LO3: Review of Angry Birds 2

Angry Birds 2 Review

Angry Birds 2... A more complicated and tiring version of the original game, Angry Birds.

Angry Birds 2 comes under the 'puzzle' genre as the game requires intellect and thought as to where you should fire the birds to defeat those little menacing green pigs. The game requires you to defeat these pigs by firing the birds into the path of the various elements surrounding them like wood, glass and metal.

The storyline of Angry Birds 2 is exactly the same as the original version of Angry Birds. The birds have their eggs beside them and then all of a sudden they are taken by, what looks like defenceless, green creatures (pigs) who then scoot off in a hot air balloon from out of nowhere. The birds then have the task of recovering the eggs by, level by level, destroying all the pigs to move onto the next. However, every time you complete a series of levels and think you have retrieved all the eggs, the pigs still somehow manage to almost 'regenerate' and take them away again to the next batch of levels.

The birds that are available on this game are the original red bird, the bomb, Chuck (the yellow one), the blues (the three light blue birds), Matilda (the large white bird), Bubbles (the bird that expands) and Terence a.k.a. the larger red bird. The regular red bird has no extra special powers as it is the original, the bomb bird has the ability to drop bombs on the pigs below, Chuck is able to gather speed at the users request by tapping anywhere on the screen, the blues start off as one bird but again the user can hit the screen to dispose three smaller birds, Matilda has the ability to drop an egg onto the elements or pigs below her, this egg then explodes creating a marvel of mass destruction killing everything in its path (just kidding), Bubbles is a bird that inflates when the user taps the screen pushing out any pigs that may be trapped under the elements and somehow haven't died yet (yes that happens a lot, trust me) and finally Terence does exactly what it looks like he would do, he has the power to push through anything that would be in his way (to a certain degree).

Now to the game itself, the actual game is very similar to the original version of Angry Birds but with a few minor adjustments including the level designs, new boosts/bonuses and the fact that you now only have a limited number of lives before you must start paying for them!!! This is news that all Angry Birds are reluctant to take in. It's yet another trick from Rovio to make them even more money, as if they hadn't made enough already. From a neutral perspective it is disappointing news but really it gives me an excuse to actually put down the iPad for a change and go and play another game which has unlimited lives...

The target audience for the game was originally for a younger group but as the game gradually became more popular it has adapted into a game for all ages. Angry Birds 2 is available on iOS and Android devices currently through the iTunes and Google Play stores respectively. It doesn't look like any more merchandise is in line to be produced so thank goodness our eyes will be relieved from all the pencil cases, books, plush toys, hats, masks, paintings, cases, erasers, shoes, cake toppers, wallets, bottle caps and the list goes on. Hopefully Rovio don't milk it too much this year...

The game was released worldwide in July 2015. The critical reception of the game was very mixed; Angry Birds 2 disappointed critics slightly with its energy system and the fact that if the user ran out of lives, they would have to wait a day or two to re-gain some or either buy gems through the in-app purchases. However, the average reviews were around 6-7/10, with the game being praised for its step forward in puzzle design and excellent graphics. As the app is free to download, Rovio earn no revenue from app sales but rely on in-game adverts and on users buying the in-app purchases to make their money. A week after its release, Angry Birds 2 had been downloaded over 20,000,000 times, showing Rovio's success in the app developing market.

Overall I would give this game a solid 7/10 as the graphics and characterisation has most certainly improved the game from that perspective but what brings the score down is the fact that lives are no longer unlimited in one go. In my opinion this brings the game a negative feel but if you're looking for some quick fun to fill up your work break or some study break time then this is the game for you.

LO3: Angry Birds 2 Review (Plan)

Angry Birds 2

Genre: The genre of Angry Birds 2 is 'Puzzle' as the game requires intellect and thought to where you should fire the birds.

Target Audience: The game is designed for mainly a younger audience but has adapted into a game for all ages.

Platforms Available:  The platforms that this game is available on are iOS and Android.

Date of Release: July 2015 (Worldwide)

Critical Reception: Angry Birds 2 disappointed critics slightly with its energy system and the fact that if the user ran out of lives, they would have to wait a day or two to re-gain some or either buy gems through the in-app purchases. However, the average reviews were around 6-7/10, with the game being praised for its step forward in puzzle design and excellent graphics.

