This is an advert for the 2015 game, Until dawn. It is a story-based game made by supermassive games. The game advert shows the theme of the game as horror/thriller and is based around a group of friends trying to survive on a mountain. It reinforces the idea that you need to save these friends and makes it obvious who this game is suitable for, for example older people as the themes of violence are not suitable for a young person.
The advert is designed to reach their intended target audiences. The target audience is decided by what the person values, enjoys and what is suitable for them. As story driven games are new, I think the advert would be targeted to someone or a group of people that fit into ‘the explorer’ category. They are not afraid to try out new things, unlike the ‘mainstreamers,’ even if they are not popular.
Furthermore, the advert uses some basic appeals, some more than others. For examples need for affiliation as this reinforces that you need to save your friends in the game. It also flips some basic appeals on its head for example need to achieve and need to feel safe. Even though the setting of the game is clearly not safe we, the people playing, have the chance to change and achieve and save these people.
Whereas the trailer for the 2001 movie monster inc makes it obvious that the movies target and intended audience is for children and families. It is centred on how children may be afraid of monsters however they are more afraid of them. It also includes the Disney and Pixar logos showing that this movie is made for children.
The trailer target audience is unlike the until dawn’s trailer I think it is directed to the group of ‘mainstreamers’. As it won’t be targeted to children directly however to their parents/guardians who will look for big brands like Disney for movies which them and their children can watch.
As this is a movie for families it will have less appeals however it still caters to the appeals of comedy humour and entertainment. Which as a child is all they really want is entertainment and bright colours.
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