Points to Discuss

The importance of cross media convergence and synergy in production, distribution and marketing.

- other features available on consoles e.g playing dvds, internet browsers
- more reasons to buy a console
- creates a more desirable product by being better quality and having more features
- taps into other product's target audiences e.g films and social networking sites
- synergy used in GTAIV: RAGE & Euphoria game engines used to create more realistic and interactive game play.
- media convergence used in marketing: adverts on tv, internet (specialist, fan sites, official sites), in magazines
- media convergence in games e.g MP3 player in game, Facebook updates in game. Games with these features e.g Project Gotham Racing III. This makes the game more customisable and so more desirable.
- Media convergence: online distribution of games through consoles gets rid off the need for retailers
- Marketing: demos available online and through console site browsers

Sandbox Games and 1st Party Games

Sandbox Game - A game where the player has near total or total control over their game play.

1st Party Game - A game created by a console company exclusively for their console e.g Wii Sports

Onlive: advantages and disadvantages

5 Advantages:
-purchase games without leaving your living room
-small console takes up little space
-digital downloads mean no packaging, more Eco-friendly and takes up less space
-can access the games via TV, PC or Mac
-wider choice of games because they are all available for Onlive

5 disadvantages:
-expensive- subscriptions and paying for games
-possible lag because the games are streamed through your broadband connection
-too much choice for the consumer so they can't find what they want quickly
-threatens jobs in games retailers and console manufacturers as they are no longer needed
-smaller companies that don't have a deal with Onlive may suffer a drastic loss in sales

Rockstar Games Playing Session

Manhunt -Playstation 2

-Target audience: Men, Teenage boys
-Appeal: Violence without consequences
-Controversial aspects: killing, swearing, execution, gore

Table Tennis -Xbox 360

-Target audience: Men
-Appeal: realistic game play
-Controversial aspects: -none-

Midnight Club: Los Angeles -Playstation 3

-Target audience: Men, Teenage boys
-Appeal: Fast gameplay, realistic graphics, Cars are exact copies
-Controversial aspects: dangerous driving

Grand Theft Auto: Vice City -Playstation 2
-Target audience: Men, Teenage boys
-Appeal: escape from reality, you can do what you want - legal or not
-Controversial- Crime, Swearing, Killing, Dangerous driving, Prostitution

Canis Canem Edit -Playstation 2
-Target audience: Teenage boys
-Appeal: school without studying, revenge on bullies and strict teachers
-Controversial: School fights, bullying, larger characters are meant to look comical, lots of stereotypes

Red Dead Revolver -Xbox
-Target audience: Men, Teenage boys
-Appeal: taps into childhood cowboys and Indians games but more mature e.g blood
-Controversial aspects: Guns, Blood, Bounty hunting

Why are Rockstar games so successful
-Consequence free law breaking and recklessness
-Lots of different genres of games to appeal to different kinds of gamers
-Aimed at a male audience which has the largest proportion of gamers
-Make games for more than one console
-They are a 3rd party company and so are independent from console making companies so they have full control over their games and they can make original games