Task 2 Research into Exsisting Products: Computer/Video Games (Fallout 4)

Fallout 4 is the latest game in the Fallout franchise, created by Interplay Entertainment, and is a mature ESRB rating.The game is post-apocalyptic, survival game targeted towards 16-20 year old male gamers in general; there is no clear social group that the game is targeted towards. The duration of this trailer is 3.04 minutes long which suggests that this wouldn't particularly be played on television channels unless it is shortened. It is more likely that the trailer will be streamed on YouTube and played during the adverts before films such as Mad Max, Star Wars or Jurassic World. These films will most likely be targeted towards the same group of people so there is a better chance of the product becoming successful with the people who watch these films in the cinema.

Content:
In the game, players play as the protagonist in an alternative history after World War II. The protagonist is an escapee from a vault after there has been a nuclear explosion. We know this due to how we are shown the explosion from behind the protagonists near the end of the trailer. The protagonist also has a dog which shows that, even in the worst of times, a dog is still a mans best friend. The trailer also shows the antagonists in the game; the mutants. The trailer gives the impression that you have to survive against these monsters in order to win the game. From the beginning of the trailer, we can infer that the protagonists are everyday people and are not part of the military or police because we can see them in their home before the explosion happens, when life was normal.
Mise-en-Scene:
The mise-en-scene in this trailer is particularly important in order fro the audience to understand the context of the game. The creators have made the setting have a vintage, yet futuristic look, to create the feel of the desired alternative history. We first see a vintage looking television set in a old fashioned house. The interior is set in the 1950's and the costumes of the characters also fit in with this time period. This is correct to the post WWII time period.

The house changes from before the explosion and after. We follow the protagonists dog around the house after the explosion, showing that barely anything is left and that there are no humans in the neighborhood.

As well as the suggestion of mutants in the game, there is also a suggestions of robots. The audience does not yet know whether these are villains or heroes which will encourage the audience to buy the game.

At the end of the trailer, the protagonist walks down a road with his dog. This is similar to films such as Mad Max and I Am Legend, which are films that the target audience may also enjoy. This shows the companionship between the character and his dog and the importance of their relationship.

Sound
The sound is important in setting the scene in the way of time period and showing that this is set in a post-apocalyptic situation. At the beginning, there are distorted signal sounds which lets the audience know that communication is now more difficult after the explosion. We can then here the song "It's All Over" which is sounds as if it was created in the 1950's/60's. When the footage starts to show more dangerous and frightening event, a soundtrack, similar to a film soundtrack, takes over from the calm, easy-listening song. This, along with the CB warnings, the audience can tell that the game is set in a life or death situation.
Editing
The editing has been used to show the contrast between the past and the present situations. There are cross cuts showing the difference in setting before and after the explosion. These show the extreme circumstances the protagonist will have to survive in, making the audience to want to explore the setting further. There is also a fade to black before the explosion. This is to surprise the audience before they are shown the huge disaster which the game is set around.

Task 2 Research into Existing Products: Music Videos (Johnny Cash, Hurt)

This song was a done as a cover by Johnny Cash in 2003 just before he died in the following December. The song was originally done by Nine Inch Nails in 1994 but could be argued to have deeper, more personal meaning to Johnny Cash. The song uses a lot of biblical imagery as well as other metaphors that suggest a theme of reminiscence and reflection in dark times.

The music video for the song adds in the biblical symbolism of which the lyrics suggests but also adds in archive footage to create the idea of nostalgia on the life he used to have. This video could be seen as an abstract narrative because it is partly a narrative of his music career. There is also some performance which shows Cash as the old man he is after coming out from all the troubling time in his past.

Deconstructing The Video:
The first image we see is a statue of Jesus Christ on the cross wearing a crown of thorns. The biblical imagery cuts with the beat of the music, showing that each symbol is just as important as the last. It also forebodes a future theme and idea for later on in the song.

The colour scheme shows that the song is being sung in the sunrise. The connotations of the sunrise is that something is at an end. As we can see Cash looking into the sunlight, we can infer that his life is ending. The sunlight is also shining on his guitar; the centre of his career, which could also suggest that his career is at an end as well.

The way he looks into the sunlight doesn't just connote the end of his life but also gives the impression that this is a moment of reflection and reminiscence for him as he is not looking directly into the camera which means he is not directly addressing the audience.

