BATMAN ARKHAM KNIGHT

Transcription

1 BATMAN ARKHAM KNIGHT

2 TRAILERS Official launch trailer: Gameplay trailer: Live action trailer:

3 CONTEXT AND BACKGROUND The fourth and final game in the Arkham series, preceded by Arkham Asylum, Arkham City and Arkham Origins. Developed by Rocksteady Studios, except Origins which was made by Warner Bros. The Arkham series is the reinvention of Batman from camp, silly hero to a more dark and violent hero. Arkham Knight only released on next gen consoles and PC.

4 GENRE Action-adventure game, from a third person perspective. Follows generic conventions as there is a problem that needs to be solved by the main protagonist. Different as rather than returning to an equilibrium at the end, Batman appears to be killed in the Knightfall Protocol. New Dualplay feature in which Batman can fight alongside his allies Robin, Nightwing and Catwoman. This is not typical of this genre in which only one person can be controlled.

5 NARRATIVE - SUMMARY Arkham Knight's main story follows Scarecrow, the Arkham Knight and Deathstroke, who have made an alliance on Halloween night, and plan to drown Gotham City in fear toxin and unmask Batman. Gotham City is evacuated after Scarecrow threatens to spread the fear toxin. Batman becomes infected with the fear toxin and is manipulated by the Joker, whilst at the same time making unlikely alliances to try to save Gotham. The end of the game apparently shows Batman s death.

6 REPRESETATION ISSUES Some people have said that the female heroes/villains are overly sexualised. Created with the male gaze in mind. Even though they have major roles in the game and are powerful, they are portrayed as the damsels in distress.

7 INDUSTRY AND GLOBAL REACH Developed by Rocksteady Studios and published by Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment. Fastest selling game of the year, beating the Witcher 3:Wild Hunt. Sold 5 million copies. 67% of sales on PS4. Warner Bros. is a conglomerate outfit that took control of Rocksteady for the production of Arkham Knight.

8 AUDIENCE Males aged Gives the male audience a sense of self-actualisation as they can become the superhero they want to be. Diversion- gives the audience control over something, which they may not have in their real lives. Arkham Knight received Game Informer s award for best action game. Voted best Xbox One game by IGN.

9 MARKETING Various products developed based on the game including clothing, hats, calendars, headphones and The Riddlers s Gambit, a novel that serves as a prequel to Arkham Knight. Billboards advertising the game in Times Square, posters on the sides of buses. Lots of online trailers via YouTube & homepage. From May 8 th until release, Rocksteady released weekly behind the scenes videos where staff talked about the game and answered fan questions. Prime time television adverts. Life size replica of the batmobile displayed at London Comic-Con.

10 MERCHANDISE

11 NEEDS A SLIDE OF ITS OWN BECAUSE IT S SO AWESOME

12 REVIEWS Game informer- 9.5/10 IGN- 9.2/10 The Guardian- 5/5 Metacritic- 87/11 (PS4) GameRankings- 88.4% (PS4)

13 NARRATIVE #1 Gotham City evacuated after Scarecrow threatens to spread the fear toxin. After rescuing Poison Ivy from Scarecrow, Batman discovers she is immune to the fear toxin and decides to befriend her in order to obtain the cure and save the city. Batman first encounters the Arkham Knight. Batman confronts Scarecrow at Ace Chemicals where he is exposed to the fear toxin, and this is where the Joker first appears. This is due to the exposure to the toxin, and the infected Joker blood inside Batman, which we learn from a flashback was injected into Batman and several others.

14 NARRATIVE #2 Batman then has to track down the Cloudburst, a device used to disperse the fear toxin across Gotham. Scarecrow then exposes Batman to another dose of fear toxin, which strengthens Joker s control over Batman s mind, whilst the Arkham Knight steals the Cloudburst device. Batman proceeds to go and rescue Oracle, who is being held by Scarecrow. Oracle is exposed to the fear toxin and commits suicide. Batman confronts Harley Quinn at Panessa Studiois, where the makeshift Jokers are being held. One of the Jokers kills all of the others and then himself, claiming Batman will become the perfect Joker. Batman traps Robin in a cell until Scarecrow is captured, before telling him that Oracle, his girlfriend, is dead.

15 NARRATIVE #3 The Arkham Knight activates the Cloudburst, which Batman then destroys. Poison Ivy uses an ancient plant to eradicate the fear toxin, but this kills her in the process. The Arkham Knight reveals himself as Jason Todd, who has been traumatised by the Joker and is out for revenge on Batman. Batman and Gordon meet Scarecrow, where Oracle is revealed to still be alive, her death a hallucination of the fear toxin. Batman rescues Oracle but Gordon is taken by Scarecrow. Scarecrow assaults GCPD with militia tanks but they are neutralised by Batman and Oracle. Robin is kidnapped by Scarecrow. Batman gives himself up to Scarecrow.

16 NARRATIVE #4 Batman s identity revealed to the world before he is repeatedly injected with the fear toxin. Joker and Batman battle for control inside Batman s mind before Batman ultimately wins. Todd arrives to save Batman, after which Batman subdues Scarecrow with his own toxin. Batman seemingly dies in an explosion at Wayne Manor.