horizon forbidden west

• developed by Guerrilla games and published by sony interactive entertainment, sequel to Zero Dawn, set in a post apocalyptic version of the western united states. - post apocalyptic due to aftermath of extinction event caused by robotic swarm
• action role playing game from a third person perspective
• post apocalyptic version of the Western front, more specifically California, Utah and Nevada
• aloy- young hunter of the nora tribe
• aloy- clone of elizabet sobeck
• Beta- clone of Aloy created by far zenith- a technologically advanced alien civilisation- brilliant scientist who helps Aloy on her quest
• Regalla- leader of rebel faction, fighting against the Carja, dominant tribe in FW,
• some male players complained aloy had facial hair- too masculine,
• DLC and Expansions packs ensure extra profit for game producers. The Sims franchise does this to earn the majority of its profit. 
• Gamergate had a significant impact on the video game industry. It led to increased awareness of the harassment that women and other marginalized groups face in gaming culture
• • Visuals: The game runs at a native 4K resolution on PS5, with improved textures and lighting. The HDR support also makes the game look even more stunning.
• • Performance: The game targets 60 frames per second in Performance Mode, which makes for a smoother and more responsive experience.
• • DualSense controller: The DualSense controller's haptic feedback and adaptive triggers are used to great effect in Horizon Forbidden West. You can feel the impact of your weapons and the resistance of the triggers as you draw your bow.
• has a complex narrative
• action role playing game from a third person perspective, the map is larger than the previous game,
• The game's exploration is improved with underwater discoveries, and improvements to combat using the valor surge system, freeform climbing, and tools such as the Shieldwing, Focus Scanner, Diving Mask, and Pullcaster, the mission structure for quests better supports variety in objectives with compelling reward systems.
• recognisable celebrity voices- Angela Bassett, Carrie Ann Bassett and Lance Reddick, these all have a history of playing strong female characters in sci-fi, post apocalyptic, and fantasy movies
• Wekatta- the leader of the sky clan, the face paint is light blue, pink and white- the three colours of the transgender pride flag
• the interaction with Wekatta- the transgender character, can be a liberating experience for some players as they might find comfort in the representation of trans identity and feel empowered to find their own 'path on the wings of the ten'
• The release of 'burning shores' dlc expansion story pack followed Aloy into the dangerous ruins of Los Angeles where she meets Seyka- a tenacious and skilled warrior. They work to defeat the last remaining member of Far Zenith and, at the end of the game, Seyka reveals she wants to 'be with' Aloy. If you select the heart option from the dialogue wheel, Aloy returns the affection
• binary opposition- natural world vs advanced technology, the robots destroyed the biosphere, Aloy is trying to save the planet despite being a clone developed by a machine
• binary opposition- Aloy being a lone hunter 'hero' against needing to form factions and alliances with other characters and factions, this internal conflict links to the tension in our own lives between the individual and our responsibility to society.
• The internal conflict between Aloy with being the independent 'lone hero' and forming alliances with other characters and factions, this leads to the tension in our own lives between the individuals and our responsibility to society. In other words, the representation of Aloy in 'Horizon Forbidden West' can help players shape their personal identity.
• Taking a structuralist approach, the binary approach between the Aloy and the machines could draw our attention to the wider theme of good vs evil found in cultures around the world. By battling the Burrowers and Slitherfangs, we can better understand our own internal struggles and contemplate our actions and reactions, especially when it comes to moral dillemas and making difficult decisions which may have negative consequences
• guerrilla games- showed aloy in trailer for zero dawn in 2015- neccesarily not fitting in 2025, 3 companies merged to make it, sony bought out guerilla games- under ps studios now, released with the PS5, zero dawn was ps4
• the sims- will wright- virtual dollhouse, sim city, starts company called maxis, they do well enough for EA to then buy them, then they own everything,
• representational updates- can match to real world, 2011,
• triple A game- high quality expected because of this
• they have a lego version, a burning shores DLC and a VR version, hyperreality
• encouraged to be immersed in story through Aloy, third person, we are on a journey with Aloy= hyperreality, we are supposed to like her and be on a journey with her,
• AI- the game is about the dangers of AI and the dangers of human abusive technology, dangerous warning of the future, opinion leader
• disabled representation- kotallo- lost an arm in battle- later he realises that he can embrace himself without the prosthetic arm
• the game also includes a quest centred around an elderly man experiencing dementia, portrayed with empathy and depth, another storyline features a Tenakh soldier who becomes blind- and his community supports him, as he finds a new role as a musician, emphasising that disability does not equate to inability