Earnings: As the app is free to download, Rovio earn no revenue from app sales but rely on in-game adverts and on users buying the in-app purchases to make their money. A week after its release, Angry Birds 2 had been downloaded over 20,000,000 times, showing Rovio's success in the app developing market.

Developer: Rovio Entertainment

Genre:

The genre of Angry Birds 2 is 'Puzzle'. The game requires the user to defeat the "Green Pigs' by firing birds into the path of the various elements surrounding the pigs.  

Narrative/Storyline:

The storyline of Angry Birds 2 is exactly the same as the original version of Angry Birds. The birds have their eggs beside them and then all of a sudden they are taken by, what looks like defenceless, green creatures (pigs) who then scoot off in a hot air balloon from out of nowhere. The birds then have the task of recovering the eggs by, level by level, destroying all the pigs in that level to move onto the next. However, every time you complete a series of levels and think you have retrieved all the eggs, the pigs still somehow manage to almost 'regenerate' and take them away again to the next batch of levels.

Characters:

This is the original selection of birds that are available on Angry Birds 2. 

[https://www.angrybirds.com/characters] 

Platforms:

Currently Angry Birds 2 is only available on iOS and Android but I wouldn't be surprised if Rovio expanded its market for the game to PC and web users.

Elements to break through: Wood, Metal, Glass, TNT.


Angry Birds 2. No it's not just the original version with a number stuck on the end of the title, there's more to this game than meets the eye. 

Task Work (Notes)

Convention =

Connotation (Positive/Negative) =

Hyperbole =

Task 2:

Second Person Address = You Can, You Will etc.

The effect that this has on the reader is that it makes them feel that they are having a 1 on 1 conversation with the reviewer. It gives them the feeling that the author is talking to them as an individual.

Task 3:

I have selected ‘The Verdict’ section. My favourite word in this section is “enchanting”. The whole game is being reviewed in this part of the review as it’s the end and is designed to sum up the whole piece. The author is advising the reader on whether to buy the product or not.

Task 4: 

The review would influence me to buy the game if I was a motor sport fan or if I wasn't sure if I was going to buy the game or not. 

Task 5:

Task1 Feedback

LO3: Game Review Plan

Wii Party

Genre: The genre of Wii Party is 'Family' as the game is designed for all the family to participate in and for everyone to have fun.

Target Audience: This game widely appeals to families (young or old) and in particular, younger children that are around 10+ years old.

Platforms Available: The platforms that this game is available on are Wii and Wii U. The compatible devices are limited as the game is only designed for one console.

Date of Release: July 2010 (in the UK)

Critical Reception: There were mixed reviews for Wii Party when it was released. Average ratings for the game were between 6-8/10. Most reviewers thought that the game was "faster and better" than Mario Party,

Earnings: As of March 2012, Wii Party had sold nearly 8,000,000 copies. With an average selling price of £25, that would put the earnings (before tax) at £200,000,000.

Developer: Nintendo

Angry Birds 2

Genre: The genre of Angry Birds 2 is 'Puzzle' as the game requires intellect and thought to where you should fire the birds

Target Audience: The game is designed for mainly a younger audience but has adapted into a game for all ages.

Platforms Available:  The platforms that this game is available on are iOS and Android.

Date of Release: July 2015 (Worldwide)

Critical Reception: Angry Birds 2 disappointed critics slightly with its energy system and the fact that if the user ran out of lives, they would have to wait a day or two to re-gain some or either buy gems through the in-app purchases. However, the average reviews were around 6-7/10, with the game being praised for its step forward in puzzle design and excellent graphics.

Earnings: As the app is free to download, Rovio earn no revenue from app sales but rely on in-game adverts and on users buying the in-app purchases to make their money. A week after its release, Angry Birds 2 had been downloaded over 20,000,000 times, showing Rovio's success in the app developing market.

