COD

Media Forms: What codes and conventions does the trailer use to establish the text’s genre?

The trailer uses dream like imagery, which provides escapism (uses and gratification, 1974). This allows the trailer to establish its genre, as video games are often used as a diversion from reality. Furthermore, the use of a globe and different settings suggests the genre is a global establishment. Also, it could suggest an element of interaction (uses and gratification, 1974) because it can imply that the video game can be played worldwide. Moreover, the non-diegetic sound of the male speaker also establishes the genre; this is because video games are one of many stereotypes of males, therefore, its genre is established with the male speaker.

How is war represented in the trailer?

Like many things, there are two or more ways in reading a text; and in this case the reception theory (Stuart hall) can be utilized. A preferred reading of the trailer would be that war is something with a positive and rewarded effect; it can put an end to the moral panic (Stanley Cohen). However, the oppositional reading could be that it is almost glamorized and the bloodshed and killings are celebrated in this trailer. 

Furthermore, war itself can be represented as a game; which can perhaps connote the ideology of the institution. The trailer presents war as a game, as it suggests there is a winner and there is a loser; leaving out the third party victims out. Capitalism can be the ideology linked to how war is represented in the trailer, as this type of society believes in money and gaining for itself.

In what ways is the trailer typical of the video game industry?

The selected shots of the trailer are typical of the video game industry. This is because they are only showing the more ‘exciting’ shots in order to attract the audience. Also, as the institution Xbox is American, it represents the soldiers are positive and those ho are not negative or that we should be cautious of them.

Who does this text appeal to and what pleasures does it offer?

Due to its male speaker and images of male soldiers, it can be said that its key demographic are males of a d-B1 audience. Perhaps, those to aspire to go into war however they are too afraid of actually warfare; therefore it provides escapism (uses and gratification, 1974). Furthermore, for those who are anti-Islamic or of an Islamophobic nature would find pleasure in playing this game would gain affective needs (Katz, Gurevitch and Haas 1973). This is because they will get pleasure in violence against the countries the game is set in. 

In addition, it the text appeals o those are obtain what Maslow described as ego needs and social belonging needs. This is because when playing the game you are playing with others, therefore interacting and belonging to a social group of players, but also the game ranks people depending on their success in the game, which allows them to have some sort of status.