Minecraft, Distribution, Production, Circulation and Technology

Group research from Great Baddow High School Media

Games Consoles

Brands / Companies

• Sony
• Microsoft
• Nintendo

Sandbox Game

• Construction game.
• Minecraft teaches cooperation, team building skills.
• Also teaches programming skills.

There are dangers of some video games e.g. GTA expose children to violent and offensive material. 

External companies e.g. 'Rockstar' sell their games to companies like Sony so its not exclusive to one console.

Platforms

• Broadcast - TV, online, film.
• Online
• Print
• (some games are multiplatform e.g. minecraft on console, PC and apps).

Intro To Minecraft

• Minecraft developed from a basic online Lego game. 
• Now a massive multi platform game, play on different consoles as well as books and merchandise. 
• Open sandbox, multiplayer. 
• Started as 'indie' game, (independent) bought by Microsoft for 2.5 billion 2014.
• Critically and commercially successful.
• Independent to mainstream - sold 125 million copies sold in 2017.
• Created Marcus 'notch' Perrson and developed by Mojang. 
• These were independent, separate and not influenced by a big company. 
• As small independent products become successful, usually larger companies / owners want to buy them. 

Reasons for success

• Sandbox, infinite replay-ability. 
• Platform agnostic (play on any platform).
• Co-opted by children, made a household name. 
• Fulfills human purpose to bring order to chaotic wilderness. 
• Strong social community, share ideas, open worlds as well as java code sharing so players can view each others modify worlds. 
• No genre. 

Video Games Intro

Video games - A game played by electronically manipulating images produced by a computer programme on a monitor or other display.

Genres

• Sport - Wii Sports
• Kids - Cooking Mama
• Fantasy - Assassins creed
• Sci-fi - Star Wars
• Action / adventure - COD, Halo
• Horror - Slender man
• Strategy / construction (sandbox) - Minecraft
• Simulation - Sims
• Puzzle solving - Big Brain academy
• MMO (massive multiplayer online game) - World of warcraft
• FPS - COD

Terminology

Platform - Different formats games are available in, such as IOS, PS4 and Xbox.
Cross media platform - Games available on more than one format.
Conglomerate - Large media companies that own smaller media companies e.g. Disney.
Developer - People or companies that own smaller media companies i.e. Sony.
Digital distribution - Making the game available to audiences e.g. Steam.
Engine - A system designed for the creation and development of video games e.g. 'unreal'.
PEGI - Pan European Games Information - age rating system for regulating video games.
Designer - People or companies who bring the concept of the game to life.
RPG - Role playing game.
MMORPG - Maximum multiplayer online role playing game.
FPS - First person shooter.
Event release - Hyped date used heavily in marketing of new games.
Triple A game - An informal classification used for video games with the highest development budgets and levels of promotion.
Open world - Players free to roam in a virtual game world.
DLC - Downloadable content.
Sand box - Style of game that allows the user to change the world around them whenever they want.

Minecraft Timeline

Minecraft essay

Minecraft Essay

What is it? What is the game’s history and why has it been a commercial and critical success?

Minecraft is a game developed by the Swedish based Mojang Studios, the game is sandbox themed meaning it involves simple instructions in order to play it which is to ‘explore, mine and build’. Players simply need to log on and create and shape a world around them by building structures from an array of different materials coming in the form of cubes, as there are no specific gaming instructions or objectives like other games for example ‘halo’ which has more specific objectives to fight and kill, as well as instructions on how to specifically perform tasks unlike Minecraft which relies solely on the controller and their own personal creativity, as they are free to explore the games environment. The game come with two modes known as ‘creative’ or ‘survival’, with the creative gameplay mode being arguably more sandbox themed than the survival mode, as in creative gameplay the controller is free to explore the world and craft with extra abilities such as flying, having unlimited weapons and resources compared to survival where you must hunt and mine and gather resources yourself in order to survive with limited lives, as well as craft objects to better your chances of survival. These modes were key to Minecraft’s success as the ‘creative’ mode gives the player ultimate freedom to express their creativity and craft a whole world around them.

