transformers magazine article

The film that I am going to talk about is the animated film of transformers from 1986. The film was produced by Joe Bacal and Tom Griffith and was directed by Nelson Shin. The movie was released on August 8^th 1986 and had a budget of £6 million. The running time was about 84 minutes. In the film different music artists contributed into make a soundtrack for this film, the artists that I know that were involved was Stan Bush and Lion.  

The plot for this film is that at the start of the film, the audience is introduced to the character and main villain Unicron. A cybernetic planet that survives by consuming other planets. This then leads through the opening credits (the music for the opening credits for the film was a rock version of the transformers them produced and performed by a band called lion.), on the next scene we see the transformers home planet known as cybertron which has been taking over by the decepticons, the audience are then introduced to other transformers such as megatron, starscream and soundwave. The next scene is much the same except we are introduced to the autobots, which are lead, by the most iconic transformer Optimus Prime. The next scene starts off a bit slow but it gradually gets faster, in this scene we are introduced to another autobot going by the name of Hot Rod (who later becomes Rodimus Prime at the end of the film), the scene starts to get faster when the decepticons decide to attack autobot city on earth, this then leads to the first major confrontation which is megatron vs Optimus Prime but due to hot rods foolish actions the fight leads to death of Optimus prime but the birth of Galvatron. The next of the film is more of a manhunt mainly because now because the audience is now introduced to Galvatron, the autobots are being hunted by this new transformer so the autobot matrix of leadership, so this results in the autobots being separated into different groups but they are on different planets but soon they are reunited Where they face unicron in person. Whilst some of the autobots try to find some of their companions, the autobot hot rod faces Galvatron alone for the matrix of leadership. Hot rod defeats Galvatron by throwing him out of unicron and opens the matrix of leadership to light the autobots darkest hour and so he becomes Rodimus prime the new leader of the Autobots, he then opens the matrix that destroys unicron from the inside. The final scene shows all of the surviving transformers on cybertron talking about a new beginning and a new chapter and that’s the end of the film.

The codes and conventions for this transformers film is basically using Hollywood conventions, what I mean by this is that Hollywood uses a common idea in this film and that is basically showing Earth being attacked by aliens and the hero’s (the Auto-bots) fighting the bad guys (the Decepticons).  Other codes and conventions used in this film is the good guys and the bad guys in the film, the good guy of the film would be Optimus Prime and the bad guy would be Megatron. 

This film was created in 1986, but when people watched tis film the narrator said that the transformers film was set in the year 2005, 20 years after the last television series of the generation 1 transformers, so you could say that the film was different episodes put into one so that after people have watched the film and if there was another series of transformers then some events would make sense to the audience. 

I would not say that getting the film to be set in a different time is not really a typical idea of all superhero movies, I mean there are some movies that are set in the future or the past, the movies that I have watched that are set in the future would have been films like Judge Dread, Robocop and The Terminator. But with the terminator film it starts off with the film showing the audience the future which is basically humans going to war against the machines. Some films start of in the future but then get set in the past, examples of films like this would be Men in Black 3 and yet again The terminator.

In this transformers film there are a total of 18 Autobots, they are Optimus prime, hot rod/Rodimus Prime, Ultra Magnus, Springer, Arcee, Kup, Wheelie, Blur, Blaster, Perceptor, Grimlock, Slag, Swoop, Jazz, Cliff Jumper, Bumblebee, Ironhide, and Brawn.

The total of Decepticons for this film is also 18, they are megatron/ galvatron, Cyclonus, Starscream, Sound wave, Frenzy, Rumble, Devastator, Bone crusher, Hook, Scavenger, Scrapper, Shock Wave, Astro train, Blitz wing, Kick back, Shrapnel.

