When it comes to fans on Twitch, interaction is a key part of the platform and is formed as a ‘community’, closer to that of any platform. Upon many research findings, E.Chow found that Twitch viewers act more as a ‘crowd’ than any other platform.
The interactivity I hope to receive on my Twitch streaming will allow me to reconfigure and refine the streaming that I produce. The themes discussed are key in Twitch and can help with my content on other platforms I use such as YouTube, Instagram or Twitter.
We know that interaction is key as even the Twitch website has a page on Engaging Viewers, in particular, the idea of connecting with others who share their interests. If Twitch is expressing the fan interaction, than I will focus a lot on the fan interaction to grow my fanbase and hopefully garner affirmation from new and old fans alike.
Hopefully I also receive a lot of feedback in order to reconfigure my content and allow for the best type of content for the fans who are willing to tune in to my content, and will play many games in order to appeal to all the fan that watch.
There is always constant feedback loops developed when it comes to Twitch. Whether it is one person or thousands of people, it is imperative to take into mind what the feedback loops do in terms of reconfiguring the content that is created.
S,L, Anderson, Game Studies: Watching People Is Not a Game: Interactive Online Corporeality, Twitch,tv and Video Game Streams, viewed 14th September 2022, http://gamestudies.org/1701/articles/anderson
FIFA has always been a game of interaction, as the creators listen to the reconfiguration suggestions of the game. Audiences become more interactive, as they watch YouTube or Twitch videos of their favourite creators of the game they already play. This allows for them to connect online from anywhere around the world (Game Studies).
People create their identity through the games they play (Playful Identities). Therefore, they want what is best out of their experience as a ‘FIFA player’, so, refining and tuning the game allows for a better identification and interaction as this type of player.
As FIFA grows in popularity, it is imperative for the game to continue its identity as the best football game on the market. So, ultimately, reconfiguration is the best thing for the company as they adapt and adjust to their market and consumers that buy the games themselves.
Testing and growing the game can be integral for FIFA, if fans interact and test the game before it comes out, (which many streamers do), it becomes important for the game producers (Postigo). This intangible gain means that EA Sports will improve their game further as they listen to the reconfigurations suggested by those who interact with the game themselves.
In this narrative reflection, there will be a reflection on an experience based on responding to change in a former workplace of mine. Using academic sources and personal experience it will reflect whether these changes helped hinder or further the professionalism that was intended to be possessed. Through this, we will chat about externalising conversations, re-membering conversations, soft skills, and absent but implicit conversations. All these concepts will be linked with the story that will be reflected upon.
A deep dive into the world of fast food, and the new change was moving from customer service, which, is my strong point, to the world of cooking and preparing the food. Let the burns commence, the pressure fold, and the battle of chicken ensue.
Some Context
The main thing that changed was the technique used to satisfy customers, the main people involved was the manager and I. The main thing that occurred was a conversation with the manager and how I want to be cross trained. The result of this, contrary to E. Rensi, who believes that technological innovation have made jobs easier, made me more diverse in skills, and improved my reputation within the workplace. The main strength I found was my ability to work hard, and used my extroverted asset to get out of any bad position. The main resources I had was my voice and my team around me.
Yes, Be A Softie
One of the challenges that has been taught that interest me is the adaption of soft skills. The adoption of making quality food, in a team and exploring and agreeing on something collectively and individually, according to Dixon and others. Which focused on making the best fast food. One of the main soft skills I learned was working in a fast pace manner, and delivering food on time but a challenge was the harsh conditions in which I was working in at some points.
Emotional Damage
Working in any environment can produce so many emotions. In the case of me, the main emotions were those of hunger, thirst, hurt, and annoyance. Especially when there was a lack of staff and I had to overwork without breaks. This can easily be described as ‘emotional labour’ which is discussed by A. Hochschild in which unpaid work is aimed to keep others happy. This is definitely apparent in that workforce as I learnt to ‘suck it up’ and just work to make more money for the already billion-dollar company. This type of pain at work is also something many other people experience as well, as according to, I. Poggi and M. Germani, lots of workers also feel hurt at work. This emotional experience was one of the key reasons I left the place of work and this ‘emotional labour’ was never really dealt with within the workplace and is one of the key challenges faced during this time.
