BCM215: Contextual Report

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Simlish Songs: The Cultural Phenomenon Shaping The Sims’ Identity, Success, and Longevity

Simlish songs are musical tracks featured in The Sims video game franchise, performed in the fictional language Simlish, spoken by the game’s characters. While these songs might seem like quirky background elements, they play a significant role as paratexts, enriching the player’s experience by enhancing immersion, fostering participatory media culture, and acting as powerful marketing tools. From in-game radio stations to collaborations with real-world artists like Katy Perry and Lily Allen, Simlish songs have become central to The Sims‘ cultural identity, blurring the lines between the virtual world and real-life pop culture.

My analysis of Simlish songs was structured around three key concepts: Texts and Paratexts, Marketing and Advertising, and Participatory Media Culture. Gérard Genette’s theory of paratexts provided the foundation, defining Simlish songs as supplementary elements that shape player perception of the game. Mia Consalvo’s idea that paratexts can become texts themselves further illustrated how Simlish songs have grown beyond their role as background features to become defining cultural artifacts. Additionally, Henry Jenkins’ work on participatory culture illuminated how fan engagement drives the cultural longevity of Simlish songs through fan-driven content creation.

In the Digital Artefact (DA) audio-video component, I explored these concepts by examining the cultural relevance of Simlish songs, their role in blurring the boundaries between the game and reality, and how they inspire fan-generated content. The podcast segment of the DA delves deeper into these themes, providing an engaging discussion that expands on the core insights from the analysis.

Reflection on the Creative Process

The creation of my DA involved several stages, from conceptualisation to the final production of the audio-video. The process began with brainstorming and research, where I explored Simlish songs within The Sims franchise, focusing on their cultural significance. I used Google Scholar, the UOW Library, and Moodle resources to gather academic material, summarising sources using tools like ScholarGPT to extract key quotes and insights. To keep my research organised, I created a research database where I documented the relevance of each source to the analytical framework. Additionally, I maintained a DA Evolution Process Journal to track my progress, noting key developments in my understanding of the framework.

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This database is a collection of academic sources I gathered throughout the semester during my research. Each source includes an outline of how it directly informs my analysis of Simlish songs and enhances my understanding of the analytical framework.
This page provides an overview of the evolution of my research, understanding, and development of the Digital Artefact throughout the semester. It tracks the progress made as I built the foundation for analysing Simlish songs, exploring how they relate to the key concepts in my analytical framework.

In completing the pitch, Blog Post 1, and Blog Post 2, I gradually built the foundation for my DA. The pitch gave me the opportunity to outline my approach and receive valuable feedback, which I applied to my project. Blog Post 1 focused on detailing the analytical framework I would use to analyse Simlish songs, while Blog Post 2 expanded on this with a detailed analysis of Simlish songs using that framework. The feedback from the tasks, in-class discussions, and contacting academic staff, helped shape the final analysis for my DA.

Overall Digital Artefact Audio/Video

(Overview + Podcast)

Alternatively, you can also view the individual videos below

Overview of Analysis

This first video presents an overview of the analytical framework I used to explore Simlish songs within The Sims franchise. It follows a traditional structure, breaking down the core concepts while citing specific examples and incorporating visual materials to support the analysis.

The goal was to meet the Digital Artefact criteria in a concise and informative way, offering a structured presentation of my research findings. However, despite its clear layout, I found this format somewhat limiting in terms of engagement, which led me to explore more creative approaches.

Podcast Episode

In contrast to the first video, this podcast episode provides a more dynamic and engaging deep dive into the cultural impact of Simlish songs.

Utilising a new AI tool called Notebook LM by Google, I experimented with the ‘Audio Overview’ feature to create an AI-generated podcast. Although it may seem like a simple AI-generated piece, the process was far more intricate. I compiled academic sources, wrote extensive content to inform the AI, uploaded supplementary materials (including my pitch and blog posts), and repeated this process several times to ensure accuracy.

I replicated this process several times to generate many different versions to ensure a comprehensive and accurate overview of my analysis. From here, I then chopped up the audio and meticulously edited it together to sound like a cohesive podcast. I also spent several days editing the visual components and refining the overall video.

The purpose of this podcast is to complement the first video by offering a fresh, engaging way to explore my analysis, combining my research with innovative AI tools to create a unique, dynamic experience.

One major challenge was managing the AI-generated content in the podcast episode. It required a lot of refinement to ensure the narrative was cohesive and engaging. I managed this by breaking apart the script into sections, generating multiple versions, and then editing the audio together. Time management was also a struggle based on the expectations I set, but I overcame it by using AI tools for content generation and focusing on small, incremental tasks to complete the project.

