Fortnite (2017) - Media Industries

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Fortnite (2017)

Fortnite is a series of free-to-play multiplayer battleground games produced by Epic Games.

Introduction to Fortnite (2017)

Fortnite was first launched in July 2017.
It is available on multiple platforms (PC, consoles, mobile, and tablets).
It is known for its mix of combat, building, and survival gameplay.
The game is aimed at teen and young adult audiences, but is played worldwide by all ages.

The Fortnite franchise

Fortnite includes several game modes:
- Fortnite: Battle Royale – 100 players fight until only one remains.
- Fortnite: Save The World – Team survival mode against zombie-like creatures.
- Fortnite: Creative – Players design and build their own islands and mini-games.
Fortnite: Battle Royale is the most successful free-to-play video game ever.

Fortnite's financial success

Fortnite made $1.2 billion in the first 10 months of release.
The total franchise revenue in 2018 was $3.1 billion
Epic Games’ value grew from $825 million (2012) to $5.8 billion (2018).
The game won “Best Ongoing Game” (PC Gamer & IGN, 2018).

Gameplay overview

100 players are dropped from a flying bus onto an island.
Players collect weapons, materials, and items to survive.
The map shrinks over time due to a deadly storm, forcing battles.
The last player or team standing wins.
Players can destroy and rebuild structures, combining combat and construction.

Game genre and style

Fortnite is a fusion of two popular game types:
- Battle games (like PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds)
- Construction games (like Minecraft)
Known for its colourful, cartoon-like art style and fast-paced gameplay.
Regular updates and themed events keep the game feeling fresh.

Fortnite - Media Industries

The video game industry has grown rapidly since the 1980s. In 2014, there were 1.8 billion gamers worldwide. In 2015, sales were forecast to reach $90 billion by 2020.

Unreal engine and creativity

Fortnite was built using Epic’s Unreal Engine.
Epic allows users to download and use it for free to make their own games.
Unreal Engine is also used in major games like:
- Batman: Arkham City
- Infinity Blade
This supports creative audiences and independent developers.

Epic Games as a media institution

Epic Games, founded by Tim Sweeney in 1991, was originally run from his home.
They were famous for the Unreal Engine, named “Most Successful Videogame Engine” by Guinness World Records (2014).
Epic owns several studios including:
- Chair Entertainment
- Cloudgine (cloud software)
Tencent, a Chinese company, owns 42% of Epic (bought in 2012).

Reaching audiences

Cross-media convergence = different media forms/brands joining to promote each other.
Fortnite works with:
- YouTube and Twitch for streaming and competitions
- Marvel Studios (Avengers: Infinity War event)
Collaborations keep Fortnite fresh and in the public eye.
Epic Games also partners with famous people to reach wider audiences:
- Rapper Drake played Fortnite live on Twitch.
- NBA star Ben Simmons promoted the game.
This helps Fortnite appeal beyond traditional gamers.

Funding and profit models

Fortnite uses the “Games as a Service” (GaaS) model.
The game is free to play, but players buy extras using V-bucks (game currency).
These are microtransactions for:
- Skins (new outfits)
- Emotes (dance moves)
- Season passes (exclusive rewards)
Purchases are cosmetic only, not skill-based – but limited-time offers boost demand.

Regulation and PEGI ratings

Games must show age ratings to guide parents and consumers.
In the UK, the system used is PEGI (Pan-European Game Information).
PEGI ratings became part of UK law in 2012, overseen by the Video Standards Council (VSC).
Fortnite’s rating: PEGI 12 – “Frequent scenes of mild violence.”
- Most parents' concerns are about addiction, not violence.

1Overview

1.1Media Language

1.1.1Media Language

1.1.2Media Language 2

1.2Audience

1.2.1Audiences

1.2.2Audiences 2

1.2.3End of Topic Test - Media Language & Audience

1.3Representation

1.3.1Stereotypes

1.3.2Gender

1.3.3Audiences

1.4The Media Industry

1.4.1Media Industries

1.4.2Ownership

1.4.3Funding & Regulation

1.4.4End of Topic Test - Representation/Media Industry

2Component 1: Section A

2.1Magazines - Vogue

2.1.1Magazines

2.1.2Vogue - Context

2.1.3Vogue - Narrative

2.1.4Vogue - Representation

2.2Magazines - GQ

2.2.1GQ - Context

2.2.2GQ - Narrative

2.2.3GQ - Representation

2.3Advertising & Marketing

2.3.1Advertising & Marketing

2.3.2Analysing Adverts

2.3.3Analysing Adverts 2

2.3.4Theories & Principles

2.3.5End of Topic Test - Magazines & Advertising

2.4Print Advertisements - Quality Street

2.4.1Quality Street - Context

2.4.2Quality Street - Narrative

2.4.3Quality Street - Representation

2.5Print Advertisements - (2026 Exams) This Girl Can

2.5.1This Girl Can - Context

2.5.2This Girl Can - Narrative

2.5.3This Girl Can - Representation

2.6Print Advertisements - (2027 Exams) NHS 111

2.6.1NHS 111 - Context

2.6.2NHS 111 - Narrative

2.6.3NHS 111 - Representation

2.7Film Posters (Marketing)