I Remember This
Remembering this conversation with the Manager has helped with the professional identity I try to remember, especially as Michael White discusses this. Michael White also explains that economic discourses invite people to review their achievements to get personal credit. The personal credit in remembering why I acted in a way of hurt and hunger, but still pushed myself was for the simple reason of wanting an income and pushing myself for the future jobs I could have. Going outside of the boundaries of my extroverted nature, says that I want to try many things and not just stick to the basic routine. The strength to push through was instilled by my hard working ethnic parents who worked hard to come to this country and deliver a great future for my siblings and myself. Using this lens helps see a future of forward thinking whether I make choices to navigate bad emotions, by simply thinking positive thoughts and being grateful in the position I am in. This type of mindset helps me in all types of events in life, which becomes applicable in a work scene.
Wrapping It All Up
Conclusively, the strengths used in the workplace help the future professional and general manners of life. These strengths are corroborated with Michael White’s concept of re-membering conversations which was reflected through the story of work which I had to explain. Using downfalls as a way to pick myself up, and thinking of my parents is a key way to think and approach any future implications that might occur in a professional sense.
The comments on the pitch of others really helps those understand the use of reflective thinking and gaining inspiration from other people’s works. The comments are utilised in a way that allows for positive affirmation of a certain pitch, and also providing constructive criticism that allows for both parties to benefit from the construction of the comments.
It is also great to see how games can be analysed and critiqued through the observation of other pitches. Seeing how simply turning on a game can lead to a realm of analysis is truly unique to the game industry and has revolutionised the way we see games today.
Another major thing that was learnt is the ability to assess others works. It is imperative in the media space to be able to evaluate other people’s work in a way that is not ridiculing or shaming the work. This can also allow for the individual to improve their own work upon reading the works of others in the media space.
Ultimately, comments are crucial for everyone. It allows for reflection, analyse, and critical thinking to all be intertwined into one big bubble.
The Digital Artefact which will be a live stream series on geography and sports quizzes will take place on Twitch. The key analysis will be based on users of Twitch and whether those users gravitate towards new users or stick with the current streamers that they have always watched. With this, the interface of the website will also be analysed as to whether preferences and history appear within the website or whether the whole database is random.
In accordance with the lecture material, text is something we make meaning from, therefore the quizzes will be evaluated as to whether they are ‘strong’ or ‘weak’ texts based off making meaning from these texts. To add, as well as creating content, I will also be observing content in order to emphasise the point that viewers are both a streamer and a viewer. N. Ussin used this research in order to help with his studies, and corroborated both the viewer and creator concept into one. This will be achieved through content analysis, stats and figures, and conceptualisation. This will be explored through the analytical framework of cultural capital to see whether these quizzes are enjoyed or not by the users of them.
This DA will open a new platform for the ‘Mavro Productions’ entity which has already been established in previous years and Digital Artefacts of the past.
Twitch is a platform which has not yet been analysed or even used by myself. This new platform will hopefully provide more background and knowledge into the game media industries, and could, build an ever larger online presence and expanding it onto another platform which will be Twitch and also increase the skills of online media.
Gertz, C 1973, Thick description- Toward an interpretive theory of culture, Basic Books, New York.
Hilbert-Bruce Z, Neill T J, Sjolblom H, Hamari J,2018, Social motivations of live-streaming video engagement on Twitch, Computers in Human Behaviour, ScienceDirect.
The long argument between FIFA and Pro Evolution Soccer hit a new debate turning point as PES renamed and revamped to EFootball. EFootball is a free to play game on platforms and mobile offering a way cheaper alternative to their rivals FIFA, but has garnered bad reviews due to lack of authenticity, graphics, and rights.
This video game series has always been considered a ‘bad game’ due to their complete lack of REAL teams, authenticity and graphics.
Esports Insider
For example, Liverpool FC have their full rights in FIFA, but, in EFootball are named ‘Merseyside Red’ which clearly shows why this is considered a ‘bad game’. If we look at the above image it is clear that there are maybe one or two teams maximum from some of the best leagues in comparison to FIFA which have the whole league. Many clubs like Juventus had stints in this game, but returned to FIFA due to the better revenue that comes with the game. This complete lack of rights means fans of these clubs drift away from this game and go to their competitors to play with their favourite team.
The online football video game market has always been FIFA dominated and EFootball does try to compete, but lacks due to the unrealistic capabilities of the game. Graphics matter, and the graphics of EFootball vs FIFA are completely different. Historically, PES or EFootball has had worse graphics in comparison to FIFA. However, graphics have improved over the years, the gameplay of the football games over the years has continued to be a ‘bad game’ and makes people buy FIFA every year over the EFootball or Pro Evolution Soccer games.
