Easter homework: Independent case study research

Name of game: Mario bros

Release date: August 17 2013

Institutions behind the game (game studio/publisher): The publisher is Nintendo 

Print

1. What print adverts were used to advertise the game? Find examples and post them on your blog.

1. What key conventions of print adverts can you find on the example you have chosen? Product name? Font? Slogan? Central image? Colour? All of the print adverts have the title on it. This is because when the audience sees it they will know what the name is. Also there are many of the main characters shown. This is so audience know who the characters are and who they can play as. The game mainly looks like it for family play because on each of the print advert there are more than 2 characters shown which means a big group can play.
2. Find three reviews for your game that were originally published in videogame magazines. Are they positive or negative about the game? Copy and paste one quote from each review.

• 'New Super Mario Bros Wii is a fun game, plain and simple.'
• New Super Mario Bros. Wii demonstrates one more time why Nintendo are masters of the all-ages gaming market, relevant and refreshing but at all times reverent and above all, incredible fun.
• The lack of a strong concept in this game brings that decades-old sameness to the fore and makes New SMB Wii the least essential Mario title to date.

1. Did your game feature on any videogame magazine front covers? Find examples and explain why a front cover feature is so successful in promoting a game to its target audience.

It is successful because it is showing the platform and it is on the top. Also the central image is of the main character and the title of the game is named after him so people will get to know Mario more and used to him. Furthermore, one of the name checks says 'Mario is back'. This could suggest that there are many other games of Mario but the new game is better and improved.

Broadcast

1. Did your chosen game use a TV advert to promote the game? Embed it from YouTube if it did.

1. Is there a game trailer on YouTube? Embed it on your blog and explain why it is effective in promoting the game to its target audience.

It is effective because it shows the different stages were you can play and also it shows the different characters you can play as.

1. Can you find any other broadcast features on the game - interviews, launch party events, video reviews, clips of the gameplay on YouTube etc. Write about how they effectively promote the game to its target audience. All the reviews are positive about the game and they are online, in newspapers and in magazines so may people can see. This is effective because many of the audience would see that many other target audiences or normal people have commented positives thing about the game so they may buy it.

E-media

1. Visit your chosen game's official website. How does it attract and maintain the interest of its target audience? Whilst its loading it has the 4 main characters moving so it keeps the audience entertained. You could also see many family's and friends playing the game and they all seemed to be happy.
2. Are there any creative or interesting aspects to the game's official website? Yes, when the website is loading you could see many characters running ans also the colours on the page are attracting because the colour of the game cover is red and so is the sites page.
3. Does the game have a YouTube channel? Yes
4. Can you find any examples of user-generated content on YouTube that players have created and uploaded from the game? Embed any examples on your blog.
5. How does user-generated content such as gameplay videos help to promote the game?
6. How many 'likes' has your chosen game's Facebook wall had?6924
7. Choose five of the posts on the Facebook page's wall, screengrab them and explain how they appeal to the game's target audience?

1. What is your chosen game's Twitter hashtag?
2. How did the campaign use Twitter to promote the game? There background was the games front cover
3. Can you find any other creative uses of e-media to promote the game? This might include hashtags, competitions, Instagram, user-generated campaigns or anything else that is designed to draw attention to the game.