780.221 (17W) Game Studies

Wintersemester 2017/18

Registration deadline has expired.

First course session
03.10.2017 08:00 - 10:00 N.0.27 On Campus
... no further dates known

Overview

Lecturer
Course title german Game Studies
Type Lecture
Hours per Week 2.0
ECTS credits 4.0
Registrations 29
Organisational unit
Language of instruction English
possible language(s) of the assessment English
Course begins on 03.10.2017
eLearning Go to Moodle course

Time and place

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Course Information

Intended learning outcomes

Understand the basic concepts and critical dimensions of game studies, their historical development, as well as current debates and perspectives in the field. Become familiar with central authors, foundational texts, and defining theories. Learn to contextualise videogames in various critical frameworks  and participate in the analysis of sample material during the lecture.

 At the end of the semester, you will be well equipped to competently analyse videogames from a cultural perspective in an academic framework and to draw essential connections between theories, games, and society.

Teaching methodology including the use of eLearning tools

Lecture sessions with in-class discussions of selected videogame examples.

Integrated e-learning blocks in relation to Critical Game Labs.

Course content

This blended learning lecture will give students an overview of core topics in game studies. It will provide historical and social context, as well as signature examples for each of the topics treated.


Topics discussed are:

What are Game Studies?

Technoplay and Criticism

Videogames as Cyborg Experiences

What Is A Game?

A History of Videogames

Videogame Aesthetics

Narrative in Videogames

Videogames as Media Texts (e)

Cultures of Production (e)

Videogames in Culture (e)

Videogames Beyond Entertainment (e)

Videogames and Risks

Guest Talk: Videogames and Addiction

['e' designates e-learning blocks]

Literature

The course is by and large based on two introductory texts:

Dovey, Jon, and Helen W Kennedy. 2006. Game Cultures: Computer Games as New Media. Maidenhead/Engl.: Open University Press.

Egenfeldt-Nielsen, Simon, Jonas Heide Smith, and Susana Pajares Tosca. 2007. Understanding Video Games. New York/NY and Abingdon/Engl.: Routledge.

Additional texts will be used in conjunction with this theoretical core, but students will not be expected to buy any material as everything they need will be made available on Moodle.

Examination information

Im Fall von online durchgeführten Prüfungen sind die Standards zu beachten, die die technischen Geräte der Studierenden erfüllen müssen, um an diesen Prüfungen teilnehmen zu können.

Examination methodology

Written exam with combinations of multiple choice and open answers. There will also be a short critical essay available as a bonus option that offers students a choice of topic and that replaces the question combination with the fewest total points.

Examination topic(s)

Only material discussed in class will be part of the exam. There is one combination of a MC and an OA question per lecture session. Students will also have the option to write a short critical essay about one videogame of their choice.

Assessment criteria / Standards of assessment for examinations

MC questions ask students to reproduce basic information from the sessions. OA questions require the ability to contextualise and critically reflect upon theories and games. The Bonus Option gives every student the opportunity to bring in their special interests and to make up for weaknesses elsewhere.

Grading scheme

Grade / Grade grading scheme

Position in the curriculum

  • Master's degree programme Game Studies and Engineering (SKZ: 992, Version: 17W.2)
    • Subject: Game Studies (Compulsory subject)
      • Game Studies ( 0.0h VO / 4.0 ECTS)
        • 780.221 Game Studies (2.0h VO / 4.0 ECTS)
          Absolvierung im 1. Semester empfohlen

Equivalent courses for counting the examination attempts

Wintersemester 2023/24
  • 780.221 VO Game Studies (2.0h / 4.0ECTS)
Wintersemester 2022/23
  • 780.221 VO Game Studies (2.0h / 4.0ECTS)
Wintersemester 2021/22
  • 780.221 VO Game Studies (2.0h / 4.0ECTS)
Wintersemester 2020/21
  • 780.221 VO Game Studies (2.0h / 4.0ECTS)
Wintersemester 2019/20
  • 780.221 VO Game Studies (2.0h / 4.0ECTS)
Wintersemester 2018/19
  • 780.221 VO Game Studies (2.0h / 4.0ECTS)