Developer: Rovio Entertainment

LO2: Comparison of Reviews

Comparisons of Reviews

FIFA 16 (YouTube Review) – [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Nnu1s06858]

FIFA 16 (Online Review) – [http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-3247899/FIFA-16-review-PS4-Xbox-One-release-date-arrives-addictive-Ultimate-Team-finessed-features.html]

The video review of FIFA 16 was very clear and professional. He had to be professional as he was speaking to an audience that is expecting to learn more about the game. He also has to do this over the top of the gameplay which is very challenging as the game can be very fast paced so he has to keep up. The YouTube video would be more appealing to a younger audience as they would prefer to watch a video about the game rather than reading an article. As this is a video published to a social media site, users can comment on their thoughts of the game/reviewer. As the publisher of the video, you are required to interact with your viewers by either replying to comments or answering their questions on other social medias. A good thing about posting your video to YouTube is that you can cross promote your own social media links by leaving links to them in the description of videos or publicizing other products like games in exchange for revenue, in this case, EA Sports could offer to pay YouTubers to review their new game (FIFA 16) and show it in a positive light. You cannot get this kind of promotion through a news article.

The online article reviewer however has an easier job as they can re-write and re-draft their piece as many times as they like. They clearly explain the genre of the game and the audience it appeals to. However, the article explains the facts of the game in much more depth than the YouTube clip does. It allows the readers to learn more than just about the game they came to read about. Specialist vocabulary also helps to gain understanding about the game and its features. Going into detail of the cost of the packs to open to get new players; “You’ll need FIFA points to purchase the best players”, talking about new features being incorporated into the game, "Nine new stadiums appear from leagues across the world" and what the new game offers to new players, "It offers a learn-as-you-play tool with graphic prompts to help you press the right buttons".

Overall I would conclude that the online article offers the more information about the game for readers prepared to read an in-depth review bursting with facts and FIFA knowledge however if the viewer would like information verbally given to them and not on a page, then the YouTube review would be best for them.

LO1: Game Analysis Forms

FIFA 16 (PS4)

FIFA 16 is a user friendly football game that belongs in the genre of sports games. It expresses stylistic conventions of the genre as inside the game you can play with practically any major football team in a kick off match, in a tournament or on career mode. FIFA is widely acclaimed as the best football game on the market, practically down to its ‘ultimate team’ feature. This is where you can build your own squad by buying packs or players off the market and lead them into online games against friends or in tournaments. Another feature that has popularised the game is its ‘FUT (FIFA Ultimate Team) Draft’ mode. This is where you can choose a formation and players from a select group of for every position in the team.

There isn’t a specific story in many of the different features in the game. Only in the Career Mode option is there the opportunity for a story to be told but in all the other game modes like Ultimate Team you, the player, write the story. The story that is told throughout the career mode changes the gameplay in which you partake in. Say for example if your star player gets injured and you go out of the FA Cup, that changes the games in which you will be playing. As the more important teams in the division come up to play you become a lot more determined and focused as to what players to pick and what tactics to use. The story of the season brings the player (audience) closer to the game as they become more like a part of the team itself.

FIFA 16 was produced by the game developers. The in game player faces were developed by taking multiple photos of the actual players and combining them to form different emotions, speech types and faces. 

The players in the game can be relevant to the target audience as the players in the game could be from a team that the user supports. This would encourage them to use them more often in the game. The characters in the game can be role models of the users so could therefore appeal to the target audience. The characterisation has to be very specific as the players in the game are meant to replicate the players in real life, so the right stats have to be applied like pace, shooting and dribbling. The strength of the characters is dependent on how they play in real life. EA also carry out tests at the team’s training grounds to determine what stats the player’s cards have.

The challenge of FIFA 16 is to beat your opponent in the games of football, whether that is online, in a tournament or just for fun in kick off mode. The player can change the difficulty in which they play against; ranging from beginner to world class. Having a more difficult challenge engages the player more so they become more passionate about winning. The way in which the characters play to their specific cards is the main key to success. The better the players, the more they will be used by the audience. The gameplay engages with the narrative in the career mode as the story of the football season is told throughout the game. The gameplay is evolving only in terms of the gameplay. The game is exactly the same concept, every year, with only some changes to the gameplay, players and a couple of new features. Yet the loyal fans to FIFA still buy the game every year due to the game’s ever growing popularity. This could be down to people playing it on YouTube for example.   

The target audience for the game is males around 12-25. FIFA 16 is a game that can be played by any football fan but the younger adult audience seem to enjoy the game more. The game comes with free ‘packs’ which you can open to get new players and consumables. This would appeal to the younger audience as they’d like a head start in their ultimate team. The game appeals directly to the audience as the game is all about football and the fans are all “football mad”. FIFA 16 appeals to the target audience the most as it’s the game that all the other football fans play, it’s the game with the most features and the best gameplay.

