Minecraft

Minecraft

Key Terminologies

Media Industry- How the media industries' processes of production,distribution and circulation affect media forms and platforms.

Media Audience- How the media forms target, reach and address audiences, how audiences interpret and respond to them and how members of audiences become producers themselves.

Digitally Convergant Media- Video games console are an excellent example of a digitally convergant device, as well as playing games you can access social media, surf the internet, stream/watch films as well as TV content. Cross-media contenthelps maximise profits and also improve reach to new customers.

Production- This refers to all phasesof designing, developing and making the media product;

Distribution- This refers to all processes linked to all delievering the media product to audiences both through tangible (disc) and digital (Cloud based) media.

Consumption- Explores the way in which the media text is used by audiences for pleasure but also explores the rise of user generated content across several platforms.

Notes

Minecraft is an example of an originally independently produced video game that has grown exponentially in popularity and has since taken over by an industry giant, Microsoft.

Minecraft is the second most successful video game of all time behind Tetris.

Created/Designed by Markus Persson ,who also developed and published the game through his company Mojang.

Full version was released in November 2011.

The success of the games market

• The UK'S         US$4 Billion
• China,               US$24.4 Billion
• America's         US$23.6 Billion

Recent reports suggest the global games market is now worth in excess $100 Billion

In comparison to traditional media platforms, video games are much younger, exponentially grwing since the 1970s

Tuesday 28/11/2017

Minecraft is suited to this wide age demographic, as Minecraft is a game full of creativity and less restriction and there's quite a bit of freedom within the game. A younger person will play this game as it is quite simple and easy to pick up for a young audience. It is full of creativity so the younger audiences imagination will be able to integrate their ideas, creativity and imaginations into their own world. 

For an older audience, Minecraft can offer a certain escapism for these older audiences as they can escape real life and create their own world with their own input in it and it is set out how they want it. 

Task 1 

Describe how audiences are grouped and categorised by media industries, including by age, gender and social class, as well as by lifestyle and taste.

·      Apply the segmentation model GEARs as part of the analysis

·      Question:  In what way is the content suited to this wide age demographic?

·      Read the following link and identify the factors which make the game particularly suited to young people and  “safe”. http://metro.co.uk/2013/11/22/the-mums-guide-to-minecraft-everything-you-need-to-know-about-the-worlds-biggest-game-4189492/

·      AGE: 21 – and upwards

·      List reasons why in your opinion it might appeal to an older demographic,

·      Struggling? Follow the links below to help you

·      http://www.minecraftforum.net/forums/minecraft-editions/minecraft-playstation-3-edition/mcps3-discussion/2064622-how-old-is-too-old-to-play-minecraft

http://www.minecraftforum.net/forums/minecraft-java-edition/discussion/2125268-what-do-you-think-about-old-people-playing

Under 15:

Identify three factors:

1. Full of creativity and easy to play
2. Teaches problem solving
3. Online aspect to play with friends

Age 21 and above:

1. Offers escapism in their own world 
2. Ability to share ideas with other people
3. Easy to pick up for an older generation

Why is Minecraft is more popular with boys?

      Minecraft is popular with men/boys due to the certain stereotypes and expectations onto the male and female genders. Minecraft offers a certain element of construction within the game which is more popular with boys/men. As well as that typically boys are more likely to play video games than girls. Also within the game there is an aspect of violence and so boys especially may enjoy this aspect. As well within the game you are able to wear armour so boys may feel empowered like a knight.    

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Task 2. Describe How media producers target, attract, reach, address and potentially construct audiences.

Minecraft benefits by getting new audiences early so the game an stick with them through life. They can do this by introducing educational programmes for the younger audiences. This will help audiences with coding as computer science is a modern subject which younger audiences can learn to pick up. This is evident as the Minecraft Education Edition is now used in over 100 different schools in the UK.

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Task 3.  Describe How media industries target audiences
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Task 4.  Describe How audiences interpret the media, including how they may interpret the same media in different ways. 

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Task 5: Describe How audiences interact with the media and can be actively involved in media production. 

How audiences interact with the media can be actively involved in media production. 

Minecraft Marketplace

Minecraft Marketplace is a great example of the industry listening to their audiences (fans) and allowing the trade of different maps, textures and 'add-ons' in a legitimate setting. 

An example of one Minecraft Youtube would be WiederDude

Youtube Address: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCenY_uRTbmaa9ar1IPTHzCA