PREP: Have a go at answering the exam question, using the answer guide to support you. Question 8 is worth 10 marks. Write a page and half. Refer to theory. Below is the framework that the examiners refer to. Post your answer on your blog.
'Explain at least two uses and gratifications of video games using Blumler and Katz's theory. Refer to The Lego Movie Video Game to support your answer.
Media is used for a variety of reasons, though the main reason for viewing media is for the entertainment, especially with media in the form of games and movies. With entertainment, the audience can 'escape' real life and their day to day worries and get the 'wow-factor' off of surreal occurrences that can only happen in a fantasy world. In The Lego Movie Video Game, the gamer has the ability to do the impossible, fly around, use jet packs, create your own weapons and defeat evil, a perfect meantime, which offer suspense, mystery, action, problem solving etc...
Other audiences view media because of their personal values, meaning they identify with characters within the game. This is especially common with games which have an on-the-fly character switching feature (meaning a player can switch from different characters point of views within the game), this gives the gamer freedom and a variety of personas to pick from and distinguish themselves as. In The Lego Movie Video Game, females may identify as Cleopatra for various reasons, whether it be the striking looks, physical ability or the witty personality. The boys may identify with a character like Vitruvius, or Shakespeare, again for reasons such as the Cleopatra example, by looks or personality. Many games have added features which allow you to unlock more characters, adding to the gamer's freedoms. Lego are an international symbol around the world of happiness and fun, furthermore adding to their personal values and relating to the world-popular Lego franchise.
More reasons that video games are a perfect diversion for everyday life is because of the relationships; famous people can voice characters which are not only appealing to buy the game in the first place but also help build an imaginary friendship with a celebrity, for example, Morgan Freeman voices Vitruvius, and by playing as the character you can have a hoax bond with such a famous figure as you work together to beat evil and save the world.