The Autobots are voiced as followed

Optimus Prime (Peter Cullen)

Hot Rod/Rodimus Prime (Judd Nelson)

Ultra Magnus (Robert Stack)

The decepticons are voiced as followed

Megatron (Frank Welker)

Galvatron (Leonard Nimoy)

Star scream (Chris Latta)

The style and theme of the transformers film is an action, a bit of emotional scenes too. The film is much like the series and it shows non-stop action but when you watch the film for the first time you have different emotions that you would not have got from the television series, I mean there is no doubt that the viewers would have been very upset in the scene where Optimus prime dies this is because you don’t expect that to happen, you expect him to be the main character that will survive in the film, the people watching the film would have been surprised and shocked because in the film we see other iconic transformers like Iron hide being destroyed by Megatron so that makes you think that is there is another series of transformers would they return to the franchise and series. In superhero films the killing of a main character or an iconic character rarely happens but I suppose doing this is more of a last resort to keep the story rolling and making sense to the audience as the film continues. Other things to notice with this film is that it is different to the live action film of transformers is that the 1986 film sticks to the boundaries of the television series mainly because this films was like a super long episode of transformers that would relate to the next series and would also have references to the next series. Basically what I am saying is that if there was another series of transformers then any events that happened in that series would relate to the film. But the live action film is different mainly because each of those films have separate story lines to them.

The next thing that I want to talk about this film is the props used in the film, now in my opinion there is now point of really talking about this because the transformers film is just an animated film just like the television series, but if you think about it props may have been used to create the sounds in the film. For example the sound for the explosive hitting devastator may have been created using fireworks or for the sound of the rockets may have been created by a flamethrower or something I am unsure.

But because I am talking about the animated transformers film and not the live action film that was made in 2007 by Michael Bay, I think that it is important to talk about the items in the film or better yet the transformers franchise. The item that I want to discuss is the Auto-bot matrix of leadership, this is significant to talk about because in the overall plot the matrix is used to show a new leader of the autobots has risen or as Optimus Prime puts it in the film “an autobot shall rise from our ranks, and use the power of the matrix to light our darkest hour.” (This quote was taken from the scene where Optimus Prime dies), when you hear Optimus say this it sort of gives away the ending of the film. When you watch the other 3 transformers films that were directed by Michael bay the films don’t really have an important item to use in each of the films (tell a lie) the first live action film that was made in 2007 did focus around a certain object and that is the all-spark, the all-spark is basically the transformers life source so you can compare this version of the film to the 1986 version of the film. But the second transformers film Revenge of the fallen, it is quite similar to the 1986 film mainly because this film features the Matrix of leadership also. But the only difference is that this version of the matrix can resurrect the transformers, an example of this is when the audience sees Optimus Prime coming back to life in Revenge of the fallen and the resurrection of Sentinal Prime in the third film Dark of the moon. So in conclusion to this, the Matrix of leadership is an important item in the transformers film because this item keeps the story going and is an iconic item used in the transformers universe.

When watching the transformers film over and over again I have noticed that there are sub-plots used in this film, the sub-plots in this film show the Auto-bots being separated and landing on different planets, with these sub-plots used in the film the audience is introduced to new characters such as Wheelie. The other sub-plots used in the movie also help’s the transformers and the audience by giving background information on who unicron is. 

Films like Green Lantern, Men in black do feature aliens in their films, but most films tend not to use aliens mainly because the director wants to keep the story more realistic so it appeals to the audience. But in the transformers film they get there power or ability to transform from something called a T-cog, this cog allows the transformers to transform. Other powers that the transformers have is that they can scan different vehicles so they can copy every aspect of that vehicle so they can transform.  

The narrative for this film is a linear narrative because the film sequence are in chronological order so they are working towards an end. The film does supports Todorov's theory of narrative so the equilibrium is the autobots on earth and getting on with each other. The disruption is when the decepticons attack the autobot city on earth. The realisation of the disruption is when the transformer leave earth to find salvation. To repair the equilibrium the autobots must destroy Unicron. The restoration of equilibrium is when the autobots re-claim Cybertron as their home. 

The target audience for this film would be for kids and would have a U certificate, The age range for this film would be from 6-15, this film has a simple narrative to follow, like every other superhero film, this film is watched by kids because of the characters which are one dimentional and easy to follow their development. The locations would be earth, space, cybertron (which is a fictional planet), this would apply to the target audience because of other films like Superman, Green lantern they have similar settings and this is what the target audience is expecting. There is lots of action through out the film and this would keep the target audience interested. The dialogue in this film is very simple and easy to follow for the target audience to understand. 

