Kim Kardashian Hollywood CSP Case Study

Language:

1)
The objective when playing the Kim Kardashian: Hollywood game is to work your way up the celebrity scale from Z-List to A-List. There will be a number of opportunities to gain fans, date famous celebrities and get attention in order to get closer to the higher end of the A-List.

2)
An A-List celebrity is determined by your ranking on the Top Stars List in Hollywood. This list is then split into six different positions, Unlisted being the lowest possible rank and A-List being the highest possible rank.

3)
You can download the Kim Kardashian: Hollywood game by searching for it on either the App Store (Apple) or the Google Play Store (Android) and then selecting the download option.

4)
The narrative of Kim Kardashian: Hollywood is to interact with a range of different fictional and real characters and around many of the world's most prestige places around the world and famous locations. There are also collectables and missions that will allow you to develop the status of the customisable characters. The game is mainly set in the United States.

5)
In Kim Kardashian: Hollywood you play as the avatar that you create in other words yourself. You have the option to customise your character in any way you like to make the avatar look exactly like you or completely different as the power is in the players hands. Other characters that do appear are NPC's which are essentially all characters that aren't you meaning the celebrities,

Audience:
1)
The intended audience for the Kim Kardashian Hollywood game is probably for about 14-32 year old females due to the fact that it did specify in its description that it was not suitable for those who are not of age to have social media. Despite this, it is quite known to both the public and most likely the game itself that people below the age required use social media meaning that they still expect younger people to play it. Therefore, all though they publicly intended it to be aimed at this age bracket the actual age bracket is likely to start from at least 10 years old. 

2)
The audience pleasures provided by the game involve Relationships as you will be able to relate with your character as it is supposed to be a depiction of yourself along with being able to have a relationship with Kim Kardashian and her friends through the game. There is also Diversion as you are escaping into a completely different celebrity lifestyle with wealth and success which is probably completely different to your lifestyle. The levels and missions will also make you want to keep playing the game as you will be completely absorbed into the world instead of your own world. 

3)
The game is so addictive for audiences as it is constantly giving them a way to interact and feel involved with celebrities that they may like giving them more reason to play it. Additionally, the passing of the levels as you progress through the game will result in a greater amount of accomplishment you'll feel once you've completed the level. Finally, the fact that you can speed up timed tasks by being interactive in the game will cause the player to do other tasks in order to speed up the process.

4)
James Liu thinks that Kim Kardashian: Hollywood is so successful because of the overall aesthetic design of the game partnered with the features and brands involved in the game. It also caters to a very specific type of gamers with it being a mobile game rather than on a gaming console.

5)
James Liu suggested that the reason why players keep coming back to the game is because players get notifications that will act as reminders to return to the game. This ensures that they won't forget about it and will also urge them to keep playing the game. 

Representation:
1)
The representation of women that can be found in Kim Kardashian: Hollywood is that the only way for them to be successful is for them to focus on modelling, dating and their appearance. This is emphasised by the fact that in order your way up to being an A-List celebrity you constantly have to charm men in order to use their fame to make you successful. Doing modelling is also able to increase your popularity along with your appearance/clothing decisions. In the advert for the game the dress being worn by the avatar was quite revealing almost suggesting that the game is objectifying women.

2)
In the game when creating your avatar there are a variety of different skin colours and hair types which is really involving for people of all different kinds of races and ethnicities. This range can also allow you to actually make the avatar look just like you rather than for it to look like a completely different person. Additionally, in the game there aren't just heterosexual couples but also homosexual couples as well which is a great addition to the game to allow more people to feel involved and represented in the industry. 

3)
The game reinforces stereotypes that women aren't able to do things without the assistance of a man as flirting and charming them acts as a way to boost your popularity. The stereotype of women having to look good is also reinforced in the game as what exactly you choose to wear can also have an impact on your popularity. The stereotype of only white women with blonde hair and blue eyes being the only people represented in the beauty industry has also been subverted as you can choose what skin colour you are. Finally, the stereotype of women not being able to be successful at all has been subverted as if you choose a female avatar you can end up working your way up to become a successful celebrity.

4)
Regarding modern perceptions and how to get famous, the game suggests that you don't even need to have a particular talent in order to become famous. Simply by having a family member that is famous can easily make you famous as well along with publicity for something that doesn't involve anything special either. This suggests that now you don't have to do much in order to become famous now whereas before you actually became famous for something that could set you apart from other people.

5)
Someone might criticise the Kim Kardashian: Hollywood as it almost discredits celebrities that have actually worked exceedingly hard to become who they are today using their own talent and effort. Kim Kardashian: Hollywood makes light of this as it is suggesting that just by flirting, dressing nice and attending parties you can be famous. This suggests that you don't have to do much to become a celebrity which isn't the case at all however now it seems that some celebrities are simply 'famous for being famous'.

Industries:
1)
Kim Kardashian: Hollywood is free to download on either the Google Play Store or the App Store however there are in-app purchases. You aren't required to pay the in-app purchases to play the game but there are a lot of benefits that come with it if you do decide to pay for it.

2)
The game makes money through the in-app purchases that the players make in order to have access to these benefits that can allow for easier playing.

3)
The subscriptions available to Kim Kardashian: Hollywood include the Bronze, Silver and Gold subscriptions. The Bronze subscription is about £4.99, the Silver subscription is about £19.99 and the Gold subscription is about £49.99. The more money you pay for the subscription the more benefits you will be given access to.

4)
Kim Kardashian: Hollywood was marketed in a way that made the audience feel as though Kim Kardashian was just a normal friend in their every day life. This was successfully delivered in the official TV advert where it was all filmed from our point of view to first of all make it seem as though we are experiencing this first hand. This is then supported by the video call that is appeared to take place with the audience and Kim Kardashian emphasising the friendship between you.

5)
Kim Kardashian: Hollywood used Media convergence by referencing and promoting the game on social media and on the TV show Keeping Up with the Kardashians in order to make audiences much more aware of the game.