Videogames: Horizon Forbidden West - Language & Representations

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Introduction

Read this review of Horizon Forbidden West in the Financial Times (should be non-paywalled but you can read the text of article here if needed). Answer the following questions:

1) Why does Guerrilla Games have 'a serious case of bad timing'? 
Horizon Forbidden West, another phenomenon arrives on its heels to suck away all the oxygen, Elden Ring.

2) What is the narrative for the original game Horizon Zero Dawn? 
Hunter-gatherer fighting robot dinosaurs across a post-apocalyptic US

3) How is the central character Aloy described? 
Guerrilla struck gold with flame-haired heroine Aloy, who balances grit and tenderness as one of the most memorable new characters of its console generation. 

4) What is the narrative and setting for sequel Horizon Forbidden West?
The games take place a thousand years after rampaging machines have wiped out most of humanity. Survivors have clustered into tribal communities who view relics of technology as objects of either suspicion or religious reverence.

5) What does the review say about animation and graphics?
The games take place a thousand years after rampaging machines have wiped out most of humanity. Survivors have clustered into tribal communities who view relics of technology as objects of either suspicion or religious reverence.

6) What do we learn about the gameplay and activities in Horizon Forbidden West? 
Forbidden West’s gameplay offers robust, satisfying combat beneath its good looks. Aloy’s movement feels ultra-fluid as she deftly transitions between sliding, climbing and making use of new tools such as a grappling hook and paraglider.


Answer the following questions:

1) How is narrative, character and setting introduced in the trailer?
It is presented as a world building and conflict narrative. Aloys character is showcased as a strong and determined leader

2) How is the game's open world / sandbox genre shown in the trailer? 
There a variety of settings shown with deserts and jungles. There is also smooth camera movement that travels the viewer through the environments as if they are there themselves climbing mountains and swimming

3) What representations can you find in the trailer? 
Human v technology, tribes and new civilisations, Representation of Aloy as strong fearless women

AQA recommends watching the following gameplay trailer in their CSP booklet:


Watch the gameplay video and answer the following questions:

1) How does the game use media language to communicate ideas about narrative and genre?
Cinematic camera movement  and visuals, epic music score, environment sounds (animal calls, winds brushing trees)

2) What representations of people, places or groups can you find in the gameplay video?
Aloy- strong female leader, Tribes- uncivilised and savage, the forbidden west- dangerous and ruined

3) What audience pleasures are suggested by this gameplay trailer?
Diversion- escaping to a different reality and combat/fight scenes
Personal relationship- gamers want aloy to succeed in her quest
Personal relationship- the sandbox genre has gamers playing as aloy and they get to make their own choices

Narrative and genre

Read this excellent Den of Geek article that addresses elements of narrative and genre. You can find the article text here if the link is blocked. Answer the following questions: 

1) Read the opening to the article. How can we apply Steve Neale's genre theory to Horizon Forbidden West?
They introduce HFW as a sequel to Horizon zero dawn and says that it is very different from its predecessor. That is repetition and difference as a sequel is keeping the same themes but it has added different spins to keep players engaged.

2) How many copies did the Horizon Zero Dawn sell and why did this influence the design of the sequel?
Horizon Zero Dawn has reportedly now sold over 20 million copies However, there have been people (including fans of the original game) who have spent the five years since Zero Dawn’s release asking for changes.

3) How does the article criticise the story in Horizon Forbidden West? 
Horizon Forbidden West Sometimes Struggles to “Go Bigger" The problem is that Forbidden West spends a bit too much time letting a small army of side characters spout what sometimes feels like an endless amount of exposition. 

4) What do we learn about the gameplay? 
best storytelling moments in the game happen when you take a little time to look around and really think about how and why this somewhat primitive world was built upon the ashes of a high-tech “advanced” society

5) What is the article's overall summary of the game?
it’s important to take a little time to appreciate a few of the many ways that this game does clearly respect and learn from its predecessors’ most notable missteps. 

Representations

Race representations in Horizon Forbidden West


1) How does Horizon Forbidden West use narrative to create a fully diverse cast of characters?
Narrative about using AI named GAIA rebuilt life on Earth, with the genetic diversity of humanity, but without the history and societal structures that underpinned racism in the 21st century. It’s a clever narrative move to let the developers pack the game with people of all skin colours.

2) What is orientalism? 
Orientalism is a type of racism in which “the West” projects savagery and beauty onto “the East,” or the Orient

3) How does the article suggest orientalism applies to Horizon Forbidden West? 
Orientalism is embedded at the core of Forbidden West’s narrative of exploring exotic lands. Protagonist Aloy’s Orient is the “Forbidden West” itself: the present-day southwestern U.S. and California, filled as they are with foreign tribes, religions, and customs. Aloy is both an explorer and a (white) savior.

4) Who is the player encouraged to identify with in the game and how does this influence how representations are constructed?  
To identify with Aloy and support her mission to save the planet.  It influences a players views on different culture, tribes and people and this then fuels a lot of the racism

5) Finally, what did the writer of the article (an Asian American) feel when playing the game?
They felt that the game portrayed Asian cultures threating, mysterious and foreign

Gender and videogames

Focusing on Aloy and the representation of women in videogames, read this Forbes feature on the topic. Answer the following questions:

1) What is the debate regarding Aloy in Horizon Forbidden West? 
 It’s true that Guerilla Games went out of its way to make Aloy a more “normal” heroine, not looking like “a Victoria Secret model.” And yet this has sparked a debate about whether Aloy is actually “hot” or not

2) What examples are provided of other female characters and representations in videogames?
Bayonetta, Lady Dimitrescu and Chun-Li

3) What are the issues facing the videogame industry in terms of gender?  
retaining women employees and treating them well within gamedev. And there have indeed been female characters created entirely within a male gaze.

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