the evaluation of my media coursework

2. In what ways does my media product
use, develop or challenge forms and
conventions of real media products?

3. Front Cover Comparison
The color scheme difference between my
magazine and a traditional gaming one is
that my front cover is mostly a
composition of red and white however a
professional one uses more than two main
types.
The mastheads are also completely
different as mine is spread across the
whole width of the page in a single design
style with the addition of a graphical
element in order to grab the consumers
attention, however the PC gamer one uses
a double design style with three different
colors and does not use the while width
but leaves some space for additional
articles.
However my main image is innovative in
the gaming magazine industry as they
always use graphical images of the main
characters fro the most popular games, I
have used a live model in order to promote
my main article and get more personal
with my audience. Both layouts are
around the main image as it is the main
selling point.
My background is not a part of my image
and inspires a geeky feeling, while the
professional ones is a part of the
characters image.

4. Content Page Comparison
The difference in the masthead is
huge as my magazine challenges it
as it uses a much more captivating
and striking design, and also
includes magazine information and
the editors photo in order to
become more personal with my
audience, while the regular
gaming magazine doesn’t focus on
its content page mast head.
The whole layout style different as
my magazine uses the left and
lower right to promote articles
however the professional only uses
the left side for articles and focuses
on promoting three specific
features by including their images
on the right side. My magazine
only promotes one feature article.
Use three snapshots to support my
articles however the other
magazine used a graphical insert of
a gaming controller.
The three main images all
represent game reviews and use
game play images however mine
promotes the gaming interview
and is much more personal as a
model is used.

5. Double Spread Article Comparison
The difference in the masthead is clearly visible as I tried to
break away from the conventional use by putting it on the same
page as the article, and by using an eye-catching background
and attractive font. The other magazine put it in the center of
its main image using a easily readable font with a special design
in one letter to make it more interesting. Its introduction
started under the at head while mine started in the indented
part of mine.
The professional article uses no quotes as it is not an interview,
which is rare in the gaming magazine industry, however I did
one in order to have my magazine stand out from the rest. It
does however have a red circle with special information.
The two layout are somewhat similar as they both use a
whole page for the main image, with the actual gaming
magazine being more engaging while mine is more personal.
I have only used one photo while the gaming magazine used
a series of smaller ones in order to show of the games game
play and graphics.
I have used and entire page to promote my article as I have
arranged the interview in two columns which are easy to read
and follow. However the other magazine contains much less
text and information as it is mostly image based, splitting its
two paragraphs to be on both sides so the reader would look
and both of the and so it wouldn’t fell cramped

6. How does my magazine represent
a social group?
My masthead appeals to my main demographic
which is late teen and young adult males from
the ages of 16-22. They will be attracted to the
stylish font and strong contrast between red
and white as red is a dominant color. The name
OutSider helps the chosen demographics
identify themselves as gaming is not a part of
popular culture and they might feel like out by
modern society.
The articles are all relevant to gaming and also
use a combination of red and white which
helps maintain consistency and a stylish
appearance. Three different fonts are used in
order to keep the articles exciting as the late
teens can very easily get bored and distracted.
The main
image appeals
to my targeted
demographic
the most as the
model is
around their
age and has the
same interest
so they are
easily able to
identify
themselves and
look up to the
person.

7. Audience Feed Back
As I have already carried out my research and have decide to make the late teen
and young adult males my target audience for my gaming magazine OutSider.
However as it is still a gaming magazine targeting all the gamers market I have
conducted research and found out that 80% of my consumer base is males and
that 90% is 16-22 years old I have decide to keep my design modern and
contemporary and my color scheme gender neutral but striking as red is a
unisex color.
I have decide to ask 20 Gamers from a nearby high school what they have though
of my magazine and I have collected and analyzed the information.

