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Describing different interactive media products

SOCIAL MEDIA: Instagram

GAMES: Dead by Daylight

ENTERTAINMENT: Netflix

Games - Dead by Daylight

Purpose - Entertainment

In terms of purpose, Dead by Daylight (created by a company called Behaviour Interactive) is a 4v1 survivors vs slasher based game, involving a range of characters to play as that have their own unique perks and abilities. As a survival horror game, it's purpose is to entertain. The aim of the game for the 4 survivors is to fix generators scattered across the map to power the exit gates and escape the killer without dying. The killer's aim is to use their abilities to hunt down the survivors and put them on sacrificial hooks: other survivors can get their teammates off hooks. Each survivor can be hooked twice without dying. On the third hook, the survivor dies. The aim is to sacrifice all of the living survivors to the "Entity".

Dead by Daylight is a heavily lore based game, having survivors and killers with abilities and perks that link back to their backstories. As a whole, the game follows a main storyline, which is survivors and killers being taken to the realm of the entity to participate in trials and to be sacrificed over and over against their will.

in terms of marketing, Dead by Daylight is mostly advertised on platforms where it is available to download, such as Steam, Epic Games, Xbox, PlayStation, Nintendo Switch and even mobile.

In one of the updates for Dead by Daylight, Behaviour Interactive stated in the patch notes that they will implement a marketing attribution software to help the company better understand the effectiveness of their advertising. In other words, Behaviour Interactive will be collecting data from players and using it in a way that helps them advertise their game better.

behaviour Interactive has set up multiple social media accounts to promote Dead by Daylight and uses it to advertise their game: Advertising on social media is beneficial for a game publisher such as Behaviour Interactive as it allows their advertisements to stay relevant to the people that may be interested in purchasing a game such as Dead by Daylight (because of the conventions of the game, the genre, etc.)

Delivery platform

Dead by daylight is available to download and play on several platforms, including PC (Steam, Epic Games), console (PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch), and Mobile. Across PC and console players, DBD is a cross-platform game, meaning that people that play on other devices may join your game.

As for mobile players, the game differentiates from the PC and console version (The PC and console version are very similar, the only difference being the controls due to the controller/keyboard). On mobile, the mechanics are remotely similar to PC and console mechanics, however, due to the fact that it is a mobile game, the game functions differently. The game itself is very different to the PC / console version, having fewer maps, different skins and character cosmetics and different screens.

Design and components

In terms of design components, BHVR have incorporated elements into their game that depict the horror and survival genre very well. Starting off with the layout, the DBD menu / loading screen starts with a panning shot of a campfire with survivors sat around it surrounded by dark trees in the dark. The camera then pans to the selected killer watching them in the distance on the right hand side of the screen. This screen alone instills fear for the player, establishing that the game has horror elements.

At the bottom of the screen, there is a variety of options presented in the style of a navigation bar: There are several options for the player to choose from and it is easy for them to navigate. The icons are presented as scary, worn out and scratchy to add to the element of horror.

In terms of the text, the font is very simplistic, being in all capitals for a sense of seriousness and only being a solid white colour. This might have been done to contrast from the dark themes of the game to represent a shed of hope for survivors. On top of the text, there is the noticeable DBD logo, that shares the appearance of a tally with 4 skulls above the main lines. This was done to represent the 4 suffering souls in the trials in the game.

In Dead by Daylight, there are a variety of character animations that can be seen throughout the game: Animations differentiate depending on whether the player is using a survivor or a killer. For example, when playing as a survivor, there are very basic walking, sprinting, and crouching animations that are always almost noticeable. There also additional animations that may not be seen in other games, such as chest opening animations, unhooking animations, hook scream animations etc.

As for one of the mechanics in the game, there is something known as the second 'hook stage', in which the player is required to complete a series of skill checks until one of their fellow team mates come and save them. There is a distinctive animation that plays when a skill check has been performed unsuccessfully.

Interactive Features / Controls

As mentioned earlier, there is an interactive navigation menu select screen, where players are given the ability to select one of the six main options given: there are 6 other options given that are presented in a smaller font to show how they are secondary options.

