Task 1: developers and publishers

Research the following game developers/publishers:

Rockstar Games
Background: Founded in 1998 based in New York City
Owner/founder: Terry Donovan
Most successful games: GTA (grand theft auto)
Interesting fact about the institution: On GTA V, Rockstar games spent a sum of 300 million dollars and received it all back only on pre-sales. 

EA (Electronic Arts)
Background: Founded in 1982 based in Redwood city
Owner/founder: Trip Hawkins
Most successful games: The Sims
Interesting fact about the institution: Their most successful game (The Sims) is the worlds most successful pc game ever and they have been awarded 5 different Guinness world records.

Zynga
Background: Founded in 2007 and based in San Francisco
Owner/founder: Mark Pincus
Most successful games: Farmville
Interesting fact about the institution: Zynga is named after the found (Mark Pincus') dog.

Nintendo
Background: Founded in 1889 based in Kyoto Japan
Owner/founder: Fusajiro Yamauchi (founder) & Saturu Iwata (Global President)
Most successful games: Mario
Interesting fact about the institution: 4 of the top 10 selling games is Produced and Developed by Nintendo.

Sony Computer Entertainment
Background: Founded 1993 and based in Tokyo Japan
Owner/founder: Andrew House
Most successful games: Tekken
Interesting fact about the institution: The playstation was the result of a failed collaboration between Sony and Nintendo  

Task 2: Advertising agencies

Look at the following advertising agency websites:

W+K Amsterdam

1. What do the letters stand for? (Clue: look at the very bottom of the website)                                         Wieden and Kennedy
2. What brands have W+K Amsterdam advertised?                                                                                    Heineken
3. In your opinion, what is the most creative campaign on their website?                                                   I believe their most creative campaign is their new Coca Cola campaign, which is about connecting four people from rural areas in the world (including Palestine) in the world cup.
4. What videogame campaigns have they created?                                                                                    Fifa
5. What additional information can you find out about the FIFA14 advertising campaign?                            The rapper Drake promoted fifa14 and his album at the same time during FIFA14 advertising campaign                         

Rokkan

1. How long has the Rokkan advertising agency been around for?                                                               Since 2000
2. Where is Rokkan based?                                                                                                                      New Jersey
3. What brands have Rokkan advertised?                                                                                                  Canon Cinema EOS
4. Why was Rokkan's campaign for the videogame 'Dishonored' so successful?                                             They took a unique idea and title and made it to one of the most talked about games in the world
5. Who was the publisher for 'Dishonored'?                                                                                                Bethesda softworks

Task 3: Regulatory bodies

PEGI

Visit the PEGI website and have a look around. 

Now click on the FAQ section of the website and answer the following questions:

1. What is PEGI and where is PEGI based?                                                                                                 Pan European Game Information is a European video game content rating system.
2. How does PEGI rate games?                                                                                                                Self Regulated                                                                                                                                Eight content descriptors                                                                                                                    5 age categories                                                                                                                                  The descriptors advice the suitability and content of a game for one of the 5 age categories. 
3. What are the age classifications used by PEGI?                                                                                      3+ 7+ 12+ 15+ 18+
4. What are the seven aspects that PEGI look for when giving a game a rating (e.g. violence)?                   Content of the game, violence, bad language, fear/horror, sex, drugs, gambling, discrimination and online.
5. What is PEGI online? What does PEGI online regulate?                                                                            PEGI online regulates regulates the content and suitability for games made and put online.

ASA

Visit the Advertising Standards Authority website and have a look around. 

Now click on the About section of the ASA website and answer the following questions:

1. What is the ASA's mission?                                                                                                                   ASA's mission is to ensure that advertising in all media is legal, honest, decent and truthful, to the benefit of consumers, business and society.
2. What are the ASA's values?                                                                                                                  

   Our values

   Our shared values are to be:
   • Consistent and proportionate
   • Reliable and ethical
   • Fair and respectful to all
   • Accessible and helpful
   • Intelligent and thorough, but also timely and proportionate
   • Open and accountable, acting with integrity and never being afraid to admit when we’re wrong
   • An excellent team, inspiring excellence in each other
   Our external stakeholders will also find us:
   • Independent in administering the Advertising Codes
   • Evidence-based, targeted and consistent
   • Reflective of society, not a social engineer

Now click on the Rulings section of the website. This is where the ASA reports on recent complaints and whether they upheld the complaint or rejected it.

Choose one of the complaints and write the following:

1. The company that was advertising:                                                                                                      Paramount Pictures UK
2. Why someone complained:                                                                                                                    He/She thought that this game would be too scary and distressing for kids and it was put before a game on a children's website
3. Whether the complaint was upheld and why:                                                                                          Upheld
   The ASA considered the overall tone and the content of the ad, including in particular the scene of two young girls with a ghostly appearance and no eyes speaking in demonic voices, was likely to cause harm and distress to children.

If you complete everything in class, choose another complaint and write about what it involved and whether it was upheld. Do you agree with the ruling?