Horizon Forbidden West: Audience and Industry blog tasks

 Horizon Forbidden West: Audience and Industry blog tasks

Create a blogpost called 'Horizon Forbidden West: Audience and Industry' and work through the following tasks.

Audience

Look at this YouGov blog on the console gaming audience and answer the following questions:

1) What statistics can you find for the number of male / female players for the major consoles?

PlayStation 5 (68% male; 29% female) and Xbox Series X|S (68% vs. 32%)

2) What is the difference between 'hardcore' and 'casual' gamers - and which do you think would play Horizon Forbidden West?

the “hardcore” – those who say they take video games seriously, or play competitively

3) What are the different reasons YouGov researched for why players play games? Which of these would apply to Horizon Forbidden West?

most gamers across every system say relaxing and winding down is a key motivation for playing video games. they play games “to pass the time” or “to escape from reality for a while”. 

Look at the PlayStation website page for Horizon Forbidden West. Complete the following tasks: 

1) How is the game promoted to an audience?

The game is promoted as a cinematic open-world adventure with stunning visuals, epic combat, and a strong female hero.

2) What are the key features for the game listed on the site?

Key features include a vast open world, machine combat, new traversal mechanics, rich storytelling, and next-gen PlayStation technology.

3) What information does the website offer players about the game world and characters? Give a few examples.

The site explains the diverse environments, machine enemies, and characters like Aloy, Sylens, and Erend with background lore.

4) What spin-offs and additional content are available as part of the Horizon franchise?  

Spin-offs include Horizon Zero Dawn, Burning Shores DLC, Horizon Call of the Mountain (VR), and Lego Horizon Adventures.

5) Applying Henry Jenkins's work on fandom, what aspects of the website (you may need to scroll down) encourage fan activity and engagement with online Horizon communities?  

The site encourages fandom through downloadable content, cosplay guides, franchise links, and community-focused extras.

Read this Wired feature on Horizon Forbidden West's open world design. Answer the following questions: 

1) Why did the writer enjoy Horizon Forbidden West?

The writer enjoyed the game because the open world felt welcoming, fun, and well-paced rather than overwhelming.

2) How is Horizon Forbidden West structured for players when they first start the game?

The game begins in a more linear way to guide players before opening up to full exploration.

3) Why does the writer feel HFW created a more successful open world game than The Witcher 3?

The writer felt HFW was more successful because it balances freedom and structure better than The Witcher 3.

Industries

Industry research

1) Research Sony PlayStation Studios. 

Sony PlayStation Studios is Sony’s first-party division that develops exclusive PlayStation games.

2) What studios are part of Sony PlayStation Studios?

Studios include Guerrilla Games, Naughty Dog, Insomniac Games, Santa Monica Studio, and Housemarque.

3) What notable games have they produced? 

They have produced games such as Spider-Man, The Last of Us, God of War, Horizon, and Uncharted.

4) Now research Guerrilla Games. Look at the 'Explore' page in particular. Who owns Guerrilla Games and how does it reflect the modern videogames industry? 

Guerrilla Games is owned by Sony, showing how large publishers buy studios to secure exclusive content.

5) Choose one of the 'Guerrilla Spotlight' features and write three things you learn about the videogames industry and/or Guerrilla Games from the interview.

The interview shows teamwork across disciplines, international staff collaboration, and a focus on storytelling and technology.

Read this USA Today feature on Guerrilla Games. Answer the following questions: 

1) Which three companies merged to become Guerrilla Games?

Guerrilla Games was formed from the merger of three small Dutch development studios, Orange Games

Digital Infinity, Formula Game Development

2) What other games and franchises were created by Guerrilla Games?

 Killzone franchise

3) How did Guerrilla maximise the Killzone franchise? 

They expanded Killzone through sequels, multiplayer modes, and PlayStation exclusivity.

4) What did Sony sign with Guerrilla in 2004? 

Sony signed an exclusive development agreement with Guerrilla Games.

5) How is Horizon Forbidden West described in the article and what is the next stage for the franchise?  

HFW is described as a major AAA open-world success, with the franchise expanding into spin-offs and new media.

Regulation and PEGI

1) What is HFW's PEGI rating and what age rating do you feel would be appropriate? Why?

Horizon Forbidden West is rated PEGI 16, which is appropriate due to its violence and mature themes.

2) Why is regulating videogames difficult in the digital age?

Regulation is difficult because digital distribution, online play, and global access are hard to control.

3) Are attitudes towards media content and regulation changing as a result of the internet? Explain your answer.

Yes, the internet has made audiences more accepting of mature content and less reliant on traditional regulation.