As well as the menu screen, there is a separate settings page to view and edit key bindings for both PC and console. There are 2 of these menus for both killer controls and survivor controls. From both of these menus, you can view and edit the settings on your keyboard and also edit the controls on your mouse.

In terms of other interactive activities, PC players have the ability to use something known as the pre-round and post-round chats: Survivors can chat before a match starts and after a match ends (the killer can use the post-match chat only to talk to survivors). However, with these chats, certain words and phrases are censored. There are other interactive abilities in game, such as skill check (a quick time event) that requires you to press a button on time so that you do not fail an action, such as healing other survivors and fixing generators.

Benefits

In terms of the benefits in Dead by Daylight, I have broken the down into 4 categories: mobility, interactivity, accessibility and targets in identified audience. Starting with mobility, the game is very easy to navigate around for players. From the menu screen to actual gameplay, the game will always guide you and inform players on what button needs to be pressed / what task must be completed.

In addition to DBD's mobility, the game will also inform you on the amount of generators left to be complete in order to escape. A symbol to represent the "hatch" will appear for the last survivor to inform them that it has spawned and is an available route to escape. In newer updates, the game also tells you and your teammates what hook stage each survivor is on: there are 2 tally lines next to each survivor's player icon. When highlighted, those tally lines will indicate what hook stage that survivor is currently on.

In terms of interactivity, as mentioned earlier, the whole game is based around interactivity: completing tasks such as fixing generators, healing teammates, etc. The game also relies on audio cues and a lot of other audio based signals, both for survivors and killers. without sound, the game would be difficult for both sides.

Dead by Daylight is very easily accessed, and can be easily accessed on many platforms such as PC, console and mobile. As mentioned earlier, it is available to play on Steam and Epic Games (PC), IOS and Android (Mobile) and PS4, Xbox and Nintendo Switch (Console). For platforms such as Epic Games, there was a time in the past where DBD was available for free to download and play for a short period of time.

DBD targets a very specifically made target audience, as it follows the genre and conventions of horror and survival games. The game follows the recurring the theme of slasher vs survivors similar to classic slasher horror films.

Limitations

In terms of limitations for Dead by Daylight, there is a required storage amount for players when downloading the game (the size will vary depending on the platform it is being downloaded on). This means that the download speed / time it takes to download will also vary.

Assuming that these download sizes are for the original game (with no additional downloadable content), the size of the game will vary as players may purchase DLCs and other content as BHVR is constantly updating the game. Players require more storage space throughout playing DBD for updates and upcoming content.

Stadia, a service that allows you to download and play DBD, has announced that it will be shutting down soon. In response to this, BHVR posted on twitter about what their next steps will be:

Effectiveness

In terms of effectiveness, DBD and BHVR as a company does a good job with information flow and supporting players through social media. There are several official and verified DBD social media accounts that frequently post and advertise their content. Their posts range from cinematic videos, photo and video teasers for upcoming content and chapters, and informative posts regarding bugs, patches, etc.

In terms of benefits, there are constantly offers for DBD chapters and other content such as skins. There is the option to buy Auric Cells (an in-game currency that can be bought with money) and there is also the option to purchase chapters (most of the time, this includes a survivor, a killer and some additional content such as charms) as another way to spend money instead of using Auric Cells.

Legal and Ethical

In DBD, there are a lot of legal and ethical issues to be addressed due to there being many licensed survivors and killers. Dead by Daylight has been considered the "Smash Bros. of horror" due to the range of licensed horror characters in the game.

In terms of licensing, DBD would have to contact the owners of certain characters asking for permission to include them in the game. Due to how well known the majority of the licensed characters are, the way that DBD might have to gain permission to include them is to pay a fee to the owners of the character(s).

Although there are many licensed characters in DBD, a licensed chapter was recently removed: In September 2019, DBD introduced the Stranger Things chapter, including Steve Harrington and Nancy Wheeler as the new survivors as the Demogorgon as the new killer. As of November 2021, all of these characters have been removed from Dead by Daylight due to BHVR's license to use the Netflix IP expiring. Since then, the Stranger Things chapter has been unavailable to purchase. However, players that had previously purchased the chapter or any of the characters will of course get to keep that character.