The mise-en-scene is important in this video as, not only does it have hints of religion, we can see Cash in his usual attire. During his career, Cash was known as the Man in Black because he wore all black suits. In the video, he is wearing a black suit in a traditional southern style to show his identity as the musician he once was.

It then cuts to an American flag waving in the breeze. This could symbolise patriotism and how Cash was once an American icon in his prime. The fact that the flag seems to be located in an isolated area shows that those times when he was a national hero have gone but he is still who he has always been.

We are then shown an abandoned museum which was once dedicated to Johnny Cash. The sign says that it is closed which shows that the majority of the public have lost interest in him. It could also show how everything he did have and all of his success is now worthless to him because he has lost everything he loved.

When Cash sings the lyrics "I remember everything", the scene cuts to a montage of archive footage showing his life when he was majorly successful. This is an example of anchorage where words and images combine to create meaning. The combination of these lyrics and the images of Cash when he was younger adds to the theme of reminiscence and reflection as he looks back on his life and how things have changed.
Another example of anchorage is when Cash sings the lyrics "Goes away in the end". At this point in the video, the camera shows a picture of an elderly woman on a wall, most likely Cash's mother. This suggests that his mother may have died and he is still grieving her.

The video then cuts to his golden record shattered on the floor. This is symbolic of his feelings towards his successes as he is now not interested in his achievements. The record is no longer important to him because he has lost the things and people most dear to him. It may also link to the next few shots where all the memorabilia is placed into what seems to be a bedroom; it could be in Cash's house. He doesn't want anyone to see him as a successful celebrity any more. It is as if he is ashamed of all his publicity and wants to go back to the average life he had before becoming famous, so he hides or destroys any evidence of his fame.

It then cuts to more archive footage of Cash visiting an old house that looks abandoned. This is linked to the theme of reminiscence and shows that this house has significance to Cash. It makes the audience wonder who's house this was and whether it was the house he grew up in or the house where he raised his family. We can then infer that, if Cash is thinking of this specific place, he wants to go back to that time as they could of been happier days.

Between these shots, we can see Cash at a banquet table. This links in with the religious connotations as it mirrors the last supper. Cash is in the role of Jesus Christ and his fans would be his disciples. However, there are no other people around the table suggesting that all of his fans are no longer supporting him or that he has pushed them away. There is masses amount of food on the table but they are rotting away. This represents how his wealth and fame are also rotting away to him because he doesn't want anything to do with it any more. It makes it seem that Cash has thrown away all that he built up during the peak of his career. This could be because he is alone and he feels that non of his fame and fortune means anything if he is alone.

Another symbolic feature at the banquet table is when Cash pours away the wine over the table. To me, this represents his blood and how he put his heart and soul into his career but now, nothing matters any more.



At the end of the song, there is a shot of Cash closing his piano lid. This is incredibly symbolic as it shows the end of his career and, possibly, his life. It shows that he has put his past behind him and that he is now ready to give up everything. Shortly after recording the video, Cash's wife died and so did Cash a few months later. This song could be seen as Cash's send off to all those who still appreciate him and his music, even if he had given up himself.

Task 2 Research into Existing Products: Game Covers (Sims 3)

This game is Sims 3 which is part of a video game franchise created by EA Games. It is a simulator game where gamers can create avatars, known as 'Sims', and control their lives in imaginary worlds. The franchise has recently grown to Sims 4 and has several expansion packs for Sims 1, Sims 2, Sims 3 and Sims 4. The Sims have their own language, currency and objects. Expansion packs can expand game play and unlock new objects, clothing and worlds for a better gaming experience.

Front and Back Covers:

The front and back covers are there to entice more people to buy the game, both people who have played the previous games and those who have not. This is done by creating a cover that shows that players will have the power to create individual Sims with individual lives.
The front cover shows a collage of different Sims, not from game play, which shows that not one Sim looks the same, just like humans as this is a life simulator. Each Sim also has a different facial expression that suggests to the player that the Sims have emotions depending on what they are doing in their lives.
The Sims are also boarded in their own diamond. This is because the iconic shape for The Sims franchise is the diamond that appears above the head of the Sim you are controlling at one given time. By repeating this shape, the creator of the cover can get the message across that the shape is important to the identity of the franchise. You ca see that, in between the different Sims, that there are the actual diamonds from the game. This will be familiar to the gamer when they start playing the game so whenever they see a similar shape, they will link it to The Sims franchise which is good for publicity and advertising.
The main part of the front cover is the logo. The Sims logo has evolved over the years and for The Sims 3 logo, they have opted for a more mathematical feel because of the use of the cubic symbol instead of a regular three. The reason for this is because there are new jobs and skills that your Sims can do in the new game, some of which are science based which had been asked for through reviews from the previous game. They then have used the diamond again so that the logo can link nicely to background.

