Genre – what type or category of game is it?
Content - the way it looks and why. Its styling – words, images, sound, colours, fonts.
Construction - the way in which it is structured and how the interaction is constructed.
Narrative conventions – the type of story / gameplay you’d expect.
Common Codes – the ingredients and special features they have in common.
The Last of Us
Genre:
- Action-adventure,
- Survival horror
The Last of Us is a very serious survival horror game where you are forced to go on action filled adventure. Games like this one are either played alone or with another person.
Content:
- Realistic
- Dark
- Dim
- Gloomy
- Asymmetry
The game is realistic with high level of detail. Everything appears worn and dirty and is presented in a dim and gloomy surroundings. We see damaged settlements and people (even children) carrying weapons in order to survive. Colours are dark, lacking saturation. The sounds match the graphics. Title's font looks simple yet damaged. The camera angle quite often shows us the asymmetry, nothing is straight/simple, but rather out of order, distorted.
Construction:
- Realism
- More of a horror than game (cutscenes)
- Depressive
The game's overall look is realistic with a lot of creepy surrealism regarding infected life forms. This and the dim colours all create a very depressive atmosphere; no one is happy for long. The Last of Us has many interactive cutscenes which make the game appear more like a horror film than a video game. The same cinematic experience goes with other similar titles, like the Walking Dead. This and other games alike rather appeal to older teenagers and more mature audience who aren't scared of them.
Narrative Conventions:
- Complex
- Exploring
- Non-linear
- Problem solving
- Survival
I expect a game like that to have quite complex, non-linear story, which would have multiple endings depending on the choices made during the main story. The Last of Us has that as well as interactive cutscenes, which you partake in (altering the outcome). In and outside of the story there is a lots of exploration which combined with survival creates an ideal combination for games like this. I expect that the survival part is also crucial to progress, and it's followed by problem solving (eg. lack of food, limited or no bullets, finding new shelter).
Common Codes:
- Open world exploration
- Atmospheric/Tragic
- Jump scares
- Story driven
- Apocalyptic
Similar games such as Walking Dead do share this tragic story with characters facing various difficulties after their lives rapidly changed. The most important part in these games is their story, which usually can be altered by different choices you make along the way. The atmosphere is very serious as the time the story happens is during some sort of apocalypse (in The Last of Us is some fungal plague, in Walking Dead are zombies, etc.). Because of all of that, the gameplay is filled with thrilling moments, often leading to a jumpscare.
Just Dance
Genre:
- Rythm
- Dance
Just Dance is definitely a party game. All that is done is just dancing in rythm to mostly pop songs and looking at sceneries taken from music videos based on these songs. Games like that are usually played in a group.
Content:
- Cartoonish
- Bright
- Flashy
- Over the top
- Central
The overall graphics are cartoonish in some manner. Characters all have quite realistic clothes but they themselves are simple - white with barely visible facial features. Every feature including clothes, scenery and other post production effects are flashy and over the top. The point of interest is central, everyone is the centre of attention, doing their best. Sounds also go with the bright settings, even though there are multiple songs exclusive to given levels, most of them share similarities with each other. Title font is simple, but quirky, seemingly wanting to wiggle rather than stay still in place.
Construction:
- Interactive
- Second Person
- Linear
- Theatrical
The game is very unique, as you experience it in second person - you. It's fully interactive, registering your whole body moving. All the silhouettes seen appear as they would on stage; everything is arranged in a theatrical manner. There is a lot of happening, yet faces appear blank, allowing the player to imagine themselves in the game. The game (and similar ones) attract younger audience, but predominantly teenagers who like socialising.
Narrative Conventions:
- Abstract
- Linear gameplay
- Physical
- Simplistic
Games like Just Dance don't have story. The closest to the story they can get is the action sequence and settings of the each individual level. The narrative is basically abstract, which fits well with the visuals of the game. Apart of the variety in music and gestures, the overall gameplay is linear, there is only one way to complete a level/story - by making the right moves. And this aspect in this and other repertoire games is very physical.
Common Codes:
- Repertoire
- Pictogram guidance
- Multiple musical levels
- Every song a different story
- Clear Pictograms
Just like other similar games (eg. Dance Dance Revolution or Guitar Hero) the game is one whole repertoire. Every song we dance (or play) to is an entirely different story by itself. Apart of that, there is no other story, just abstraction. Players can choose from a wide library and be guided by simple pictograms, which rhythmically follow the melody, telling the player what to do next (in Just Dance you make a pose, in DD Revolution and Guitar Hero you press the buttons).