Tuesday 2nd October- Analysing Games

As a homework task we were told to find a screenshot of a game which included at least one figure and some recognisable scenery (not just open space). We were then told to analyse the screenshot. 

Analysing Games

The image above is the screenshot which i am analysing 

Its from the game Enslaved Odyssey to The West

Recording the details

Designer/Team: Ninja Theory

Publisher: Namco Bandai

Title of work: Enslaved: Odyssey to the west

Date it was made/published: 2010

Genre: action-adventure

Target audience: 13+

Formal Elements

Composition

Focal point: The main focus of the image is on the main character, Monkey. As he’s in the foreground and different colours have been used for Monkey contrasting him with the background.

Geometrical shapes: There aren't very many clear shapes in the screenshot. It includes an arc which forms the foundation for a part of the bridge in the background. Rectangles are used to form the skyscrapers which reside in the very background.

Symmetry/Asymmetry: The screenshot isn’t symmetrical or asymmetrical, the character is placed slightly to the left of the centre of the image and the background features are different on each half of the picture. (E.g. there are buildings on the right hand side, forming a city and further forward to the left there is a bridge.

Methods used to lead the eye around the work/scene/gamescape: Very bold and bright colours have been used to lead the eye to the main character that is standing on a lit up blue coloured disk. The water also draws attention as it’s creating a trail behind the character which is relatively high.

Space/Depth

Effects created (to create a sense of naturalism, to give an illusion of great distance, to limit picture space): There is a lot of space around the character to create a sense of distance and naturalism as the main character is in the foreground therefore the large space which has been used for sky places the character closer to the audience.

Colour

Main colours used: The main colours which have been used are blue, white and green.

Cool and warm colours: Mainly cool colours have been used, with the main block of colour used for the sky. It creates a very fresh and open atmosphere.

Effects colour creates: The light blue colour creates a very uplifting feeling as it brightens up the image, the use of lilac, light blue, white and green creates a very effective water texture.

Light

Chiaroscuro (contrasts of light and shadow) or even lighting: A contrast of black, white, blue and purple creates a realistic water texture.  

Atmospheric light (what mood is created): The bright lighting used for the sky creates a feeling of awe and contentment. There is very little dark lighting used in the image.

Style

Realism/Expressive/Minimal: The screenshot is realistic as the graphics are highly polished and the most of the physics in the picture are possible, for example although the bridge is damaged there is enough of a foundation to hold it up. However, one physic which has been broken is the fact that the main character is on a floating disk, but the game is set in the future so therefore this could still be possible.

Influences and Context

Other designers/periods/genres/mediums/historical influences: The story which the game follows is based on a novel called Journey to The West by Wu Cheng'en; in China it is renowned for being one of the four great classical novels. Two characters, Monkey and Tripitaka, which coincidentally are the same names as the game characters have to travel across a landscape, the novel was written in the 16^th Century and therefore it is an important part of Chinese culture. The fictional novel has influenced Chinese religious beliefs, as it tells the story of a Buddhist monk called Xuanzang whom goes on a pilgrimage to India in search of sacred texts. The game follows a similar plot in that the main characters are both on a journey in search for answers. Monkeys' character design is also based on the Monkey king from the novel as he shares similar features. 

(Sources: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enslaved:_Odyssey_to_the_West

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Journey_to_the_West)

Subject, Theme and Meanings

Describe the subject (what is obvious in/about the game?): What is obvious about the picture is that the main character is trying to escape from something as he’s coming towards the audience and away from the city scape behind him.

Characters (how are they represented?): There’s only one character shown in the image, whereas in the game itself there are actually 2 main characters. The character in the image is portrayed as having a physical strength; this is shown by his muscular physique. He also appears to be the type of character whom travels a lot and keeps on the move as he is standing on a disk which allows him to travel on water. The main character also radiates a sense of loneliness and isolation as he’s the only one in the image and there are no other signs of life. His expression seems to depict a sense of anger and determination, he has a purpose and objective so he’s going to fight for it.

Setting: The fact that there is water surrounding the main character and very little land implies that some sort of event has caused the world around him to fall apart. This is also shown by the bridge which has growth on it and the sheets of metal which have been put together to try and keep the bridge together.

Mise en scene (character, costume, make-up and hair): The character is the screenshot is dressed in some tight brown trousers, red coloured gloves, golden boots, wears a metal headband and no shirt. His costume suggests that he doesn’t come from the environment which he now inhabits in the image as his outfit looks like it’s been improvised. His trousers suggest that he’s athletic as the skin tight material provides the ability for a larger range of motion and the brown colour implies that his main environment is in a forest or woodland area as this is where they would blend in to provide camouflage. The boots and gloves appear to be made out of some sort of metal which is a very tough material used for protection and definitely not something which would be used for comfort, so he’s more than likely a soldier, warrior or someone equivalent to this type of persona. His hair is white and all spiked up to a single point which makes him look imposing.

Describe the content (what is it ‘about’?): The fact that he’s moving away from a scene of abandoned structures and ruins gives the impression that he’s making a bid for freedom and possibly attempting to suppress certain memories of a previous way of life.  The post-apocalyptic landscape in the background gives the impression his future survival is going to be extremely challenging and his journey ahead, perilous.

Explain any ideas that the work is expressing (historical, political, social, and cultural): The image appears to express that whatever political system they had in place no longer exists, due to the city ruins (bridge) and the freedom which the main character has. It gives the impression that an almost state of anarchy prevails throughout the image.

Personal Responses

What feelings does it provide? : The picture makes me feel free and provides me with a sensation of happiness and contentment as there’s a lot of open space surrounding the central character. It also delivers a feeling of sympathy for the character as he’s the only one in the image and therefore must be lonely, but also the ruined landscape suggests that his way of life has now completely changed and he can’t turn back because there’s nothing to turn back too.