Through this process, my understanding of Simlish songs (and game media in general) evolved. I realised their role in fostering participatory culture was far more significant than I initially thought, contributing to the franchise’s cultural relevance. The songs blur the boundaries between virtual and real worlds, making them a core part of The Sims’ identity.

The creation of this DA helped me develop a range of skills. I developed my research skills, particularly in organising information and using an analytical framework. Additionally, I gained technical skills in audio and video production and editing, learning how to structure and communicate complex ideas in an engaging format. These skills will be invaluable for future projects requiring both academic research and creative content production.

Engagement and Feedback

Throughout the development of my Digital Artefact (DA), I actively sought feedback to refine and improve my work. Early on, after submitting my initial DA pitch, I received positive feedback for my strong use of research and organisation, with suggestions to focus on a more concise analytical framework. Specifically, Richard recommended narrowing down the framework to three core elements rather than four, to avoid overcomplicating the analysis. I applied this advice by tightening the focus to Texts and Paratexts, Marketing and Advertising, and Participatory Media Culture.

I also consulted with the subject coordinator via email throughout the Semester to confirm assignment expectations and receive advice regarding my ideas. Her feedback was instrumental in clarifying the concept of paratexts, as she pointed out that Simlish songs can act as both a part of the text within the game and as paratexts when used in marketing. This encouraged me to explore this dual function in my analysis, further enriching the project.

The iterative process of receiving and applying feedback significantly enhanced my DA. Each round of revision led to a clearer, more focused presentation of my ideas, ensuring that the final product aligned with the expectations of BCM215.

Future Directions

In the future, I could expand my DA by delving deeper into the role of Simlish songs within The Sims franchise. One way to improve my current analysis would be to explore the commercial and economic aspects of Simlish songs. While I have touched on their cultural significance, a deeper focus on the commercial strategy behind these songs could reveal their broader role in media convergence. By examining how collaborations with music artists have benefited both the game and the artists, I could explore how in-game music contributes to the financial success of the franchise. This would provide insights into how game developers use music licensing and partnerships as part of broader strategies to attract wider audiences and sustain the brand.

Another approach I would like to explore is expanding the ‘Texts and Paratexts’ analysis by incorporating Gérard Genette’s concept of “thresholds.” This would allow me to examine how Simlish songs act as gateways, merging real-world pop-culture with the virtual game world through an unfamiliar language. Exploring how these songs, still engage players emotionally despite being in Simlish would provide a better understanding of their contribution to the immersive experience. I could also investigate how Simlish songs transition from being just background elements to becoming integral parts of the game’s identity, blurring the lines between texts and paratexts.

Additionally, focusing on a semiotic analysis of Simlish as a fictional language could further my research. A closer examination of how players interpret and give meaning to Simlish songs could highlight broader discussions on how fictional elements in games rely on audience participation for meaning. This could deepen the study of participatory cultures, as Simlish songs encourage fan-driven content like remixes and covers, extending its relevance beyond the game itself. Exploring how fans co-create with these songs would offer new insights into the dynamic between game creators and the audience.

The potential impact of expanding my analysis would be significant, with research aimed at revealing how seemingly minor in-game elements contribute to a game’s branding and cultural identity. This could provide useful case studies for both game developers and scholars, offering a deeper understanding of how these elements influence the gaming industry and the wider media landscape.

In Conclusion

In conclusion, my exploration of Simlish songs within The Sims franchise revealed their deeper role as paratexts, marketing and advertising tools, and drivers of participatory media culture. The creative process of developing my Digital Artefact, from conceptualisation to production, challenged me to think critically about how to effectively communicate theoretical analysis through engaging digital content. This project allowed me to develop my research skills, deepened my understanding of game media concepts/theories, and pushed me to experiment with new AI tools, organisation techniques and different formats. Overall, it has enhanced my ability to bridge academic insights with creative expression, allowing me to present complex ideas in an engaging way.

Reference List

(Including Digital Artefact Audio/Video References)

Use of AI Tools

This contextual report was prepared with the assistance of several generative AI tools. Below is an outline of the AI tools used and how they contributed to the process:

  • ChatGPT: Assisted in organising and summarising research, refining language, reducing word count, and improving clarity throughout the report.
  • Notebook LM: Utilised to generate summaries and explanations for research documents, aiding in the note-taking and analysis process.
  • ScholarGPT: Used to extract key quotes, definitions, and insights from academic sources, ensuring a more streamlined research process.

All research, analysis, and creative decisions were independently conducted, with AI tools used solely for support in organising, refining, and enhancing the content.

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