2.7.1The Man with The Golden Gun

2.7.2The Man with The Golden Gun 2

2.8Film - No Time To Die

2.8.1Context

2.8.2Narrative

2.8.3Representation

2.9Newspapers

2.9.1Ownership & Regulation

2.9.2News Selection

2.9.3Media Language

2.9.4Genres

2.9.5Newspaper Conventions

2.9.6Representation

2.9.7Audience

2.9.8Theories

2.9.9End of Topic Test - Newspapers

2.10The Sun

2.10.1Context

2.10.2Narrative

2.10.3Language & Images

2.11The Guardian

2.11.1The Guardian

2.11.2Narrative

2.11.3Language & Images

2.12(2028 Exams) The Sun

2.12.1The Sun - Context

2.12.2The Sun - Narrative

2.12.3The Sun - Representation

2.13(2028 Exams) The Guardian

2.13.1The Guardian - Context

2.13.2The Guardian - Narrative

2.13.3The Guardian - Representation

3Component 1: Section B

3.1Video Games

3.1.1Video Games

3.2Video Games - Fortnite

3.2.1Fortnite (2017) - Media Industries

3.2.2Fornite (2017) - Audience

3.3Film

3.3.1The Big Six

3.3.2Technology

3.3.3End of Topic Test - Video Games & Films

3.4Radio

3.4.1The Radio Industry

3.4.2Categories of Radio Station

3.4.3Technology & Radio Audiences

3.4.4Theories

3.4.5End of Topic Test - Radio

3.5Radio - The Archers

3.5.1Production

3.5.2Media Industries

3.5.3Media Contexts

3.5.4Audiences 1

3.5.5Audiences 2

3.6(2027 Exams) Radio - Desert Island Discs

3.6.1Media Industries

3.6.2Audiences

3.6.3Media Contexts

4Component 2: Section A

4.1Television

4.1.1The Television Industry

4.1.2Types of Broadcasting

4.1.3Media Language & TV

4.1.4Representation & Audiences

4.1.5Theories

4.2Sitcom

4.2.1Sitcoms

4.2.2Friends

4.2.3Friends 2

4.2.4End of Topic Test - Sitcoms & Friends

4.3Sitcom - Modern Family

4.3.1Media Language

4.3.2Representation

4.3.3Media Industries

4.3.4Audiences

4.3.5Media Contexts

4.4Sitcom - Man Like Mobeen

4.4.1Media Language

4.4.2Representations

4.4.3Media Industries

4.5(2026 Exams) Luther

4.5.1Context

4.5.2Media Language

4.5.3Representation

4.5.4Audience

4.5.5Industry

4.6The Sweeney

4.6.1Context

4.6.2Media Language

4.6.3Representation

4.6.4Audience

4.6.5Industry

5Component 2: Section B

5.1Music Video

5.1.1Music Videos

5.1.2The Music Industry

5.2Lizzo - 'Good as Hell'

5.2.1Context

5.2.2'Good as Hell'

5.2.3Media Language

5.2.4Representation

5.2.5Audience

5.2.6Industry

5.3Taylor Swift - 'The Man'

5.3.1Taylor Swift

5.3.2Media Language

5.3.3Representation

5.3.4Audiences

5.3.5Media Industries

5.3.6Media Contexts

5.4Stormzy - 'Superheroes'

5.4.1Stormzy

5.4.2Media Language

5.4.3Representation

5.4.4Audiences

5.4.5Media Industries

5.4.6Media Contexts

5.5Justin Bieber - 'Intentions'

5.5.1Justin Bieber

5.5.2Media Language

5.5.3Representation

5.5.4Audiences

5.5.5Media Industries

5.5.6Media Contexts

5.6TLC - 'Waterfalls'

5.6.1TLC

5.6.2Media Language

5.6.3Representation

5.6.4Media Contexts

5.7Duran Duran - 'Rio'

5.7.1Duran Duran

5.7.2Media Language

5.7.3Representation

5.7.4Media Contexts

5.8Online Media - Lizzo

5.8.1Media Language

5.8.2Representation

5.8.3Audiences

5.8.4Media Contexts & Industries

5.9Online Media - Taylor Swift

5.9.1Media Language

5.9.2Representation

5.9.3Audiences

5.9.4Media Contexts & Industries

5.10Online Media - Stormzy

5.10.1Media Language

5.10.2Representation

5.10.3Audience

5.10.4Media Context & Industries

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