This page is a tentative schedule for what we’re doing this semester.
Weeks 1 – 3 (August 27 – September 14)
Approaches to videogame ontology and a history of games.
Text
- Chapters 1 – 4 of Understanding Video Games
- Kocurek, Carly A. “The Agony and the Exidy: A History of Video Game Violence and the Legacy of Death Race.” Game Studies, vol. 12, no. 1, Sept. 2012. Game Studies, http://gamestudies.org/1201/articles/carly_kocurek.
- Nooney, Laine. “A Pedestal, A Table, A Love Letter: Archaeologies of Gender in Videogame History.” Game Studies, vol. 13, no. 2, Dec. 2013. Game Studies, http://gamestudies.org/1302/articles/nooney.
Games
- Spacewar! (1962)
- Adventure (1979)
- Yar’s Revenge (1982)
- Pac-Man (1980)
- Berzerk (1982)
- Colossal Cave Adventure (1976)
Project #1: Commercial is due at the beginning of class on Friday, September 14.
Weeks 4 – 5 (September 17 – 28)
Analyzing Video Games
Text
- Carr, Diane. “Textual Analysis, Digital Games, Zombies.” Breaking New Ground: Innovation in Games, Play, Practice and Theory. Proceedings of DiGRA 2009, 2009.
- Montfort, Nick. “Combat in Context.” Game Studies, vol. 6, no. 1, Dec. 2006, http://gamestudies.org/0601/articles/montfort.
Games
- Choose a game from List 1 in the syllabus.
- Combat (1978)
Project #2: Close Playing is due Friday, September 28.
Weeks 6 – 7 (October 1 – 12)
Learning from Cultural Studies.
Text
Games
Weeks 8 – 10 (October 15 – November 2)
Doing videogame criticism.
Weeks 11 – 12 (November 5 – 16)
Another game, in-depth.
Weeks 13 – 15 (November 19 – December 7)
Other games — avant-garde, political, experimental.
Finals Week
Finish projects and present to the class.