Task 2 Research into Existing Products: Music Album Cover (Mcfly, Greatest Hits)

This album is for the band McFly; a British, all male pop group. The album cover needed to reflect the name of the album, Greatest Hits. This is done well as the covers and inlays have links to the band and the album name as well as features that will attract their target audience.
Front Cover:

 On the front cover, there is the title of he album "Greatest Hits" and the bands logo. The logo is bold in a contracting colour to the background in silver. The font is also the same as all their albums and singles so that fans can easily identify that the album is one of McFly's. The fact that the editors of the album cover has added stage lights to the logo suggests that McFly have been on a lot of tours over the years.
The cover is fairly simple with no images of the band members. This could be because the greatest hits album is a combination of their best songs from their other albums. They wouldn't want to make an album cover that was too busy because they want it to stand out from the rest of their albums. The colour scheme makes this more evident as they use a bold black background with sparkling silver font.
The title for the album "Greatest Hits" is written in all capitals in a bold white. Like the band logo, this stands out from the black background so that it is easy for buyers to see which album they are buying.

Back Cover:

The back cover, initially, is to tell the buyer what tracks will be on the album and if any bonus tracks are on the album or any possible extras like interviews or commentaries. For this back cover, the band have named all the tracks on the album with the track number of each song. They do not mention any bonus features on the album but do include social links for fans to keep in link with the bands activities. They include their website address and their main social media platform at the time. Fans can use these platforms to know about new tours, albums, singles interviews and meet ups as well as any other publicity from the band.
The back cover also includes some small print. This tells the buyer the copyright and the record label that has produced the album. It will say the name of the record label, the name of the producer, the writer of the music and lyrics and the date it was produced and recorded. This is done for legal reasons in case the album is pirated. Above the small print are the logos of all the companies involved in producing the album. This is so that people can recognise the companies and see what other albums they have worked on.
The font on the back cover is the same as the font on the front cover. This is so that there is visual continuity on the cover which makes it more visually appealing. The only decoration on the album is the bands signature star. They have created a border from the star which shows that this album belongs to McFly. To people who may not know a lot about the band may not know this but to the fans, it is intently recognisable. The fact that they have used this discrete star to show the identity of the band shows that the album is mainly focused towards their fans who have bought their other albums and follow them on social media. These types of fans will know that all members of the band have the star as a tattoo as it is part of their collective identity.

Inlay:

The inlay is a collage of different photos and objects that refer to McFly. It is similar to what a mega-fan might have on their wall. As it is a greatest hits album, it seems appropriate that the band collects photos of them throughout their career so far. The photos range over several years and are also references to their previous albums and tours. This has a reminiscent feel to it because it reminds the fans of all their previous work, both music work and personal work such as charity work.
They've made the layout look like a pin-board collage which is more relatable to the fans as they might have their own collages. this creates a bridge between the band and their fans as by making this collage, the band can share their favourite memories with their fans.

Task 2 Research into Existing Products: Music Video (Lady Gaga, Bad Romance)

The themes and perceptions in the Bad Romance video are distinctly similar to the themes in Lady Gaga's music video for Paparazzi. The messages she conveys in these two specific videos link to her feminist views and how the media perceives how a woman in the music industry should act. With this video in particular, there is a lot of product placement. The question with this is, does it take away the artistic value or does it just not matter. Similarly to the Paparazzi video, the narrative suggests a change in Gaga's character, starting as an innocent to a sexualised image.

The first shot that we can see is an establishing shot of Gaga surrounded by models, in a scene that looks very theatrical. She is wearing gold, which signifies wealth like it had done in her Paparazzi video. The music is also very significant in this shot as it fits in with the theatrical theme. This makes it seem like a play and Gaga is part of a theatre company. This shows that the rest of her video is a story, possibly retelling her experiences in the music business or just re-enacting what it is like to be a woman in the industry.