Social Media - Instagram

Purpose - Entertainment, Promote, inform, Educate

Instagram is a social media platform that allows users to post images and videos founded in 2010 by Kevin Systrom and Mike Krieger, and was later acquired by Facebook inc. It is currently owned by Meta Platforms. The service allows people to create accounts and set up a profile (that can be either public or private). Private accounts allow users to approve of accounts that can access their posts and view their account. Public accounts are open to any accounts.

This social media platform allows users to upload media that can be edited with filters and organized by specific hashtags, making it easier for a specific audience to find certain posts.

Delivery Platform

Instagram is not only a mobile app, but is also available on a variety of delivery platforms. For example: There is a website that can be accessed on any device. In terms of the application, it is available on Android, iOS and Fire OS.

Due to the fact that there are 2 versions of this platform, both application and website, the layout on both will be slightly different to each other. The application would be easier to navigate due to its accessibility compared to a website version.

Design and components

In terms of design and components, Instagram's layout is constantly changing with updates. As of right now, Instagram (Android) has a task bar at the bottom of the page with 5 different options. These options (right to left) allow you to view your profile, view the Instagram shop, Search for tags / users / posts etc. and view your home feed. There are icons at the bottom of the screen to specify these options.

In general, Instagram has a very simplistic layout that is easy to memorise for new users to user. It is easy to understand and use and helps users find what they need to with ease.

In terms of the home screen, it takes users directly to their home feed where they will be met with posts from their followers, posts that are under hashtags that the user follow, and recommended posts based on other posts the user has liked. At the top of this feed page, users will be brought to a row of circular icons that display 'stories' from their account and also from other accounts (accounts that a user follows).

Instagram is a platform that allows users to post images, videos with audio and animation, and a range of different file types. You can view all of an account's posts by viewing their profile, where you can read their bio, name, see their profile picture, and view posts they have been tagged in. You can also differentiate between the file types of their posts, due to there being a video and photo icon for each post depending on the file type. If multiple files have been selected for 1 post, then there will be a folder icon.

Interactive Features and Controls

Instagram has a variety of features and controls to help users navigate around the app / website: most of these features are very simple, as most of the time they follow similar conventions to other websites and social media apps. As mentioned earlier, there are icons at the bottom of the screen that each serve their own purpose. interacting with these icons will take the user to a different page each time.

In terms of control, users generally have a lot of freedom when it comes to personal preferences; for example, users have the option to change their Instagram to either dark or light mode, they may also customize their profiles with some limitations, etc.

During significant events, Instagram will sometimes introduce story stickers that can be used by profiles. They can use these stickers for their story, and it will exclusively show up on a personal story: stories that contain one of these stickers will appear for users that follow accounts that have used the sticker in a single story.

Benefits

Similarly to how I structured the last media product, I have structured this section into 4 parts: Mobility, interactivity, accessibility, and if it targets in an identified audience. beginning with mobility, Instagram as a whole is a very easy platform to navigate. Because of how complex Instagram can be for some users (most likely new users), it might be seen as confusing for some users when using Instagram for the first time. However, users that have had experience using Instagram would understand the ease of navigating around the app. If the user desires to change their personal app / website preferences, it can easily be found in the settings menu where they will be brought with a variety of settings.

Moving onto interactivity, Instagram is mainly accessed through interactivity: using icons and other options available on Instagram, the user can get to where they want / need to with ease. The whole app / website is revolved around interactivity, with options being available all the time for users. There are times, however, when users do not need to interact with a certain page: Instagram Reels is a good example of this, as it uses a similar concept to TikTok. once the user accesses the Reels page, they are brought to a series of videos that can be viewed one by one by sliding up and down (scrolling if on the website). very little interactivity is necessary here, as it only requires the user to scroll.

