HA9 Task 2 - Secondary Research

To define the audience for Grand Theft Auto 5, I first looked at the cover for the game. At first glance I can clearly see characters holding guns, as well as a helicopter firing its weapons. There is also an aggressive-looking dog that seems to be attacking something. The text on the cover is bold and stands out, and the bright colours imply that it is meant to appeal to slightly younger people. Looking at the characters on the cover, all but 1 are male, which likely means the game is targeted towards male players.

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As shown on the cover, GTA5 has a PEGI rating of 18, which suits the theme of violence it seems to show, but this doesn't mean that every GTA5 player is actually 18+. According to a survey done by a member of the GameFAQs forum, around 42% of the 931 players are between the ages of 18 and 24. Around 12% (116) of GTA5 players are below the age of 18.

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Screenshots of the game also show a lot of weaponry and violence. The first two screenshots show characters shooting at helicopters, and the last one shows a character with a gun running away from an exploding building. The screenshots seem to support the idea that the audience for GTA5 is young males.

The trailer for the game also shows a theme of violence, showing people about to rob a shop, and a high-speed car chase with the police.

From looking at the cover, screenshots and the survey, I think that GTA5 was made to appeal to young male players. The male-dominant cast, and the focus on guns, violence, and vehicles suits male interests more than female interests.