The Swedish creator of Minecraft, Markus ‘Notch’ Perrson began creating the game in 2009 after being inspired by other games such as ‘Dwarf Fortress’, a single player construction and management game, however Perrson wanted to create an RPG (role playing game) version. There are some similarities between ‘Dwarf fortress’ and Minecraft as the game has no main objectives and also features two different game play modes ‘fortress mode’ similar to survival mode and ‘adventure’ mode which is similar to creative mode. However, Minecraft features some elements different to ‘Dwarf Fortress’ as it doesn’t include more than one character in survival mode that has certain skills and dislikes and likes, as it solely relies on the opinion and creativity of the controller, making the game a RPG compared to ‘Dwarf Fortress’. After the initial release of Minecraft, it wasn’t commercially viable as it was viewed as a niche and advanced product in the market that was only purchased and played by gamers with expert knowledge of programming and software. Because of the game not having the commercial backing from a mainstream publisher and no money spent on advertising, the game heavily relied on it being spread through word of mouth on gamer websites such as the ‘Penny Arcade’ web comic, which was a success as the beta version of the game by January 2011 had received over one million purchases in a month and by the following April Perrson had made an estimated $33 million in revenue. Later that year in November prior to the games official release Minecraft had over 16 million registered users and 4 million purchases.

The games success and popularity meant it became available across a multitude of platforms including PC, Xbox and PlayStation making the game a commercially viable franchise with increased interactivity. Shortly after its release it then became available as a ‘pocket edition’ on Android and IOS devices with Sony Xperia Play and Xperia phones gaining access to this edition first, making the game highly accessible for players when they were outside the house as it is in their pocket and not at home on their PC or games console. By 2012 the game became available for Xbox 360 and Xbox Live making the game more interactive as it was multiplayer and gamers could play together through the screen and talk through headsets. Furthermore, in 2013 Minecraft Pi edition was released and was a more educational version for new, inexperienced players and programmers, and by 2014 Microsoft acquired $2.5 billion for the game and by 2015 the game had sold 30 million copies across a variety of platforms and formats.

The game has been distributed over the app store and google play store in the form of its pocket edition on tablets and smartphones, or can be purchased online on outlets such as PlayStation Network or Xbox Live Arcade, with the recent additions of the Nintendo Platform which was excluded from the games initial release back in 2012 and instead was available in December 2015, and then as a physical copy later on from June 2016 and then most recently the Nintendo Switch and 3DS in 2017, showing that Mojang is effectively distributing its product by keeping up with new technology and spreading across to newer platforms to reach new, younger gamers as well as their existing market. A new version of the game was recently made available via ‘Steam’ and is known as ‘Story mode’ which is aimed more at younger gamers, to encourage them on to Minecraft and help them learn the fundamentals of the game, which can be overwhelming for novice gamers even though the game has no instructions or objectives, as the player has to take complete control of the world on their own, helping players become independent.

Overall, the launch of the game Minecraft by Mojang was extremely successful as the game has sold over $30 million copies across a variety of platforms and has made over $2.5 billion on Microsoft alone. The game also received many awards on its release which include an innovation award, Best debut game, best downloadable game, audience award and Seumas Mcnelly grand prize.

Radio 1 Breakfast Show Presentation

Radio Production and Distribution Podcast

• What are the different responsibilities of presenters and producers?

Have to get up early to prepare the show, producers get in for 5am and prepare for tomorrows show and get it planned in the first few hours and write a brief script and structure for the shows. Producers create idea for main show as well as concept of 'hot food' ideas to add in to the show at low points. Team meetings to plan what to do in shows and what to say based on big guests. The producers have to create the show and the presenter must deliver it, important for producers to get along and understand each other. There is an expectation of how many listeners and viewers there should be but no pressure and more emphasis on content from the managers, however some shows may not be as great as other shows for any reason, but could be due to changing guests and quality of vibe, however you must include topics and music that the audience wants in order to be popular and set listeners of for a good morning, but the show structure is flexible for the presenters and producers to feature elements they want. However the music is already chosen by the music team.

• What preparation that goes into each programme?