In my opinion the transformers film is like any other superhero film because the codes and conventions that are used through out the movie such as the plot, location and dialogue is much the same as any other super hero film like Superman, Green Lantern.

media cover work 17/1/2014

1. Open world game play: i think that Open world game play is a way of the game not have a limited of space for the game character to travel around the whole place, games like this would be G.T.A
Saints row, Prototype 1 and 2.

2.sandbox games are basically known as free roaming games that use free roaming and free roaming is when the character in the game can do their own thing like in G.T.A and you are free roaming you can basically steal cars, kill people, travel to far places or just find Easter eggs (things that are not in the game). Side quests in this game would be stopping crimes that happen in the game.

10/3/14 media work

when games are produced Characterization is used by the producers and developers mainly to sell the game to the target audience, to make the game play more exciting for the gamer and to help establish the genre and the narrative of the game. Bright colors in gaming would suggest that the game is a "family friendly" game, games like Mario or donkey Kong but games with dark colors would suggest violence and horror, games like this would be prototype or Soul reaver.

A game that i have played that has a strong protagonist is the first prototype game, i was going to talk about prototype 2 but the protagonist in the first game becomes the villain in the second game and the protagonist for prototype 1 is Alex Mercer and his role in this game is to stop a virus that is known as the black light virus and the things that were successful with this Characterization is the dark colors used on the character.

Back story  is the narrative details of a character that have happened before the game's story-the characters history. Two games that i have played that have back story is the recent tomb raider game and star wars the force unleashed, and tomb raider is a back story because it is a prequel to the other tomb raider games because this game show how Lara croft became who she is in the other tomb raider games and in the star wars game there is a back story for the main character Star killer in the first mission and that is that he was to be trained to be a jedi but instead he gets trained by darth vader.

point and click games

What are point and click games?, Point and click games are games where the player makes the decision for example a part of a game could show multiple choices for what the character should do in the game.

When point and clicks games started to become well known in the gaming genre of adventure, an example of a popular point and click adventure game would be MYST, this game shows a first person view of the character and the game player chooses what the character does, this game was so popular that six million copies were sold because of what style of game that it was.

Later through the years point and click games were not being bought as much to when they first came out mainly because that every couple years different games consoles were coming out like the play station one, but another thing to notice is that the graphics on the different platforms of games and consoles were so advanced that the graphics in point and click games were not matching up to what the gamers wanted so  the better the graphics were on the consoles the less point and click games were being sold.

But even to this year point and click games are being incorporated in to games like Tomb raider: Angel of darkness, firstly i played this game and a mission that you have to use point and click is where you are talking to this woman about someone you somehow murdered and you have to pick different things to say to not let this woman call the police. Another game that uses point and click is G.T.A IV point and click is used when the gamer either lets a certain character dies by executing them or letting them live.

A game that i have recently played is called The wolf among us, and this game is built around point and click so the story of the game can develop to what the gamer has made the character do. firstly this game is downloadable on the P.S.3, this game also uses multiple narratives, it also shows the darker side of the good guys that were in little red riding hood and then it shows the lighter side of the bad guys in little red riding hood you could say that this game is like a paradox or it is a parallel side to the fairy tale, one of the missions in this game show you playing as wolf and you are talking to the woodsman and some of the choices that you make with this character could end up with having a fight with him. 

Assassins creed brotherhood and Iron man 2

Basically when playing assassins creed brotherhood, i enjoyed the narrative of the game the narrative behind the games was the idea of redemption for the character and the game starts off with the final mission so it interests the character on how the game would proceed, but in fairness i really enjoyed the narrative.

