Audience (WJEC Eduqas GCSE Media Studies): Revision Note

What is the audience for Fortnite?

• The audience for Fortnite is 78% male and 22% female

• Approximately 53% are aged 10-25

• About 42% of the audience are in full-time work

• Fortnite uses addictive gameplay, marketing and technological convergence to attract a wide audience

Targeting the audience

• Fortnite successfully targets audiences by combining accessible gameplay, celebrity culture and ongoing content updates

• These strategies appeal to a global and diverse range of players

Accessible style

• Cartoon graphics and unrealistic violence make it suitable for younger audiences

• Building and fighting style makes it more widely appealing

eSports and streaming

• Fortnite is popular on YouTube and Twitch where people watch gameplay worldwide

Female appeal

• Female streamers and “Twitch Girls” help to increase female participation in the game

Gaming celebrities

• Players like Ninja are famous online and influence audiences

Wider celebrity culture

• Celebrities like rappers and athletes help the game reach non-gaming audiences

Seasonal structure

• New “seasons” with updates and rumours keep players interested long-term

Social context: Fortnite

• Gaming has become a social activity rather than a solo experience

• Since early online games like Ultima Online (1997), multiplayer gaming has developed significantly

• Players now form friendships, teams, alliances and even relationships within game worlds

• Games like Fortnite encourage communication and teamwork between players worldwide

• This shows gaming is part of modern digital social culture

Demographics in gaming

• In 2014, there were around 1.8 billion gamers worldwide, meaning about 25% of the global population played videogames.

• This challenges the stereotype that gamers are only young, male or “geeky”

• In the USA (2018):

  • 28% of gamers were under 18

  • 23% were over 50

• The gender split is approximately (55% male / 45% female)

• This shows gaming is now a diverse and widespread activity across age and gender groups

Applying theories in gaming

Active and passive audiences

Active audience

• Players are actively involved in the game (making choices and controlling actions)

• Fortnite players build, fight and explore, shaping their own experience

• Players can work in teams, showing interaction and collaboration

• Fortnite: Creative allows players to design their own content (e.g. maps, skins)

• Players can even create games using tools from Epic Games

Passive audience

• Some audiences watch rather than play

• People watch Fortnite on platforms like Twitch or YouTube

• Viewers enjoy entertainment without interacting directly

• This is similar to watching TV or live events (e.g. eSports)

Uses and gratifications theory (Blumier and Katz)

Star theory (Richard Dyer)

• Dyer’s Star Theory suggests audiences look up to stars as role models

• This theory could apply to Fortnite because gamers and influencers become celebrities

  • Audiences may copy their behaviour, style or gameplay

• These “stars” help shape identity and aspirations, especially for younger players