The play, or the rest of the video, starts when Gaga stops the music. The next scene then is set in a dark room with white capsules, one of which has the word "MONSTER" written in red with a cross symbolising religion, something that is also shown in her Paparazzi video. This is to show that Gaga's character is an abnormality in this institution of which the video is set. This then reflects how she is an abnormality in the music industry because of where she started to where she is now. As an artist who likes to shock her audiences, this would portray her as being different to her competition. As the story shows how this "monster" is turned into an object to make money, Gaga is sending the message that if you want it be successful, you have to sell yourself and do what is expected of you.

At the start of the song, the capsules open and Gaga and her dancers come out, moving grotesquely. They are dressed in an all-white suit with their eyes covered. The colour shows their innocence as they don't know what they're life will be after just emerging from the capsules, but it is more significant to note that the eyes are covered. It shows that these women are blind and naive to what is about to happen to them. Gaga is the focus in this scene as she is completely covered.

In this same section of the video, Gaga is filmed in a bath with extremely wide eyes. This is very childlike and shows her innocence before she is shaped into an object to please men. Like in Paparazzi, Gaga in this section advertises her own products. She is wearing her own earphones. This can either be seen as Gaga making more money through product placement or she could be doing it on purpose to send the message that you have to go against what you believe in to make money and be successful.

Two other women then drag her out the bath unwillingly, which shows her resistance to change into someone different. The idea that it is the women that change her, rather than men like in Paparazzi, shows that it is the pressure from other women in the music industry that push new artists into being something that they weren't before.

The women then give her a drink. This could represent the music industry as it is the drink that initially changes her but she further shows her resistance by spitting out the drink, which shows that she doesn't want to have all the pressures given to her by the industry.

There is a short shot of Gaga surrounded by white light, with minimal make-up, crying. This could be her past self when she was innocent and free to do as she wished as an artist. The way she is presented as crying could suggest the end of her past self.

In the next section of the video, Gaga can be seen wearing a large brown coat that the other women are trying to get off her. Around the room, there are men that seem to be giving money to Gaga. This shows her character as becoming more sexualised by the women around her. This could represent how women in the media and music industry have to be sexual to have fame as they have to appeal to men.  In this scene, she is wearing revealing clothing but it is still in white and silver, which connotes innocence. This could mean that there are mixed messages in the media. Women need to be sexualised but they also need to stay pure and innocent.

In between this setting, Gaga is seen in a frame. We can see her bones as she is depicted as being incredibly thin. This setting looks quite torturous, which could suggest that the industry causes pain to those who are working for it. 

In this scene, the men are paying money for Gaga, and she is sold as if she was an object. This is objectifying women and sends the message that women need to sell themselves to be desired. This could link to the mass of product placement, like for Beats, Nintendo and Nemiroff vodka, as she is selling the products of others and herself to get more money. This could be her own choice but also she could be forced to do this.

Gaga is then shown, frozen, in the middle of a circle of men dressed in lingerie. Again, this is sexualising women for male entertainment. Gaga could be showing that most music videos with women in now are highly sexualised so that men will watch them. Compared to how she was represented before, this image contrasts greatly as she now no longer is self-conscientious. She seems to know that she needs to please the men in order to survive, which shows that she needs to be this way to keep up with her competition in the media.

In the next part of the song, she dresses in a gold suit, with flashes to when she was in the bath at the beginning. This shows that she has been brainwashed to be the women she is now as she looks vacantly into the distance whereas in the flashbacks, she looks straight into the camera. In the flashbacks, she strangles herself, which could suggest that she dislikes the person she has become or that her past self has completely gone from her life.

The final scene shows Gaga wearing a Polar Bear robe as she walks towards her highest bidder. From the front, the robe gives her an air of innocence, but the Polar bear head behind gives a sense of danger. This suggests that some type of violence is going to be inflicted by Gaga. Like in Paparazzi, she is wearing glasses to shield her eyes. This way, her victim cannot see her intentions. There is a further message of violence by the cuts to the dancers and Gaga wearing red costumes, connoting danger. There are other symbols that suggest some up-coming violence, such as fire and Gaga's gun hand signal. In the end we see Gaga lying in a burnt bed with a skeleton. This could represent how she feels that, even though people try to change how she is, she will always come out on top in the end, like she did in Paparazzi.