Get into the studio for five am for last minute prep for that days show and also plan the show for the next day as well as discuss the guests and brief the guests for the topics for that days show, and to not swear and mention brands. Also make sure that the equipment is up to a high standard and that the sound levels are good, in the morning of a show try to fill in gaps and blanks of that show by coming up with list of ideas referred to as 'hot food'. The celebrity guests are sometimes chosen by the BBC go on, or are requested by presenters and producers to come or spotted at local events to come on, but the presenters can choose to an extent. However bad/difficult guests can leave early if they aren't entertaining and giving closed answers, however guests usually come on to promote new stuff they are releasing. 

• Whats most challenging and enjoyable about working on the show?

The most challenging part is getting into the studio early in the morning as well as always have info and topics to talk about in the shows as well as the unexpected things that can happen in the live shows and therefore decisions must be made quickly this can lead to panic and a frenzy, which is why trust is essential. The enjoyable parts is feeling inspired from new producers and meeting new celebrity guests as well as learning new skills as you go, as well as forming close friendships with those at work, however when doing the show you constantly think of the show and it becomes part of lifestyle. 

• What are the team dynamics like?

The team of producers are a close knit family that understand get along with each other as they create the scripts together and hold meetings to discuss ideas for future shows, however the producer positions can frequently change due to freelance producers which helps bring in new ideas however the presenters stay the relatively the same for long periods of time to build up close relationships. The closeness of the presenters and producers is essential for creating a welcoming and warm vibe for the show. 

• How can you break into radio?

By doing student radio and learning communication skills to build experience, however approaching people in the radio industry asking to get involved in some projects and being persistent and keep trying as there are people interested in finding new ideas. Radio includes more than just speaking on the radio there's lots to do with marketing, social media and getting guests on as well as writing scripts and the equipment. For presenters to get as much experience as possible like student radio and finding out what qualities you like in other presenters and key characteristics they have that makes you want to listen to them, as well as finding out what you like to talk about and your favourite topics for example music and fashion and maybe you dislike football and sports as talking about things your passionate about will make you a better presenter. 

Industry Vocab

BARB - Broadcast Audience Researchers Board

• Organisation that compiles audience measurement and television ratings in the United Kingdom. Participating viewers have a box on top of their TV to track the programmes they watch.
• This is useful to the media industry as it allows brands such as the BBC and ITV see which programmes are most popular and see what their audience is most interested in so they can incorporate it into more of their other shows or discontinue less popular shows and show off more of their popular ones. As well as update programmes to suit viewers tastes as public opinion is constantly changing.

Webcasting License

• If you operate a service that that streams sound recordings online e.g. radio then a webcasting license is required. Webcasting involves two exclusive rights of copyright owners : The reproduction of the sound recording for the purpose of creating the webcast programme and the communication of those sound recordings over the internet.

Technological Convergence

• As technology evolves and changes different technological systems evolve toward performing similar tasks.

Web 3.0 / Semantic Web

• A proposed development of the World Wide Web in which data in web pages is structured and tagged in such a way that it can be read directly by computers.

Internet Of things

• The interconnection via the internet of computing devices embedded in everyday objects, enabling them to send and receive data.

Binge Viewing

• Watch multiple episodes of (a television programme) in rapid succession, typically by means of DVDs or digital streaming.

DAB - Digital Audio Broadcasting

• Digital audio broadcasting is a digital radio standard for broadcasting digital audio radio services, used in countries across Europe, the Middle East and Asia Pacific.

Traditional Media

• Television, radio, newspapers, magazines, newsletters, tax press and other print publications.

Google Analytics

• Google Analytics is a freemium web analytics service offered by Google that tracks and reports website traffic. Helps businesses understand their website viewers and customers better.

RAJAR - Radio Joint Audience Research

• Official body in charge of measuring radio audiences in the UK. It is jointly owned by the BBC and the Radio centre on behalf of the commercial sector.

NRS - National Readership Survey

• A joint venture company in the UK between the Institute of Practitioners in Advertising (IPA), the Newspaper Publishers Association (NPA) and the Periodical Publishers Association (PPA). It provides audience research for print advertising trading in the UK. The survey covers over 250 of Britain's major newspapers and magazines, showing the size and nature of the audiences they achieve. It classifies audiences in a number of ways, one of which is the NRS social grade.

