Game stalker It’s more than just the games…

Northern Echo Aims

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The Concept of the product

A games magazine with a focus on the issues with the games industry.

A magazine with a voice.

Dare I say a possible revolution!

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Expectations

No taboo/ age appropriate language and topics

Must appeal to readers Professional High quality print and journalism- quality

photographs and stories. No libel!

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The PCC The press complaints commission are responsible for

regulation of magazine based content. They produce the code which all journalists, photographers and editors must work by.

Will organise responses to coded issues with articles and imagery

Issues include slander, libel and unauthorised photography

This can also include information with court cases, working with minors and information on victims

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Keeping to the PCC My genre isn’t a risqué genre as such but could be

considered slanderous if not made clear in certain warning based/review articles

Since I am reviewing content and practices I must ensure content is made clear as my opinion.

All information I will use must be valid and checked

I am not working with children and will gain permission from all models and locations

I must avoid breaching codes like 1,3-accuracy and provide an ability to reply.

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Genre Research Games magazines are always generic and similar

Created a niche genre for gamers with thoughts

Alternate layout and cover to other gaming magazines through use of real models- uncommon of other magazines

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Inspiration My ideas are mainly inspired by deeper game

magazines like Edge and GamesTM.

When conducting genre analysis I focused on a range of casual and hardcore gaming magazines and found the hardcore magazines more enjoyable and therefore better to write

Plus I naturally like to complain and debate so why not combine the two?

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<-Masthead ->

Possible to have humans on front cover

Main sell line big and easily noticeable

Slogan

Big name game and character from said game.

Genre Analysis For genre analysis I had to analyse three double

page spreads from three separate magazines and two front covers.

This allowed me to examine many different techniques of layouts and article types.

Alongside content research I have a repertoire of articles I could take styles and layouts from.

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Audience- Just who is this magazine aimed at? This magazine is aimed at hardcore gamers

aged 16-24

They are in socioeconomic groups C2-B

Secondary audience of families and less knowledgeable gamers.

They spend most money on games, snack foods, energy drinks and media products

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How they have affected the magazine

The content is highly professional and informative

Tackles key game issues affecting the audience

Uses gamer jargon and is tailored to this audience

Much more text orientated in terms of layout

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Design choices Dynamic imagery to catch the eye of gamer

The modelled image on the cover represents a very large genre in the games industry- war shooters

Articles are clear, detailed and tackle a range of issues.

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The Mock Up Process Definition- the creation of two different variants on an article

tested by the target audience.

The process aided me in deciding on the design and tone of the article and just what my audience preferred.

The chance to experiment with different design and content ideas including colours, voices and expressions.

The chance to learn exactly what goes on in the head of my target audience

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Feedback from the audience

All are quotes from interviewees: “This looks like it was made for a newspaper” “Central image perfect for drawing attention” “Writing style much more appropriate on topic.”

Negatives- “White background uninviting/boring”- “More imagery”- “mention less on Aliens Colonial Marines (example)

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Feedback from the Audience

Positives “ I prefer the casual style of writing” “I approve of the pre-order checklist” “I approves of background even though it is slightly

bland”

Negatives- “Background colour does not fit article content”- “I don’t like the use of taboo”- “ Unfair reference to Call of Duty”

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Feedback conclusion Mock up 1 will be taken forward

Will try to include a break-out box to break up mass text

Will improve use of examples and avoid repetition of points

I will try to find a suitable background colour to compliment text and image though professional magazines usually don’t bother.

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The product

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What is

A gaming magazine dedicated to tackling the big issues in the games industry.

Research has shown that there isn’t a magazine dedicated to gaming issues and certain magazines only highlight them

This is a magazine designed to inspire change and reflect just what gamers feel.

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Game stalker?

BrandingFonts used:

Bronx bystreets– Is War the Answer?

Beware of zombies Contents (Banner)

Oh the horror Pre-Order Nightmares

Tree haus horror Contents (masthead)

American captain Low Budget Review

Burning wrath- main font for masthead and logo

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Colours:

Front- Cover Reflects cover story as all magazines would do.

Distinctive font for masthead that will become associated with the magazine.

Dynamic and powerful imagery reflecting the consumers power over the games industry. Also centralised like current covers.

Sell lines are set at diagonals to each-other

Highly alternative as models are used instead of directors or game characters.

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Contents Human approach as note and picture of editor are

included on the contents page.

Simple colour scheme of white, red and green.

Small banner to fill space and alert reader to the magazines cause.

Each story has own box allowing easy navigation of magazine.

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Article 1- Is War the Answer

Most ambitious photo-shoot as I plan to stage a 12 person war, 6 models as gamers and 6 models as soldiers.

Informative article on war games and their impact on games industry

Alternative layout in comparison to other game magazine articles.

Inspired slightly by Edge article on lack of change in modern military shooters.

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Images need scanning in

Article 2- Pre-order Nightmares This is a warning based article on the dangers of

modern pre-ordering and the tactics employed by games publishers when marketing.

1 central image reflecting emotion of the article and the impact on the gamers who are victim to bad pre-orders.

Lengthy, in-depth article which will appeal to the target audience but may not to the less knowledgeable gamers.

Article used in audience feedback/mock-up. Image needs improving and several improvements will

be made to current layout.

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Article 3- The Low Budget Review A generic review with a photographic twist Features all the standard conventions of a review

with a mix of voices, a review score and positive/negatives box.

Featured game- Grand Theft Auto 5, one of the biggest releases this year.

Photography will feature models and not game based screenshots.

The only image taken from internet will be the GTA V logo

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Commercial Viability Cost of production- roughly £10,500

Down to high number of models used

Can be lowered with further issues with less mob like imagery

Total profits (minus distribution costs) £9,314

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Journalists

Photographers

Models

Subeditors

Researchers

Lighting assistant

Make up assistants

Other

Estimated sales From advertising- £15,425 (covers production

costs) Cover price £1.50, cheap enough for all groups of

target audience to afford and covers the glossy cover

Estimated readership- 5000 hardcore gamers in the North East

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Rates

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Distribution Magazine features a glossy front cover with

budget quality paper (110 gsm-1)

Will be distributed to local supermarkets and a few local retailers to have maximum availability

Publisher will be Imagine Publishing- responsible for GamesTM, produce magazines aimed at same target audience as mine.

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In Conclusion… The USP for the magazine is that it is a gaming

magazine dedicated to the issues of the industry. With a wider focus on the gamers and not the

games. This approach was picked as I feel there is a lack

of opinion in the games industry and people need to speak out against it.

My product is self-financed and contains appropriate content and imagery that won’t offend.

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Thanks for listening

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