This game is available on Playstation 3 and 4, xBox One and 360, PC, iOS and Android. The game is more suited for the PlayStation and Xboxes’ as you can control the game that you are playing a lot easier. The game is suited to the platform as you have the controls in your hand, but on iOS for example, you have the device in your hands which makes it harder to play.

Smashy Road Wanted (iOS/Android)

Smashy Road is an adventure game that requires skill and imagination. It was designed by app developer Remco Kortenoever. The genre of the game is Action/Adventure. It was one of the most downloaded free games in November 2015 so this shows that it is more popular than titles with a similar objective.

The story is that the driver of the vehicle is trying to escape the police by driving round the city trying to lose them. Ultimately the police never lose sight of the driver and every time you outrun the police for longer, heavier troops are deployed to try and stop you including helicopters and tanks. You receive more stars and points for the longer you stay away from the police. You receive one point for every second you avoid them and the more you damage along the way also, the more points you gain. The maximum number of stars you can receive is 6 stars but the amount of points is unlimited. Smashy Road is a game that you can’t complete; it runs on for as long as it takes for the police to catch you. As you get more into the game, you become more interested in the cars that you can unlock and how they can help you stay away from the police for longer. These cars can be unlocked with cash that you receive as a daily gift, for watching in game videos or in the game that you can collect them while driving. These cars are then given out for 100 cash a time randomly via a machine in the game, these cars range from Common – Legendary.

This game could have been produced by software such as Apple’s XCode IDE. The way in which the cars drive has been specifically matched to their aesthetics and features, for example the faster cars have better turning and the taller vehicles like the bus aren’t great at it. The physics and mechanics are specifically enhanced to match the cars, however the faster cars can sometimes go so fast that they glitch out and get stuck in the surrounding buildings.

The characters (the cars) could be relevant to the driving styles of the audience or could meet the users’ desires to be the cars they would like to drive in the future. The aesthetics of the cars usually appeal the most but it can also be the way that they drive, their speed or the bonuses that convince the users to use them in game. These bonuses are only available on the legendary cars however, they include gaining 5x more cash in game while driving, an extra life if you get caught and a truck that drops oil to make the police vehicles slide all over the roads. In my opinion the legendary vehicles are the strongest and the most fun to play with.

The challenge in this game is to outrun the police for as long as possible. You feel a slight adrenalin rush when you play this game as you feel like you’re breaking the rules and this would never be done in real life! There is only one level but in my opinion the cars are the levels. The more cash you gain, the more vehicles you can unlock. There are however different scenes like Egypt for example. The elements that are key to the games success are the new cars that you can unlock and the extra features that they can have. If the game only had regular cars but with a different design, this would be less appealing to the user.

The target audience for this game would be younger adults and teenagers who are into fast cars and driving games. The fact that the whole game revolves around fast cars makes this app immediately attractive for motor heads, young and old. The game isn’t as technical as other console games like GTA but nevertheless on the iOS/Android market I believe that it currently is one of the best and simplest racing games on the market.

Wii Sports (Nintendo Wii)

Wii Sports is a sport game that has been on the market since the launch of the original Nintendo Wii and it belongs to the sports genre. This title is one of the best selling sports games of all time, with 82.72 million copies sold worldwide as of September 2015. As Wii Sports is the original sports game it will always be considered as one of the best and one of the most influential games on the market as it gave ideas for other similar games to other developers for games like Game Party.

There isn’t a story in this game but there’s an objective, to either beat the CPU or a player that is playing with you. You can beat the records of yourself, your family/friends or the CPU. The gameplay is revolved around the characters and their movements in the games/mini games that are being played. The characters are the ‘mii’s’ that the users are playing with; which can be designed to look like the user in the wii menu.

A game like Wii Sports will have been produced using the Wii Engine. The mii’s and the other characters will have been developed and rendered with software such as Maya. All of the sports that are in this game have been physically and mechanically developed to suit the mii characters used. For example in the boxing ring it is going to be easier for a larger, taller mii to defeat a smaller, skinnier one.

