Industry (WJEC Eduqas GCSE Media Studies): Revision Note

Growth of the games industry

• Fortnite demonstrates how modern media products combine advanced technology, global strategies and innovative funding models

• The global video game industry has been growing since the 1980s

  • It starting with early home consoles such as Atari

• The industry has expanded rapidly due to:

  • New genres

  • Improved technology

  • Multiple platforms 

• By 2020, video game sales were predicted to reach $90 billion

  • This shows how economically important gaming has become

• This growth shows that video games are now a mainstream entertainment industry, not a niche hobby

Technology and convergence

• Fortnite shows technological convergence because it can be played on many devices, including:

  • Consoles

  • PCs

  • Phones

  • Tablets

• Players can switch devices during a game without stopping,

  • This makes it easy and flexible to play anywhere

  • It also increases accessibility and helps the game reach a wider audience

• Fortnite also shows cross-media convergence because it exists across different media platforms

  • Example 1 : It is highly viewed on YouTube and streamed via Twitch

  • Example 2 : It collaborates with major franchises such as Marvel and other brands like Godzilla

• These collaborations help promote Fortnite and other media products at the same time, keeping it popular

• Working with celebrities, musicians and athletes helps Fortnite appeal to a wider, mainstream audience, not just gamers

Funding

• Fortnite uses a free-to-play (Games as a Service) model

  • This means the game is free but makes money over time

• It earns most of its revenue through micro-transactions, which are in-game purchases

  • Players use V-bucks to buy items within the gameplay

• These items are cosmetic only, so they do not affect gameplay and keep the game fair

• Many items are limited edition, which encourages players to spend money quickly

• Fortnite also offers 'Battle Passes'

  • These act like a seasonal subscription and unlock exclusive content over time

• This creates a steady income and keeps players engage

Epic Games background

• Epic Games was founded by Tim Sweeney in 1991

  • It has grown into a large global media company, showing how successful the gaming industry can be

• The company owns other developers and has studios in countries such as the UK, Japan and Germany

• It created Unreal Engine, one of the most successful game engines in the world

  • Unreal Engine is available to the public, which encourages creativity and audience participation

• The company is partly owned by Tencent, showing how media companies rely on global investment

Regulation

• Video games are regulated using age classification systems

  • This is used to indicate their suitability for different audiences

• In the UK, this is managed by the PEGI system, which helps guide consumers and parents

• Fortnite has a PEGI rating of 12 because it contains mild violence

  • This means it is generally considered suitable for younger players

• Age ratings help people make informed decisions about what they play

• However, the main concern about Fortnite is addiction and too much screen time, rather than violence