The document discusses different aspects of media representation for the games The Last of Us and Just Dance. It describes how the games were portrayed differently in their advertising based on their distinct genres - The Last of Us as a survival/horror game and Just Dance as a fun, family-oriented dancing game. Bright, vibrant posters and ads were used to portray Just Dance's party atmosphere, while gloomy, dim images portrayed the deadly world of The Last of Us. The target demographics also differed between the two games.

1. The Last Of Us & Just Dance
Media Text - This is any media products designed for different audiences this can be portrayed in newspapers,
magazines, posters, and even films and website pages.
For the game The Last Of Us, posters were released and adverts through TV to promote the game, Usually the
media text will represent the style of the game e.g. In the game the Last Of us, one poster released was
gloomy and dimmed to portray the game would be scary and deadly.
However, in the game Just Dance they released bright vibrant posters to portray fun excitement and the
instance of partying as this game is used at parties. They have also done this as this is a fun family orientated,
positive game.
Also the advertising media text for The Last of Us, implied
violence and horror to show the players what style game it is e.g.
survival/horror. However, for Just Dance they implied surrealism people dancing to portray the fun generated
from the game.
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uqjmIfGjEZo/UMx-wXHSE2I/
AAAAAAAB6XQ/lhfaEYaPtQE/s640/The_Last_of_Us_free_poster_03.jpg
http://blurppy.files.wordpress.com/2012/10/1ust_dance_4.jpg
Semiotics – These are common in the games industry as this stands for signs and symbols and their use or
even interpretation. E.g. the process of this is: things e.g. speeches about a game on a website is denting itself
towards the reader the readers are then decoding this information. However people will have different
opinions e.g. some people may not like the speech and not like the game and some may like the game and
want to buy it.
An example of this used in the making of the game The Last of Us is, the creators denoted the game through
websites and even YouTube videos. The way they denoted the game gave off the impressions that the game
was a survival horror. The people reading or watching the information decoded this and from this different
opinions were shared.
Furthermore, for the game just dance people denoted the game differently through YouTube videos, website
pages etc. reviewers denoted that the game was fun and family orientated and sporty, and used for people in
need of losing weight. As with any other game people decoded the information and had different opinions
towards the game e.g. dislike and like
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O_yDPNQ8yJY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-GBXuE6jcl4

2. Genre – This is the game type/style e.g. some games are classed as adventure, action, horror. Etc.
In the case of the game The Last of Us, the game style is survival/horror. This is because the aim of the game is
to survive the horrors of an apocalyptic world.
In the case of Just Dance, the genre is totally different e.g. it is a family orientated, sporty, fitness game.
For the game The Last of Us, the genre was implied through many things from adverts, websites based around
the game, posters and newspaper articles. Most people seen the game as a survival horror from a TV advert
For the game Just Dance the genre was also implied through adverts trailers, websites etc. Most people seen
the game as vibrant fun and exciting from the main TV commercial.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3REvabCJ0BI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0gwSBAsS8hY
Content – This is key for games as this defines what style game it is and this also portrays what interesting
things are in the game and why. E.g. an action game would be none to have guns and deaths.
Content from The Last of Us relates to the type of game it is e.g. there is guns and weapons to survive in the
survival type world and also zombies to portray an apocalyptic world. Another main piece of content for The
Last of Us was the DLC named Left Behind. Thi s initiated another part to the story which was important to
players who liked the game.
Content from the game Just Dance relates to the type of the game e.g. there is bright vibrant colours used to
portray partying and fun and even on screen dancers to show you what to do. There was also a DLC released
named 5*This DLC added more songs to dance to and was key for main players.
http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/scale_super/1179/11799911/2417932-leftbehind.jpg
http://i.ytimg.com/vi/VSIIhetJsdU/hqdefault.jpg

3. Construction – This is where maps for games, vehicles, building etc. are created by the game designers and
then placed into the game. The items /objects added to the game usually relate to how the game works and
the style of the game.
In the case of the game The Last of Us, inventory’s were added in the game so the player can easily asses what
weapons they have and how much ammo they have e.c.t. Also this construction links to key events in the
game e.g. a mission in The Last of Us contains a building being blown up near the player. This was added
through construction for the game.
In the game Just Dance construction is different than in The Last of Us. On screen dancers are added on to Just
Dance to show the player what to do. This is a very important piece of construction as it helps players dance
and have fun learning and playing the game. Also the bright colours were added to the game during the
construction to portray the party style game that it is.
http://www.blogcdn.com/www.joystiq.com/media/2012/11/dlcjd4screenshotgangnamstylekinectv4.jpg
http://cdn.medialib.computerandvideogames.com/screens/dir_3042/image_304230_620.jpg
http://guides.gamepressure.com/thelastofus/gfx/word/118074442.jpg
http://3ebd2a0c0ea48a333aea-
1f531def8e8befb67be56667ce3edd11.r77.cf1.rackcdn.com/ca1f1d6f77ee4c5ba086c20c1d795568ee50fa19.jp
g__620x350_q85_crop_upscale.jpg

4. Codes and Conventions – Codes are systems of signs put together to create meaning (the signs are usually in a
sequence) Conventions is the way of doing things in games through repeated experiences. This way the
audience becomes familiar with these things and expect it in other games with the same style.
In the game The Last of Us, codes and conventions are used to portray what things are in the game. The
audience have become familiar with what things are in the game meaning people who play this game expect
to see deaths, blood, guns and zombies.
In the game Just Dance the codes and conventions are different but still are expected by the players of this
game e.g. players of this game expect to see the on screen dancer portraying what to do, bright colours and
many different songs to dance to.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JZ0g3UGvzgc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sNU_BwwEajM
Modes of Address – This is how a game contacts (speaks) to the audience e.g. first person, third person,
omniscient narrator.
In The Last of Us the game is played in third person which is more on the narrative side as the third person
follows different people in the game and doesn’t just focus on one person.
However, in the game Just Dance, it is based around first person as you yourself are the character dancing in
front of the screen; as the game is motion based.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ZYkj0glnqs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8JGecHPgK9o
Target Demographic – This is the audience in which play the game e.g. teenagers and young adult (16 – 25)
may play a game and older adults may not.
The target demographic for The Last of Us is usually teenagers and young adults who play the game. However
some older adults tend to play as this game gives of a fatherly impression e.g. in this game a older adults takes
care of his daughter
In the case of Just Dance, teenagers seem to play this and young adults as they seem to party more than older
adults. However some older adults tend to play in order to exercise and keep in shape.