Cultural Imperialism

• Critics of cultural imperialism commonly claim that non-Western cultures, particularly from the Third World, will forsake their traditional values and lose their cultural identities when they are solely exposed to Western media.

Democratisation Of The Mass Media

• Mass media today are regarded as one of the key democratic institutions which are vital in improving the quality of the electoral system, political parties, parliament, judiciary, and other branches of the state, even civil society, and safeguarding their democratic performance.

Effects Of Piracy

• Recent research by Ipsos suggests that almost 30% of the UK population is active in some form of piracy, either through streaming content online or buying counterfeit DVDs. Such theft costs the UK audiovisual industries about £500m a year.
• This reduction of revenue caused in part by piracy has also resulted in studios and production houses making less adventurous choices when it comes to films – just think of the prequels, sequels and remakes hitting screens this summer. Similarly, streaming television content illegally has a huge effect on the business.

Horizontal Integration

• The process of a company increasing production of goods or services at the same part of the supply chain. A company may do this via internal expansion, acquisition or merger. The process can lead to monopoly if a company captures the vast majority of the market for that product or service.

Vertical Integration

• The combination in one firm of two or more stages of production normally operated by separate firms.

Diversification

• Defining characteristic of media firms and products in the new millennium. There was a time when media companies concentrated on their core business, whether through management decision-making or government mandate, and when there were fewer distribution channels available to media producers.

Alternative Media 

• Media that differs from dominant or established types of media in terms of either their content, production or distribution, this type of media can take many forms including print, audio, video, internet and even street art. Examples include counter culture zines of the 1960s, ethnic and indigenous media such as the First Peoples television network in Canada (re branded as aboriginal peoples television network)  another example is online open publishing websites such as Indymedia. 

Independent Media 

• This refers to any form of media such as radio, television, newspapers or the internet that is free of government or corporate influence/interests. 

Difference Between Independent and Alternative Media 

• Independent media is media that is not part of a large corporation and alternative media is a piece of media with a specific point of view that is applied to its story/what its trying to express. Alternative media also doesn't share traditional views, alternative media is independent media, however independent media may or may not alternative depending on how traditional its media coverage is. 

Conglomerate

• A media company/business that is a conglomerate owns numerous companies involved in mass media enterprises such as television, radio, publishing, motion pictures, theme parks or the internet. An example of a well known conglomerate is Walt Disney.  

GRA - Games Rating Authority

• The GRA sets game ratings that are mandatory under the UK law. The GRA is part of the video standards council which rates games using the PEGI system, games with a rating of PEGI 12, 16 or 18 cannot be sold/hired by anyone under the age of the rating. 

PEGI - Pan European Game Information

• PEGI is an age rating system used on games, they provide a reliable recommendation of the suitable age for a certain game in order to prevent minors. The age rating takes into account the content of the game and not the difficulty of the game.
  
  
  
  Mediawatch UK
• A pressure group in the UK which campaigns against publication of media content that is viewed as harmful and offensive such as violence, sex, profanity, homosexuality and blasphemy. The pressure group was originally known as the National Viewers and Listeners Association and was founded by Mary Whitehouse in 1965. 

IPSO - Independent Press Standards Organisation

• Is the largest independent regulator of the newspapers and magazines in the UK and exists to promote and uphold high standards in professional journalism, and to support members of the public in seeking redress where they believe that the Editors Code of Practice has been breached. The editors code deals with issues such as accuracy, invasion of privacy, intrusion into grief, shock or harassment. IPSO is also able to consider concerns about editorial content in newspapers and magazines and about the conduct of journalists. 

Watershed 

• The watershed was set up by ofcom and includes strict guidelines that is designed to keep children from seeing harmful material such as violence, sexual content, graphic or distressing imagery or swearing. Programmes which contain this material must be shown later in the evening when children are least likely to watch it. On free to air television the watershed runs between 9pm and 5:30am and on premium channels it starts slightly earlier than 8pm through to 6am. 

Ofcom - Office of Communications

• The UK government approved regulation and competition authority for broadcasting, television and postal industries in the UK. 

