Semiotics in games

Semiotics in Games

      For this project we had to chose one scene from a preferred game and analyse it.

I have chosen the same scene that I had before, with the dance ring, from Rayman - Raving Rabbids. Reason for this, was the fact that this is one of my favourite games, and I love the dancing part of it. I found it difficult initially to get the rhythm and get the points necessary, but after a few attempts, I fell in love with it and can't get enough. 

Semiotic interpretation of Rayman -  Raving Rabbids dance scene

The atmosphere in this screen shot is created by the oversized Disco lights and speakers in the back. You can totally "hear" the LOUD music.

The Rabbids are all with their eyes and mouths wide opened, everyone understanding clearly, that they are singing along with the music, which is again, a very clever way of symbolising the fun. Hands are all up in the air, all doing the same dance move, again, another symbol of the fun atmosphere.

The set up is a dark, club like scene, with 2 big spotlights emphasising only the scene and who is on it. Nothing on the side is of interest, so it is put in darkness. The Chiaroscuro light effect is very well implemented here, with such a big contrast being created between important and negligible through very clever use of light.
The scene is also created through Rayman's costume (main character - central front), with 70's style being invoked, through his outfit, hairstyle, glasses,  and the dance moves performed, where everyone seems to be following the same routine ( analogy to Saturday Night Fever).

Throughout the entire game, there are lots of references to various movies and videogames, making fun of different aspects of them. Outfits used to customise Rayman include Indiana Jones, Spider Man, Street Fighter, Sponge Bob Square Pants and even Assassin's Creed, Haze and Sailor Moon.

You can definitely understand at a glance, that this is not a shooting game, or a strategy one. It is definitely a family, fun/party game.

Symbols:

• disco lights - symbolise fun, entertaining atmosphere, 70's club scene
• speakers - being bigger that the actual characters, they symbolise loud music
• spotlights - characters on the scene are the most important ones, emphasis is being put on Rayman, the main character
• Rayman - he is positioned centrally in the image, so he is definitely the main character
• Rayman's outfit - scene is probably set in the 70's disco era. Rayman is a very clear impersonation of that period.
• dance moves - you can only assume that as the scene is set with the other symbols, the dance moves symbolise the 70's style of music, as they all dance together a preset routine
• life bar at the bottom of the screen - only a third full, which gives the impression that the task (dance in this case) is a third of the way through
• Rabbids' eyes and mouths wide opened - symbolise the whole fun theme that is attempted in this screen shot