8. Audience Feed Back
75%
25%
Do you approve of
the magazine
name?
yes no
From the data I have collected and critically analyzed I have concluded that my magazine is
accepted by the readers however I must further improve it. The most criticized point was the
main image as the consumers were not used to a photo being chosen over a graphical image.
The data also shows that some of my articles are not relevant or attractive which I will do my
best to fix in the next issue. The color scheme and name have mostly been approves so I will
not be changing them.
60%
40%
Do you think the
articles are
attractive and
relevant?
yes no
50%50%
Do you like the
main image?
yes no
90%
10%
Would you change
the magazines
color scheme?
yes no

9. What kind of media institutions might
distribute my media product?
Through my previous research I have already learned about two major magazine institutions that I would
consider to publish my magazine under.. They are Future plc. Whit hold PC Gamer and International Data
Group which hold GamePro.
Future plc publishes more than 30 magazines in fields such as video games, technology, films, photography,
and sport. This shows that it is a well versed and experienced publishing company that is an expert in all the
different types of markets. It was ranked as the sixth-largest media corporation in the United Kingdom in
2006. this is beneficial as it shows they have power and influence which my magazine could use when it
makes its debut. However Future plc had economic problems and a huge decline in profits in 2009 by 61%,
which might mean they could not publish to the extent that I wish and might cancel my magazine if the first
issue doesn’t sell really well.
IDG is an international parent company located in Boston with several publications such as Channel world,
PC world, PC advisor, Computerworld, Macworld, CIO,CSO, Network world and GamePro that are produced
on a national level., which shows a clear level of expertise in the gaming and technology magazine industry.
They also own other ventures and publish their magazines online, which is another medium through which
I can target my audience so therefore I choose IDG as my publisher.

10. Who would be the audience for my product?
•Typical teenager or young adult
•Age 16-22
•Plays video games in his free time
•Follows latest gaming trends and is
up to date on the latest game releases
•Watches e-sports
•Likes to also read comics and watch
TV shows
•Likes to read about his favorite pro
gamers and gaming companies
•Watches different games on YouTube
channels

11. How I attracted and addressed my target audience?
Codes
And
Conventions
Used
Attractive Masthead-
through the use of an
original masthead
design that stands out
from the rest due to its
unique and visually
attractive font, red and
white contrast and
graphical elements I
have created masthead
that appeals to my
target demographic.
Engaging Article- for
my main article I have
interviewed a person in
which my main target
audience can get
personal and identify
themselves as they also
aspire to become
professional game. It is
different from the
classical articles which
are only game reviews.
Cool color scheme- I have
used the red white and black
color scheme as these three
colors compliment each other
yet they are still strong colors
so they are striking attractive.
Language- I have used modern
and contemporary language as
gaming is a modern hobby that
is mostly performed by
teenagers and young adults.

12. What have you learnt about technologies from
the process of constructing this product?
Through the process of creating my magazine have learnt how to properly
handle a camera by conducting my own photo shoots in order to get original
mages I would use for my magazine.
The most valuable skill I have gained s that I have learnt how to use Adobe
Photoshop while designing my magazine. I have learnt how to resize images
through the transform scale tool, use a rectangular marquee tool to add the
white stripes for my front cover masthead, and the lasso tool to delete my first
background.

13. How I Created The Front Cover

14. Final Front Cover

15. Looking back at my preliminary
task, what do you feel you have
learnt in the progression from it to
the full product?

16. Personal development
As the comparison between the
final product on the left and my
preliminary task on the right can
be seen it is mostly due to my
personal development.
I have learned how to make a
proper magazine thanks to
researching existing gaming
magazine front covers, through
this I have been able to take a
medium shot that is targeting
the audience much more directly
than in my preliminary task.
I have also achieved new design
skills as I have learned the codes
and conventions of designing
and applied them to my final
front cover. On the left I have
only used two colors and three
fonts in order to achieve a
visually pleasing look and style,
however on the rights I have
used many different colors and
designs making it look very
amateurish and childish.

17. Evaluation
Analyzing my two content pages
there are obvious signs of
improvement as my final version
on the left looks much more
organized and professional.
Unlike in the content page on the
right where there was no image but
rather a cluster of snapshots in
order to make it more exciting, the
version on the left has a clear main
image that relates to the main
article, as well as supporting
secondary images.
Unlike in the right version where
there is too much unused space
due to the lack of articles and
proper organization, the final
content page design looks very neat
as there is almost no unused space
and the articles are all easy to read.
There is also the special section
heading to attract the readers
attention.
A much more striking color scheme
is used with the red as it is more
eye-catching than the passive blue
and grey from the preliminary task.