Question 1

Lego Movie game and Gears of war

Analyse the two video game covers commenting on:

Visual Codes

Layout and design

Genre

The Lego movie video game was released after the famous Danish company introduced playing blocks to young children and ventured out into movies to expand their market. This video game cover has many visual codes to lure its audience. There is pathetic fallacy used in this front as it is set at night signifying the mystery and action portrayed in this shot. The protagonist at the front of this shot is in a very bright everyday working uniform representing that he does not do this often and this conflict is out of the norm. This also signifies some parts of the storyline within the game that every day people are protecting their world from the antagonist destroying the city behind him. The everyday worker attracts attention to himself due to his smirk expression setting an enigma code of what is he thinking?. He is made out to look very mischievous, also with the spanner in his hand in the style of a gun makes it seem like a threatening weapon however is probably just a tool he uses at work. This signifies his everyday life however is still fighting for his city connotes conflict. The placement of the female character in the background portrays the male gaze as she looks very harmful and threatening.The iconography of the placement of the spanner is effective as he is holding it like a very harmful weapon, almost similar to the gesture of the Gears Of War protagonist. Although it is CGI, the deep shot into the city reveals many conflicts and shows the depth of the action and the chaos behind the protagonist, this shows the audience what to expect in the game, this visual code is effective as it makes the front cover very busy releasing a lot of information about the game.

Gears of War is an action video game aimed at older teenagers with the main theme revolving around war. The visual codes are used very well to communicate to their older audience. The lighting of the front cover is very dark and pathetic fallacy is used to much more of a degree compared to the Lego movie as it is almost pitch black apart from the fire surrounding the back which is lighting them up. It is made to look like they are underground almost hidden from their enemies; this is encoded from his aggressive expression the protagonist and him kneeling down conveying his body language is very low. The iconography of the gun is held at a position ready to fire with his finger on the trigger sets an enigma code. Another icon to this genre is that all the characters are men in front of a fire lit background. It is also made to look more dangerous by setting it as a multi purpose gun by having a chainsaw on there as well. The skull above the title looking down on the male characters represents they are the bad guys in the war and ready to kill from the threatening weapons. The bulky protective clothing suggests they are at war and always ready to be attacked, this costume is very dark which connotes they are hidden and trying to remain unseen from their enemies. In general the visual codes are taken to a darker extent with gears of war compared to the Lego videogame due to its difference in audience.

The layout and design of the Lego movie is very busy with the different characters. The antagonist in the background destroying the city sets a negative view on him straight away to the audience representing he is the bad guy they will be against in the game. The branding is very strong in this front cover having the brand logo off Lego in the top left which is what the audience is used to seeing with the normal red black white and yellow coloured font, however next to this they have the full title of the movie The Lego Movie Videogame, this is cleverly designed as it is made to look 3D and is made out of Lego pieces therefore promoting their other product at the same time. The rating, placed in the bottom left of the video game states the games rating is pending, the audience it is attracting is under 18s however they are promoting conflict therefore needs to have a lower bracket, so should be 12+. They show this target market age through the bright primary colours they use on the characters and in their branding. The intertextuality of batman on the roof of the in the right third of the front cover portrays a hero, especially with the white spotlight on him which draw attention to him; this creates an enigma code to the audience. His stance is very strong representing his power and authority over the antagonists.

Gears of War layout and design have many similar features such as the strong branding across the header of the game with XBOX 360 with the logo aswell. Ot also states Only on XBOX 360, this sets a mark of quality and creates and exclusiveness unique selling point to its audience. The layout of the two men behind the protagonist suggests they are on his side protecting his back signifying the element of trust. Which is in contrast to the Lego video game as the antagonist is right behind the main character, which sets more of an enigma code. Another similarity is the stylised title of Gear Of War, almost looks like it has been shot through, and takes up a third of the front cover. The rating which is undefined like the Lego videogame, should be aimed at older teenagers such as 18+ as they are promoting death and murder at war therefore they should be aiming at an older demographic which is obvious because of their choices with the genre of front cover they have produced. The older aggressive men in Gears of war suggest and older audience compared to the smirk younger characters of the Lego videogame.

The genre for the Lego videogame is action however is toned down due to the objects used on the front cover such as a spanner instead of a gun, they are promoting conflict however in an imaginary world compared to gears of war where they are promoting conflict that is actually true to life and happening in the real world today therefore audiences might think it is acceptable.