Write a review of a contemporary computer game to demonstrate an understanding of audiences

Marketing of computer games is extremely important. In a crowded market it is often difficult to make products stand out. Different strategies are employed such as courting controversy as you have seen in previous tasks. Another tactic is to appeal to ‘retro’ gamers in marketing classic games that audiences have fond memories of such as the Mario Brothers franchise.

Another key tactic is to set the agenda with positive reviews. A new game has to push the boundaries and provide a new gaming experience.  Influencing the agenda of magazines, newspapers and online reviews can affect sales. 

Your task is to provide a positive review of a computer game that you are familiar with.  You don’t need to be familiar with console games as games on mobile phones and on social media sites like Facebook are part of the industry.  The important thing is that you are enthusiastic about the game and can influence an audience through your use of language.  You need to identify an audience by picking the publication that your review will be published in. For instance, a review of ‘Farmville’  may appear in a magazine aimed at a female market.

·       You must study a range of reviews to understand the conventions of writing for this purpose.

·       You must then write a review for a computer game that you are familiar with.

·       You are answering the examination question below in a creative way.

Discuss the audience appeal of your text

·       Research a range of reviews for computer games. The links in the resources section are a good place to start.

·       Identify the audience by stating the publication or online web-site that your review will appear in

·       Write a response to the examination question in a creative way by writing a positive review of a computer game. This will show an awareness of the audience for your chosen game.

·       In writing the review you will be covering the following examination question

Discuss the audience appeal of your text

Although print versions of these magazines are popular you can also find easily accessible online versions

Edge magazine claims to be the ‘leading magazine for the games industry’ and has many reviews and helpful advice about how to get into the industry

http://www.edge-online.com/

This magazine has a range of reviews

http://www.computerandvideogames.com/#

Each console has their own specialist magazines and this link will take you to one for the X-Box

http://www.oxm.co.uk/

This magazine claims to be the largest source for reviews in the world

http://uk.gamespot.com/reviews.html?mode=top&sortdir=asc