The media can implant ideas into the mind of the
audience directly (link to Hypodermic Needle
Model)
• The audience acquire attitudes and emotional
responses and new styles of conduct through
modelling.
• That media representations of transgressive
behaviour, such as violence or physical
aggression, can lead audience members to
imitate those forms of behaviour.
Challenge 1: Look up the Bobo Doll experiment.
Challenge 2: Considering what you now know, consider how this theory can be applied to
‘Assassin’s Creed III: Liberation’.

30. Audiences

31. A new audience? Discuss.
• Why did the company decide to include a
mixed-race female protagonist in Aveline de
Grandpré?
Challenge:
research other
responses to the
game on gaming
websites. Are
these responses
positive or
negative?

32. Female representation in gaming
Conforms or
subverts?

33. https://kotaku.com/5987083/this-assassins-creed-heroine-is-a-great-black-
game-character-heres-how-it-happened

34. Social and Cultural Contexts:
• Considering video games in relation to gender issues may be a
useful way to explore them in terms of social and cultural
significance. The representation of female characters, under-
representation of women in video game development and an
assumed minority of female video games players are areas
that could be explored. This game has a female protagonist
and it may be useful to consider whether she subverts or
reinforces expectations of female characters in games and
how audiences may respond to this.

35. Consider how producers target, attract, reach,
address and potentially construct audiences:
There are many aspects of the game that are significant in
relation to audience targeting and construction:
• The game is for a hand held device. This may imply it is
aimed at a more casual or mobile gamer (a discussion here
about “on the go” gamers playing mobile games versus
traditional console and PC gamers may be useful).
• The game features a female protagonist. This is unusual in
the franchise and may be considered in terms of appealing
to a different demographic (possibly linked to the “on the
go” gamers discussion above). The existence of a female
protagonist may also be discussed in terms of constructing
audiences by asking whether this game might offer a
platform for female gamer identification.

36. Consider the interrelationship between media
technologies and patterns of consumption and
response:
• The game is linked to a more traditional console version
and which was simultaneously released with this game.
This might be considered as an attempt to draw gamers
from different platforms to purchase additional hardware
and adopt new gaming habits.
• The two versions of the game are also linked in terms of
downloadable content and special features. This relates to
changing patterns of consumption. Gamers might be being
encouraged to have a more complete or satisfying
experience by using a range of interlinked products that
offer exclusive downloadable content. This is only made
possible through convergent technology and gamer “buy-
in” to the value of the exclusive content.

37. Review
The video games industry is regularly criticised by
the media for the assumed effect that over-
exposure may have upon young gamers’ behaviour.
• How might problems in regulating the industry
and ensuring that gamers are only playing age-
appropriate games contribute to this criticism?
• Is there any truth to the suggestion that the
immersive nature of the game-playing experience
might make it harder for gamers to distance
themselves from violent action?

38. http://resource.download.wjec.co.uk.s3.amazonaws.com/vtc/2016-17/16-17_1-
28/assassins-creed-liberation.pdf