On the other hand when playing Iron man 2 i was disappointed with the entire game mainly because the game never stuck to the movie and the game was saying it is the official game of the movie, well that's a lie for starters because in the game you battled enemies that are not relevant to the game and film, and another disappointing feature to the game is the amount of missions that there were to the game in total there are 8 missions so this really affected the narrative and idea of the game.

visual narrative

Not long ago i had to create something called a visual narrative and my narrative shows my journey from stratford back to school/ college, in total i must have taken about 50 to 80 different photos and i had to pick out 20 photos that came out better than the rest, i linked all the photos together to make it in to some sort of story and i added a song on to my visual narrative, the song i added was bringer of storms by hate eternal.

stuart hall theory of gaming

Preferred reading is when audiences respond to the media product in the way the media producers want/expect them to. when the meaning is negotiated the audience will accept that a film is based on the film like e.t for example. sometimes an audience will not accept the producers representation, Hall described this as that the media audiences have three ways of reading/responding to the media text.

The producers of early computer games were only able to produce simple graphics,  so the visual representation was not very accurate for example pong.

The graphics in this game at the time was probably advanced but when we play this games years later when we look at the games the graphics are very poor because other games have more advanced qualities, beside this game does not  look like a ping pong match


Even so, these games markers wanted to include some sort of narrative with their games because some gamers need a sense of purpose, They used titles and box art to suggest narrative and themes and settings. like mario for example.

In this game super mario bros the design on the game cartridge shows the narrative of the game which is Mario going through a castle .




This approach to game play is a very good example of how producers and consumers negotiate their reading of narrative in media texts.

todorov and propps theory

Last night I watched the film 'Transformers', the way the film's theory is told through Todorov's theory is quite easy to follow because the character is introduced with Witwicky and the autobot Bumblebee and the Decepticon Barricade.

The narrative of the film goes through 5 stages which are the equilibrium stage, the disruption, the recognition of disruption, attempt to repair the disruption and the reinstatement of equilibrium.

In the equilibrium stage we see the main character buying his first car and we see the a yellow Camero which is a yellow Camero, we then hear alien sounds coming from the car which then makes the audience want to carry on watching the film.

The disruption starts when we see a police car transform into the Decepticon Barricade which then tells us that he is here to cause trouble and to enslave mankind.

The r.o.d starts when the Autobot Bumblebee transforms and starts to fight Bumblebee and the human character Sam Witwicky is caught up in that fight scene.

The attempt to repair the disruption is signified when both the good and evil side go to a new surrounding for the final battle of the movie with all of the characters.

The reinstatement of equilibrium  because we can see the Decepticon leader destroyed, which signifies a new hope and a new chapter for the film.

The characters in this film were also easy to categorize in Propp's theory because of the name of the characters and which side they are on.

The hero (Optimus Prime) was a good guy in the film this would appeal to the audience because it describes the character and what they stand for and what they are fighting for.

The princess in the film was Witwicky because in all 3 'Transformers' movies he is the victim of the Decepticons. I think this character would not appeal to the audience because firstly he may be a main character but he is not a main part of the film he is more like an extra.

Another character who was important in the film was Megatron who is the Decepticon leader, he is an important character because it sets the story of the Transformers and what they are fighting for the Deception leader clearly fulfills the role of antagonist.

evaluation about game cutscene

I was assigned to make my own game cut scene in my media class, when story boarding this cut scene I too the idea of the terminator films and sort of in-incorporated the films in to my vision. When I say my "vision" I mean taking some ideas from the things that interest me and then mixing the two together.

The planned cut scene from my game narrative is actually the start of the game, this cut scene would more an in game narrative than a narrative cut scene mainly because of the way the characters act. This is because of the fight scene that occurs, you wold normally expect these sort of things to happen in a form of game play.

The narrative that i have established in this game is that the plot devises used in this cut scene is the beginning and the character devises used in this cut scene shows that the two main characters are always on edge and in this cut scene there is no game play devises.

The things that would happen in the game after the cut scene would be both of the main characters would slowly wake up after being sent back  the year 2014 and then the gamer would be trying to find the machine in the game before it moves onto the next cut scene.

In the cut scene that i created it was important that the location i had put in my story board matched up to when i started filming. the location that i had chosen had to be a dark rotten place so i done most of my filming under a bridge. because filming under  bridge would also show, urban decay and the darkness would stand out on the camera.

In my opinion i think that the cut scene would suit the games genre because i think that the genre of the game would be a sci-fi and music game. This would be a music game because when i was story boarding this cut scene i wanted to the game to be like the game guitar hero but it would have a story and a twist.