WEPC.
Ultimately EFootball has been dubbed a bad game due to limited licensing and abysmal game play to one which football fans want to play.
Queue the quote from Tow Mater, in this blog post we discuss an ancient game, (well a 15 year old game) in Cars Mater National. We take a deep nose dive into the technique, genre and fans of this game and discuss how this game can also be adapted to modern audiences of the game and movie franchise.
I chose this game as it was a game I used to play religiously due to my love for the Cars franchise.
Another key thing to discuss is the virtual community developed within the game. Cars Mater National can be described as an epistemic game, as according to D. Williamson Shaffer and others the players think like they are a member of the Cars community and get to control that community through the game. For me, a downside is not being able to play with Sally, my favourite character from the movie, however, exploring the town of Radiator Springs is still something that feels amazing within the community and subsidises the lack of original characters within the game. Not only do they get to meet their favourite characters of the movie, but interact, and even control them in the game making them feel as though they are one with the Cars community. This allows for a convergence of a real life community intertwined with a virtual community within the Cars and Cars Mater National community.
Exploring the characters like Mater, Lightning McQueen, and Filmore allow for users to feel excited to unlock their favourite characters, keep playing and ultimately finish the game. Having a history of knowing the movie and the characters makes the game more enjoyable, and brings back the framework from Huhtamo that games have history.
Ultimately, Cars Mater National is a great game which brings together virtual and real communities and is a great video game based off a movie with an endless amount of possibilities in place within the game itself.
Reference List
D, Williamson Shaffer, K R Squire, R Halverson, J P Gee, Video Games and the Future of Learning.
E, Huhtamo, 2005, Slots of Fun: Slots of Trouble: An Archaeology of Arcade Gaming, Handbook of Computer Games Studies.
Hello person reading this, I am Chrisos Mavromoustakos, I love my sport, music, my culture, and working on social media.
A key skill I have gained is the ability to communicate with kids, this has been further enhanced through my work at the AFL and refereeing. I am proud of this because whenever I rock up to work the kids want to see me and actually want to engage in the activities, I just think stooping to their level and becoming one of them makes them like you. Also, making them laugh and giving them nicknames just makes them want to interact with you more. This can hopefully mean for more sign ups of AFL and more interaction with it.
I am proud of this because it also makes me practise for the future within the work place and practise my communication within all ages.
Delivering this digital artefact in the form of an advertisement/skit brought a new perspective to the innovation as opposed to the fellow group members. Within this contextual statement it aims to frame and discuss the research involved and the overall aims in creating this work as the Digital Artefact.
Ads = $$$
Advertisements are a big business, involving massive amounts of profits. According to Pew Research, in 2020 alone the profit of US companies through digital advertising was $152,252,850,000. So, with this research it helped develop the project as in a world that is all about profits, it is no doubt that UniGroop will deliver profits through the means of advertising. With astronomical numbers like this, ultimately, the best form of recognition is through advertisement as seen through the numbers presented by Pew Research.Â
Crem of the Crem Persuasion
G. Dyer indicates that advertisements are subtle within the forms of persuasion used to grab the audience’s attention. These types of persuasion and influence leads to 81% of those aged 18 to 34 to make a purchase (K, Herhold). So, using these figures presented it was key that appealing to this audience will lead to further success for UniGroop as University students and scholars fall within this demographic bracket.Â
Re Flex
When making the satirical advertisement the aim was to appeal to University students. This was done through the University student struggling to make friends, which is a key problem within University students. 64% of students feel lonely at University (Project Unlonely). So, within this work the achievement is to lower this statistic by creating a University app that tackles friendship and education into one central app. The whole aim of creating this app is to reiterate the fact that this will be an easy transition from high school to University corroborated through the app.Â
Comedy Sells
According to Point Park University, if there are laughs, the product needs to be there the same amount of time as the laughs. Laughter releases stress, people do not want to watch ads but if they see a funny advertisement the audience will stay engaged. So, when laughter was said to be part of the video, the logo was added in an aim to keep the audience still engaged and have that achievement of selling the UniGroop idea.Â
Wrapping It All Up
All in all, using the research provided it was clear that a satirical advertisement for University students, not only appeals to that market but sells. The main aim was to then execute this onto the screen which was done through a comedic skit. Comedy sells and keeps audiences engaged, another key achievement in which UniGroop aims to instil. As mentioned in the original pitch, this app is intended to make Uni life easier, and with more than half of University students feeling lonely, this app aims to achieve a decrease in this statistic as they transition to a better and more smooth University experience, assisted through UniGroop. Conclusively, an app like UniGroop will bring success to the education industry as an innovation of ease and excitement.Â
Maps are a revolutionary way of exploring and examining the world. However, due to technological enhancements and political alignments maps can also be a brilliant way to deceitfully push a political agenda rather then lead a person to a place, in which a map historically operates as its main function. This critical response will discuss arguments of the question ‘are maps political?’ in both for and against backed up through the use of academic sources, visuals and examples which will in turn solve the answer to this question to show that maps are indeed political.