The characters are relevant to the target audience as they can be customised to fit the specific features of the users. The appeal of the characters to the target audience is that they can use someone that is relevant to them in the game that they are playing. The costumes of the characters differ depending on which sport you are playing in the game; the clothes would change if you were playing boxing or golf for example. The characters are as strong as the users make them in the mii customiser. In the actual game the characters don’t look very strong, this could be due to their size or weight.

The challenge is to beat your competitor or the CPU in the sports games/challenges in the game. You can also try to beat your/your family or friends high scores in the challenges section. On top of this you can also try to improve your wii sport age by completing challenges measuring different aspects of your skills. There aren’t any levels in the main games but in the challenges mode there are three versions of the game, all ranging in difficulty. The games elements are family orientated and easy to use, this is why the game is so successful; people of all ages can play it and it’s very easy to pick up.

The target audience for this game is any family who is looking for an entertaining game that anybody can play. People of all ages are able to easily pick up the controls and the simplistic ideas of the games will appeal to this target audience in particular.  Wii Sports outsold other games in the same category at the time of release, as it was one of the first games on the entire Wii market. The popularity of the game is mainly down to its easy to use features and simple controls for all family fun.

The only platform that this game has been developed for is the original Nintendo Wii. The wii remote is perfect for this kind of game as there are hardly any controls that are required to work the characters.

                                                                Top Eleven (iOS/Android)

Top Eleven is a football manager game that allows you to take control of your own team. This game belongs to the sports category of games. It shows characteristics of the genre by having features like transfers, building stadiums and negotiations. Top Eleven is a very detailed football manager app and offers many qualities however it is not as gofod overall as a game like the Football Manager series. This is because as it is only available on iOS and Android devices, the users are not able to fully maximise the gaming experience. 

The story begins with your own side. You are placed in League Level 1 and must work your way up the leagues. You do this by winning the games in your league. If you finish in the top 7 teams in your league you are promoted to the next league up, you also get entered into the Cup for achieving this. If you also finish in the top then you are also entered into the Champions League. Just like regular football you play each team in your league twice; for every win you gain three points, for every draw one point and no points for a loss. The characters would be the players in your team, you have to look after them so that they don’t get injured or lose morale. If your players lose morale they become unhappier so won’t play as well. You can also interact with the assistant manager in games as they give you advice on tactics you should change or substitutions you should make.

As this game is for iOS/Android, it could have been produced by software such as Apple’s Xcode IDE, where you can build, edit, test and publish your own apps. This is a complicated process involving coding but it is a great method to produce a fully functioning app.

The characters are relevant to the target audience as they are in the team and under control of the user. The characters name and nationality can also be changed in the team page but at a cost of two tokens. The user can then match their dream player identically to them. The user can also train the players into having different roles to play on the pitch like DMC (Defensive Centre-Midfielder) for example. The players can also be trained to have a special ability like ‘Aerial Master’ or ‘Free-Kick Specialist’. The characters are stronger depending on their abilities and strengths. The higher a rating a player is, the better they are in the game. Abilities that decide this include speed and strength.

The challenge is that you’re playing the other similarly matched teams in your league that could be either better or worse than you. The objective is to beat them so that you and your team can move up the league and get promoted to the higher divisions. The higher up the leagues you go, the more difficult it becomes to win the league and games. You can help yourself and your team by investing and buying players from the transfer’s page. You can do this by the regular transfer market, from the scout or by negotiations from other managers. You buy the players with tokens and cash; the cash you earn from playing the game, the audience that come and watch in terms of ticket sales, from sponsors and you can also buy it from the store. The tokens you can earn from sponsors or you can buy them as in-app purchases. The gameplay is evolving the way you shape it, if you bring in new players, change the tactics or the formation then the team will play differently.

The target audience are any football fans. The age range is very mixed as from personal experience I have played matches against kids that look around 12 years old to fully-grown men that look about 50! The game would appeal to a male target audience more as stereotypically it is shown that men enjoy football more than women. The Top Eleven team constantly try to gain new members to their page by trying tactics like tweeting new offers or experiences, sponsoring YouTubers to make videos outlining the apps features and get them to play games against each other or releasing free items like kits of the football team that they sponsor, Biggleswade United.

This game is available for iOS and Android devices currently only. The game is best suited to this in my opinion as the menu and lay out are designed for smaller screens.