BBC charter 

• Is the constitutional basis for the BBC, it sets out the public purposes for the corporation, and guarantees its independence. The BBC's new charter commenced on 1st Jan 2017 its key aspects include...
• Ofcom to be external regulator of the BBC
• The government to provide 'guidance' to ofcom on the content requirements for the BBC
• A new 'unitary board' including four members and a chairman all appointed by the government and nine BBC appointed members to consider any complaints. 
• Editorial decisions to remain responsibility of director general. 
• The possibility of production of independent companies to exist across all channels except from the news and some parts of current affairs. 
• The national audit office to have a stronger role in looking at how the BBC spends its money. 

Synergy

• Where different media companies cooperate advantageously for a final outcome. its known as 'the strategy of synchronizing and actively forging connections between directly realted areas of entertainment'.
• New technologies support this process e.g. web, DVD and downloading. Media institution exploit various platforms to sell various products related to one film e.g. film and soundtrack and video game).

PSB - Public Service Broadcasting

• Refers to broadcasting intended for the benefit of the public rather than to serve commercial interest. Ofcom requires certain television and and radio broadcasters to fulfill certain requirements as part of their license to broadcast. All of the BBC's radio and television stations have a public service remit, including those that broadcast digitally. 

Broadcast Code

• Created by ofcom is rules and guidelines that radio and TV programmes in the UK must abide by. It exists to prevent viewers and listeners being exposed to harmful and offensive content but also ensures that broadcasters have the freedom to create challenging programmes. 

IWF- Internet Watch Foundation 

• A registered charity based in Cambridgeshire, its remit is to minimize the availability of potentially criminal internet content specifically images of child sexual abuse and criminally obscene adult content in the UK. The IWF works in informal partnership with the police, government, public and internet service providers.

Radio Research

• Who was first ever breakfast show presenter on Radio 1?

The first ever presenter was Tony Blackburn who held the position for nearly 6 years. 

• Other DJ's who presented the show?

Zoe Ball 1998

Sara Cox 2000

Chris Moyles 2004

Nick Grimshaw 2012

• Biographical info on Nick Grimshaw?

Nick got his first job in Radio 1 in 2007 September presenting BBC's youth stand 'switch' with friend and fellow DJ Annie Mac. Before Nick did the breakfast show for radio 1 full time he did do the weekend breakfast show from Oct 2008 to May 2009 and from 2010 to 2012 was the main stand in presenter for Scott Mills on the show and on the 11th of July 2012 it was announced that he would then be the presenter for the breakfast show. 

• Current listening figures for the breakfast show?

4.93 million listeners a week between July and September 2017.

• Who is the controller of BBC radio 1?

Ben Cooper

• How is radio 1 funded?

Its funded through the TV license which is charged to all households and companies. 

• How does radio 1 try and be distinctive?

Its remit aims to entertain and engage a broad range of young listeners through contemporary music and speech, and achieves this through playing current chart music talking about current celebs and media scandals as well as interviewing celebs. Radio 1 also has a you tube channel where they show their performances and interviews of guests on the show. 

• What is the difference between BBC radio stations and commercial stations?

Large commercial stations typically reach the largest audience, normally the interviews and shows are pore recorded and can be cut down into sound bites, these larger stations jump on stories involving celebrities and scandals.

Smaller commercial stations tend to do longer interviews which are more in depth as bits are not cut out which means that the guest can promote their brand and tell the audience where to find more information e.g. at their website which drives the traffic to the right place unlike larger commercial stations which may cut this bit out. Smaller stations are also more friendly and up for a chat compared to larger stations however its often harder for a smaller station to sell their big stories.

The BBC radio stations are very different to commercial stations as they are strict on brand mentions, they are only allowed one brand mention in each interview and its likely the guest will be cut off if they mention it more than once and therefore the guests are strategic.  BBC mid mornings often do live chats with more brand opportunity and the interviews often a better than their pre recorded clips and are therefore popular among listeners due to the high quality chat and experienced broadcasters. BBC breakfast stories and interviews have different tones during different times of the day e.g. in the mornings there's more serious news stories and mid mornings more casual chat and other stories have specific themes to their stories. 

Radio presentation

Radio 1 breakfast show lesson 1 from Great Baddow High School Media