Instagram can be accessed on very few platforms: the main way that Instagram is accessed is through mobile devices (Android, iOS and Fire OS). As well as this, Instagram also has a website version, which can be accessed through search engines on mobile devices and Windows. Another benefit is that Instagram is available in 32 languages, meaning that it can be accessed by a wider range of people around the world. Having a large list of available languages to choose from on Instagram is beneficial as it allows more people from around the world to connect.

In terms of target audience, Instagram does not necessarily target an extremely specific audience: The target audience can be considered very broad, as it is the content that users provide that makes Instagram available to different target audiences. Instagram is only a platform that is ran by users that have the option to post content that optionally have the choice to use hashtags and promote their posts to an audience. Because Instagram is a platform for communities and many people of different ages, genders and backgrounds, it does not have an identified target audience.

Limitations

In terms of limitations for Instagram, there is a required amount of storage needed for users to be able to download and use Instagram in its application format. This, however, differentiates between how users choose to access Instagram, for example, iOS users require more storage than Android users.

iOS users require a minimum of 231.3 MB, whereas Android users require 50.22 MB. Additionally, Fire OS users only require 50.3 MB to download and install Instagram.

Not only is file size a limitation to a select amount of users, Instagram has also received a lot of negative reviews due to its effect on young teenagers mental health. Since its release, Instagram has constantly been receiving many negative remarks due to it damaging the body image of mainly young girls effectively giving them body dysmorphic disorder. As well as this, a study with evidence shows that Instagram users have displayed higher levels of depressive and anxious symptoms compared to non-Instagram users.

Effectiveness

In terms of effectiveness, Instagram does a good job at keeping the platform flowing with updates and adding additional features, such as the story sticker feature mentioned in the Interactive features section of this report. Instagram also tends to users' potential needs, as they have a support page where users can access and resolve any potential issues they are experiencing with Instagram.

As mentioned, Instagram is good at keeping the platform flowing: This is because they have an official social media page set up for Instagram as a whole, where they keep their users updated on information regarding the app or anything that is relevant to Instagram.

Instagram contains several benefits depending on the user, for example: Small (or even big) businesses can set up official social media pages that not only promote their own business, but also promotes Instagram as a way to attract more businesses. These businesses can use relevant hashtags to promote their content to a more specified target audience. If these businesses want to promote their content even further, they can pay to find even more members of their audiences. Those posts will appear as ads for users.

Legal and Ethical

In terms of legal and ethical issues, Instagram has a community guidelines FAQ page where they have strictly stated that they remove posts that promote hate speech, bullying or abuse. Instagram's community guidelines also follow other guidelines in regard to what is legally and ethically okay for them to have on their platform, for example: Posts that contain explicit content or posts that promote dangerous behavior, posts that encourage online scamming or gambling and abuse of contraband and drug misuse. If a post is not recognized as one of these offences, users have the option to report the post. Depending on how many reports the post receives, Instagram may or may not look into it and decide to remove it or not.

Entertainment - Netflix

Purpose - Entertainment

Netflix is an American media-services provider and production company headquartered in Los Gatos, California. It was founded in 1997 and is now one of the world's largest online video streaming platforms. Netflix provides a subscription-based service that allows users to watch television shows, movies, documentaries, and other original content on internet-connected devices.

Delivery platform

Netflix is available on a variety of delivery platforms, including: Smart TVs - Netflix can be accessed on a wide range of smart televisions from brands such as Samsung, LG, and Sony, among others. Streaming Media Players - Users can access Netflix on streaming media players like Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, and Google Chromecast. Gaming Consoles - Netflix is also available on gaming consoles such as Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and Nintendo Switch. Mobile Devices - Netflix has dedicated apps for iOS and Android devices, allowing users to stream content on their smartphones and tablets. Laptops and Desktops - Netflix can be accessed on web browsers, making it available on laptops and desktops.

Design and Components

Since Netflix's initial release (1997), they have gone through 4 different logos and page layouts. The previous layout had bright colours and backgrounds, whereas the newer layout has a much darker / black theme. Netflix, as a website and app, has several design components that contribute to its overall user experience:

Navigation: Netflix has a simple and intuitive navigation structure, with the main menu options being "Home", "TV Shows", "Movies", "My List", and "Recently Watched". Recommendations: A key part of Netflix's design is its personalized recommendations system, which uses algorithms to suggest content based on a user's viewing history and ratings. Accessibility: Netflix is committed to accessibility and provides options for users with disabilities, such as closed captions and audio descriptions.

