Lecture Notes: Coronavirus Special Guide to Assassin's Creed 3 Liberation

Introduction

• Focus on the video game Assassin's Creed 3 Liberation.
• Relevant for students studying the Educas Media Studies A-level specification.
• Part of the larger Assassin's Creed franchise, a spin-off from Assassin's Creed 3.

Publisher and Distribution

• Published by Ubisoft, a large global company with extensive resources.
• Global distribution capabilities and significant marketing budgets.

Marketing Strategy

• Used gameplay footage in promos to show what the game looks like.
• Trailers included filmic sections to appeal to fans of big-budget AAA games.
• Posters had intertextual references to other Assassin's Creed games to attract existing fans.

Platform and Release

• Released exclusively on PS Vita, a handheld console.
• Tie-in with Sony and the PS Vita to boost demand for both the console and the game.
• Handheld gaming has been a growing industry with new technologies emerging over time.

Unique Selling Points

• Featured a female playable main character, Aveline, who is also mixed-race.
• Challenged typical video game gender and racial representations.
• Aveline depicted as strong and dominant which may appeal to female gamers.

Online and Social Media Engagement

• Utilized YouTube and social media to share gameplay tips and attract a global audience.
• Focus on maximizing profits through marketing and remastering for newer technology.

Remastering and Re-release

• Game was remastered in HD to leverage new technology.
• Engaged dedicated fans to purchase enhanced versions.

Gaming Conventions and Community Engagement

• Participated in events like Comic-Con to engage with fans directly.
• Created an interactive obstacle course for fans to experience the game physically.

Challenges in Game Regulation

• Digital distribution makes regulating video games difficult, enabling underage access.
• Discussed theories like Bandura’s Media Effects Theory regarding violence in games.

Game Rating

• Rated 18 by the Video Standards Council using the PEGI system.
• Rating due to violence perceived as unjustified and motiveless.

Narrative and Audience Engagement

• Game's narrative involves themes of slavery which may attract certain audiences.
  • Appeals to those interested in politics and historical events.

Additional Content

• Various downloadable content (DLC) available for extended gameplay.
• Incentives for purchasing main and spin-off games to unlock extra content.

Conclusion

• Overview provided in an easy-to-understand format, suitable for the current context of distance learning.