OSP & Videogames: An introduction

Watch the YouTube video outlining the history of the videogames industry from the 1970s to the 2010s. Now answer the following questions:

1) What were the first videogames like?

The first video games were played on mainframe computers (like an oscilloscope) during the 1950s.


2) How have videogames changed over time?

Games have change over the years as they now include a more narrative perspective and are digitally clearer than before. They can also be played on devices/consoles such as Nintendo, Play station etc.


3) What do the most successful games have in common? Answer this in as much detail as you can. Think about audience pleasures - what do people like about playing videogames?

-Most video games have some sort of goal the end of them, through levels/stages making the players more interested to play on to victory. 
-They also have a narrative during the game which makes it more interactive for the players.


4) What criticisms have been made towards videogames?

Depending on the video-game and its narrative the criticism will be varied for example GTA 5 will have a negative criticism because it encourages crime and violence but on the other hand Fifa will have a positive criticism because it influences people to play sports such as football.

Read this Guardian feature from last year about the sensationally popular videogame Fortnite: Battle Royale and watch the original trailer below.




Now answer the following questions:

1) How many Fortnite players are there worldwide?

There are 250 million Fortnite players worldwide.

2) Why is it so popular? What are the audience pleasures of the game?

The audience might enjoy two aspects of pleasures in the game , one being visceral pleasure which is experienced through the different sound effects produced by a selection of weapons in the game.The second pleasure would be a vicarious pleasure which is experienced through the character that you can customise in many ways e.g outfit,weapon skin,backpack and hacking tool. 


3) Why might some people criticise Fortnite?

Some people might criticise Fortnite due to how young school children get addicted to the game so quickly which then leads to them lacking keeping up with life's minor necessities. 

 4) Copy and paste two comments from 'below the line' of the Guardian article - these are comments written by Guardian readers in response to the feature. Select one comment you agree with and one you disagree with and explain why.

Agree

"A fantastic game for all the family. The violence is cartoon-like, not gratuitous or graphic. I limit my children to only playing the Playstation at the weekends."

I agree with this because it doesn't show bloody graphics and has parental controls that allow parents to limit the amount if time their kids spend playing it.

Disagree
3) Computer games naturally get them more engaged in computing which leads being interested in Science and engineering.