Audience and identity

 Motivation Model

What motivates gamers to play

  1.  Action 
  2. Social
  3. Mastery
  4. Achievement 
  5. Immersion
  6. Creativity


Age Rating
PEGI

Animal Crossing = PEGI 3

Not only do games contain an age rating, they also have content descriptions such as language, sex and violence.

Animal Crossing has a content description of online aspects. PEGI is only able to say what is there.
One way to appeal to a wide audience is to keep your age rating low. 

While the game content is regulated offline, it is incredibly difficult to regulate online, user generated content. 
While most players stick to the intended spirit of the game, there is little to stop users creating unsuitable content, only a basic swear word filtering in online communication.

Casual gamers - Dabble in games but in short sessions or infrequently 
Core gamers - regularly play video games, but are not super serious or competitive.
Hardcore - have high end equipment, play often and for extended periods of time, and often competitively.

What is the most common type of player for Animal Crossing?

Universal Appeal
All three types of gamers can engage with Animal crossing. It is this universal appeal that has lead to it becoming the 13th highest selling game ever.

Casual - intended audience for animal crossing. The hybrid functionality of the Switch allows casual users to complete quick tasks - such as harvesting fruit - on a commute and gradually build an island
Core - a 'time-travelling' function in the game allows users to adjust the game clock, these gamers advance through the seasons to collect all the items faster than regular players. Nintendo keep these controversial features in the game to appeal gamers who dont want to wait months to advance.
Hardcore - due to animal crossing  being released during the pandemic, some users spent excessive hours on this game during lockdown. Some users explored all the content intended to be experienced in years in over a few days.


Hearts of iron 4

Target core to hardcore gamers because the game needs long hours to be played, gamers who only play games in short sessions might not be interested in this game. Core/hardcore gamers who are willing to play games for hours at a time may take more of an interest.


Candy Crush 

Targets more casual gamers who arent going to be playing the game for hours on end, its a mobile game, people will play this game to pass time.

 The achievement motivates people to play this game as layers can level up, collect things and earn trophies, there are over 20,000 levels in candy crush. Candy crush also allows players to play with their friends which could also motivate people. 



Fortnite

Targets all three, games dont last that long so casual players may play now and then however you also get players who play on this game for hours and spend lots of money. The competition aspect (player vs player) of this game motivates people to play as you play against other people and you want to win. Fortnite has lasted over 7 years, the constant updates keep people playing as each chapter, each season is different and brings something new into the game. New weapons, new skins (celebrity skins, collabs with brands and other media eg star wars, spiderman ), new maps etc    


Animal crossing doesnt recieve updates 

Maintaining diverse audiences 

Quality
Updates
Achievements/goals
PEGI 3
Celeb endorsement
Digital Convergance 
Amiibos etc
Cross Platform

Pre-release marketing
Producer created content, such as teasers, trailers
Most companies use third party events to advertise 

Nintendo in typically subverse fashion, make short livestreams on platforms such as youtube to advertise games 
Nintendo Direct, State of play (playstation), xbox showcase 

DLC
large
Usually paid for 
Offers sigificant updates and content for the game 

PATCHES
Smaller
Fix bugs
small updates 
always free

CAGED- Appealing to a wide audience 
  • While games need to appeal to different types of player and motivation, they also need to target a broad audience - be it class, age, gender etc
  • Animal crossing has a diverse audience, partly thanks to its character creation which allows users to design, personalize and dress their in-game avatar to reflect themselves or - more interestingly - what they wish they could be in real life
Audie the fox


Audie the fox bases off of this grandma




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