What is the definition of political? Political relates to the public affairs and governance of a country.
This quote below examines how maps are truly seen in the world, and how there are so many diverse languages around the world, there are many views around the world that shape the politics of the world.
Maps are a language, and give us a view on the world. (Henderson, G & Waterstone, M, 2009, Geographic Thought: A Praxis Perspective, Routledge, New York).
Maps are a tricky piece to navigate. This is where political perspective comes into play and can really discuss whether maps are political or not, based on what viewpoint is being examined. A key example is the country Cyprus, how a nation, can be divided into two and depending on what ‘ political perspective’ that is given, this map can be spreading a political agenda. The politics of a map is perplexed in a country like Cyprus as international governance has still yet to decipher the true politics of the island. Ultimately, the map further drives the political perspective of both sides as there are Greek and Turkish political agendas being displayed.
Geography IQ.
This map can be seen as political for both sides of the island, for Turkey, with a view of Turkish Cypriot-administered area rather than the self proclaimed ‘Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus’, whereas for the Cypriot Greeks the whole map is a looks political. The occupation remains illegal to this day, and their perspective shows the map is political by simply having a Turkish Cypriot administered area.
For more clarity and understanding, this video goes into great depth on the Cyprus Dispute.
Maps are political, a person identifies with where they are on a map which can lead to a wide range of politics. What Y. Papadakis, N. Peristianis and G. Welz (Papadakis, Y, Peristianis, N & Welz, G, 2006, Divided Cyprus: Modernity, History, and an Island in Conflict, Indiana University Press, Indiana. ) discuss as a ‘hellenic identity’ is really the spark of the perspective which leads to the primary political perspective on the island, enhanced through the map that is present. A political identity also comes with the place on the map the person is from, this ‘hellenic’ identity is corroborated with the ‘Turkish Cypriot identity’ that also steps on the island. So-that, upon the issue of perspective, a map will always be political as two different perspectives and political alignments clash to find the true ‘meaning’ of the map. This true meaning of a map showing a place can be hidden, as a political perspective of people will look at the map, thus being told to identify this politics rather than on country as a whole. All in all, a map will always show a political perspective and identity will lead to maps always being political all over the world, specifically if there is conflict in set place.
There are different parameters into why these nations do not have street view, including, wars, barren roads and licensing this graphic alone. However, the nations that do not have ‘Street View’ can be seen, interpreted and displayed however by the following nations through politics. Especially if the politics are not aligned with a neighbouring country, e.g. Communism v Democracy. Ultimately, this example shows how ‘street view’ is not in itself political, however, someone will look at a map and gain a political perspective on the set place based on what they have been taught. This shows the negative side of the political maps argument, as it is not the maps themselves, but the political alignments of set people.
Wrapping It All Up
Conclusively, maps are ALWAYS political. Maps are dependent on interpretation, identity and representation of the nation being seen, which will always be interpreted through a political alignment and view. These politics are all altered and different depending on the persons pre-conceived notions of a certain place. This means that there is no definitive definition of a place as every person thinks differently of nations, especially if the nation itself has a confusing element to it like Cyprus. These thoughts are corroborated through politics, in which maps help to push. Therefore, whilst maps are useful in seeing the world, community and places, they are political as maps fail to display full transparency of all political alignments and depict one set view of a place around the world. Contrastingly, maps also show places on a map and people will always interpret the map based on politics regardless on if a map is there or not. Conclusively, maps will always be political as identity and political perspectives remain stagnant throughout generation to generation, which can also be bolstered through set maps around the world. Different maps will be shown around the world based on a certain political perspective regardless of whether the map company wants to remain ‘neutral’.
Mavro Productions 