The game Bully falls into the open world/sandbox genre made popular by Grand Theft Auto, but it also shares elements of teen comedy films. From a third-person perspective, the player controls a character named Jimmy at Bullworth Academy. Various visual elements, like the clock face and map, signify the school setting while gameplay mechanics are typical of sandbox games. The characters also fit archetypes commonly seen in teen comedies, such as the bully Gary and the wimp Petey. Though the school setting appears dreary, elements of slapstick humor and cartoon violence suggest the game is meant to be fun rather than serious.

1. Video Games Practice Exam - Bully
Question 1.
Analyse the sequence commenting on:
Visual Codes
Genre
The game ‘Bully’ falls into the genre ‘Open World’ or ‘Sandbox’ game, a category of video game
which has seen an increase in titles since the huge popularity of the ‘Grand Theft Auto’ (GTA) series.
Whilst Bully shares many of the same characteristics as GTA, a more detailed analysis of the
sequence reveals that the game also has many conventions of film genres such as the ‘High School
Comedy’ or ‘Teen Comedy’.
Whilst the GTA series has themes and visual imagery more in keeping with the crime or gangster
genres of film, Bully’s crossover makes it stand out to an audience as a more unique hybrid genre.
The gameplay is unmistakably characteristic of the sandbox genre. From a third person perspective
the player controls a character called Jimmy. For the most part the audience sees Jimmy framed in
long shot and the camera tracks forward following him wherever he is taken by the player. The
framing occasionally changes to a much closer over the shoulder shot, this is usually when Jimmy
must carry out a task such as the slingshot task, this change in shot type implies that a certain level
of skill or accuracy is needed to complete the challenge. The ‘zoom in’ is a convention of sandbox
games, but also of other genres of video game such as the First Person Shooter. The task itself will be
recognised by many as conventional of the sandbox game as well as various other visual codes that
remain on the screen throughout. The clock in the top left corner denotes the amount of time left to
complete the task but its old fashioned clock face signifies the school setting. The map helps the
player to navigate through the vast virtual environment, a key convention of the open world game.
There are also times when writing appears on the screen to assist the player or to give instructions,
it is also there to tell the player that the task has been completed with the words: “You Passed”. This
convention of the video game not only acts as a sign to end the ‘chapter’ but also to add to the
humour and reinforce the High School comedy conventions. In this instance the message is ironic as
an audience would usually associate ‘passing’ with something academic, whereas in this case it is for
breaking rules and injuring other students.
Throughout the cut scene there are various other conventions of the High School comedy, most
obviously through the use of archetypal characters. Gary, the Bully, is a conniving and intimidating
character, he is taller and than other characters which signifies his dominance. He is slim build and
has sharp angular features with dark eyes which give the impression of being sly and untrustworthy.
He is in contrast with Jimmy who takes on the role of the ‘Dumb but Strong’ character, who seems
easily manipulated by Gary. Jimmy has a shaved head and stocky build with a thick set neck. In one
shot he leans towards Petey in a threatening manner. With his clenched fists, protruding jaw and

2. sunken eyes he looks more like an ape than a teenage boy, which connotes his animalistic
behaviour.
There are various other obvious archetypes including ‘The Wimp’, the ‘Jock’ and ‘The Coach’ who’s
psychotic shouts at the boys such as: “Why are you stopping, you damn slackers?” is reminiscent of a
militant army trainer – but is a character type easily recognised as part of the High School comedy
movie.
The setting of Bully adds atmosphere to the game, and represents a key binary opposition of the
game: ‘Authority Vs Anarchy’. During the gameplay Jimmy runs around the grounds of Bullworth
academy, the grey stone slabs, high walls and labyrinthine maze of fountains and pathways make
the setting feel more like a prison than a school and connotes that the students are seen as
dangerous offenders more than pupils.
During the cut scene, this bleak atmosphere is exaggerated by sparse furniture and windows
covered by broken blinds, which suggests that although Bullworth may be like a prison, it is the
students that really run the place and treat it as they like. The dark drab browns and greys that
colour the game reinforce this miserable feel to the setting.
Despite the harsh setting, the game is far from serious. The elements of slapstick humour are not
only conventional of a comedy genre but also suggest that the game is intended to be fun and not to
be taken too seriously. The violence is played out for comic and cartoon effect such as Gary’s kick to
Petey which is followed by an elaborate groan, and the Bart Simpson style slingshot attack on the
dumb footballers. The preferred reading of the game is that this is an impossibly fictional school and
that the aim of the game is to complete challenges and enjoy the absurd characters and situations.
However, the game may be read by others as promoting violence and anti-social behaviour amongst
young people. It may be read by some outside of the target audience as a deliberate attempt to
challenge the dominant ideology of the importance of education and adult control in society.