The Sims FreePlay CSP - Language & Representations

 Language / Gameplay analysis

Watch The Sims: FreePlay trailer and answer the following questions:

1) What elements of gameplay are shown?

You can complete daily tasks which enables you to achieve XP and earn some more money which will allow you to move up in levels and start earning more money and get better opportunities.

2) What audience is the trailer targeting?

The trailer is mainly targeting teenagers, however, sims overall has a range of audiences and this depends on the fact that some of the audience are already fans of previous sims games.

3) What audience pleasures are suggested by the trailer?

The audience pleasures that are suggested by the trailer are diversion - enables a sense of escapism - personal identity - you can modify your character to your liking which allows the person playing to feel like they're part of the game - personal relationships - players can create parasocial relationships within the characters such as the proposal and wedding.

Now watch this walk-through of the beginning of The Sims FreePlay and answer the following questions:

1) How is the game constructed?

The gameplay is constructed as simple and straightforward where there are daily/weekly tasks that you need to complete and there are rewards for regular gameplay that results in earning money and XP. There are also lots of tasks such as growing vegetables and there are tutorials to help navigate the game at the start.

2) What audience is this game targeting?

The game seems to target both male and females, however, it might be targeting more females because there are more costume options when creating a female sim.

3) What audience pleasures does the game provide?

The game provides audience pleasures such as entertainment/diversion (there are choices of activities to choose from), personal relationships (building a sims community to interact), surveillance (sims have needs: hunger, bladder, energy, hygiene, social connection)

4) How does the game encourage in-app purchases?

The game encourages in-app purchases through the focus on buying items in order to progress your sim. There are also adverts in return for free crystals which speeds up time and some elements of product placement.

Representations

Re-watch some of the expansion pack trailers and answer the following questions:

1) How do the expansion pack (DLC) trailers reinforce or challenge dominant ideologies?

One aspect of The Sims is the values and ideologies that the game reinforces. Although it has been praised for its liberal values over, for example, LGBTQ+ representation, it could also be argued that the game reinforces dominant American capitalist ideologies.

2) What stereotypes have you identified in The Sims FreePlay?

One stereotype is that in order to have a successful life, you need to be rich and married.

3) What media theories can you apply to representations in The Sims FreePlay?

The Sims franchise is a perfect study in hyperreality as it allows players to create an entirely constructed life through the game.

Representation reading

Read this Forbes article on gender and racism in The Sims franchise and answer the following questions:

1) How realistic does The Sims intend to be?

2) How has The Sims tried to create more realistic representations of ethnicity?

3) How has The Sims responded to racism and sexism in society?

4) What is The Sims perspective on gender fluidity and identity?

5) How does The Sims reinforce the dominant capitalist ideologies of American culture?