Lego Movie Video Game

Vertical Integration Media Definition: when the combination in one firm of two or more stages of production normally operated by separate firm, distribution and exhibition of the film by the same company, because of this they receive all of the profit.

Simultaneous releases:
spiderman 1,2 and 3 all had video-games
Madagascar 1 and 2 both had video-games
Tron Evolution released a video-game

Companies often release tie-in video-games alongside their movies to advertise each other, if someone who plays games comes across and enjoys the game they may watch the movie and vice versa. This contains intertextuality too.
There are 4 main reasons why companies do this:
To maximise profit by releasing two products.
Familiarity of one product may advertise the second.
The game promotes the film, the film promotes the game. 
The game allows the player to control the action and be part of the story.

Blumler and Katz: Reasons for Consumption of the Media:

Diversion - Using the media to escape the boredom of everyday life.
Personal Relationships -  The media forms relationships between people who share the same interests.
Personal Identity -  Using the media to find out more about themselves and what they enjoy.
Surveillance -  Using the media to find information.

Related to the game:

Diversion -  The lego movie game and movie both distract from the boredom of average life with action
Personal Relationships -  They build relationships with people who enjoy the games and movie.
Personal Identity -  They help young people understand what they like


How is the Lego Movie video game used to promote the lego movie to the target audience?

The audience of the Lego Movie Video Game would be children, it would be quite rare to see an adult playing it. This would make the children want to watch the movie. Also there is use of Blumler and Katz theory, the use of diversion. This day in age, most children like to play video games, and having a toy (lego), they will want to combine the two. The game would appeal to children and they would find it fun, and then they would want to watch the movie, vice versa. The children will also talk about this to their friends and family, also relating the the Blumler and Katz theory. The secondary audience may be adults (parents etc.) to get some nostalgia.