Interactive features and controls

Netflix offers a range of controls, such as being able to add and edit individual profiles for every member using an account: These profiles can be customised and will also offer recommendations to the user based on their interests and other shows that they have watched and enjoyed. Including the wide variety of shows, movies and ability to create profiles, Netflix also offers shows that contain features that the user can interact with.

Netflix's interactive features allow viewers to interact with certain shows and movies by making choices that determine the outcome of the story. This is achieved through a combination of branching narratives and multiple endings. The controls for these interactive features are typically built into the Netflix app and consist of on-screen prompts that prompt the viewer to make choices at key points in the story. The viewer can typically control the narrative through a combination of clicks, taps, and voice commands, depending on the device being used. Some popular examples of Netflix's interactive content include "Black Mirror: Bandersnatch" and "Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt: Kimmy vs. the Reverend".

Benefits

There are several benefits to using Netflix, including:

Convenience: Netflix is a streaming service that allows you to watch your favourite shows and movies from the comfort of your own home, or on-the-go using mobile devices.

Wide selection: Netflix offers a wide variety of content, including original series, movies, documentaries, and more.

Affordable: Netflix's monthly subscription fee is relatively low compared to cable or satellite TV, making it an affordable alternative for many people.

No commercials: Unlike traditional TV, Netflix's content is commercial-free, allowing you to enjoy your shows and movies uninterrupted.

User-friendly interface: Netflix's user-friendly interface makes it easy to find new content, create watchlists, and pick up where you left off.

Personalization: Netflix's recommendation engine takes into account your viewing habits to recommend new content that you are likely to enjoy.

Limitations

There are several limitations to using Netflix, including content availability: The availability of content on Netflix can vary depending on your location and can change frequently. Some popular shows and movies may only be available in certain countries or may be removed from the service altogether.

As well as this, Internet connection is also a limitation: Netflix requires a stable and fast internet connection in order to stream content without buffering or lag. Limited 4K and HDR content must also be considered when assessing the limitations of Netflix: While Netflix does offer some content in 4K and HDR, the selection is limited and may not be available for all devices. Limited offline viewing: Netflix currently only allows a limited amount of content to be downloaded for offline viewing. This feature is not available for all shows and movies, and may be subject to restrictions. Furthermore, we can consider the limited control over playback on Netflix: Netflix does not allow users to adjust playback speed, or change audio and subtitle options for all shows and movies. Subscription-based model: In order to access Netflix's content, you must have an active subscription, which may not be affordable for everyone.

Effectiveness

Netflix has been highly effective in revolutionizing the way people consume television and film content. With its user-friendly interface, affordable pricing, and large library of content, including original programming, it has become one of the most popular streaming services in the world.

In terms of its business model, Netflix has effectively adapted to the changing market by expanding its original content production and investing in new technology, such as 4K and HDR video, to provide a high-quality viewing experience for its customers.

Legal and Ethical

One of the main legal considerations for Netflix is copyright infringement. As a streaming service, Netflix must obtain the rights to the content it offers to its subscribers. This includes acquiring the rights to distribute and display movies and TV shows from content creators and studios. If Netflix were to offer content without the proper licenses, it would be in violation of copyright law and could face legal action.

In terms of ethical considerations, Netflix must also consider the impact its content may have on its viewers. This includes issues such as the depiction of violence, sex, and sensitive political topics. Netflix has faced criticism for the way it handles such content, and must balance the freedom of expression for its content creators with the need to maintain a safe and inclusive platform for its users. Additionally, Netflix must also consider issues such as privacy and data protection, ensuring that it protects the personal information of its users and complies with privacy laws.

Overall, as a major player in the entertainment industry, Netflix must navigate a complex landscape of legal and ethical considerations in order to maintain its reputation and continue to provide high-quality content to its subscribers.