What is this course about?
This course looks at computer games about social and environmental issues that inspire activism. You will learn to critically analyze digital games using analytic tools from the fields of narrative and game design theory. You will also use these tools to design your own games. A special emphasis will be placed on the social values embedded in digital games through their narrative and game mechanics.
You will implement your own games using software tools that do not require any programming knowledge but you will learn about some fundamental computer science concepts along the way. Finally, you will learn about methods for evaluating the impact of games on players and society.
Who teaches it?
Christine Henseler
Kristina Striegnitz
When and where
TTH 10:55-12:40, Olin 102
How to contact us
| email: | henselec@union.edu | striegnk@union.edu |
| office phone: | (518 388) 8021 | (518 388) 6554 |
| office: | Humanities 213C | Steinmetz 233 |
| office hours: | T 3:40-5:00 TH 12:50-1:50 | T 1-3 F 1-3 |
What do you need to do?
Attend class. Attendance in this course is mandatory. Any unexcused absence after the second absence will reduce your final grade 1/3 letter grade (for example, from a B to a B-, or from an A- to a B+) for every class that you miss. For any excused absence you are required to submit a note from a person of authority.
Participate. It is expected that you participate actively in class. In other words you should come to class prepared, having read the material, having completed all assignments, and being prepared to ask questions and add to the class with new insights.
Complete the homework assignments. There will be homework assignments from class to class. These homework assignments will typically ask you to do something in preparation for the next class. It is therefore crucial that you complete these assignments.
No late homework assignments will be accepted. If you do not hand in your homework assignment at the beginning of class on the day it is due you will receive a zero for the assignment. We will also not accept any hand-written material. Papers will need to be type-written; game implementations will have to be uploaded on Blackboard. Homeworks will be graded on a scale from 0 to 4, with 4 being the best.
Complete the projects. You are expected to complete two projects. The first is an individual project. You write a paper in which you analyze an existing game. The second is a group project in which you design and implement (using Game Maker) a game of your own.
You are expected to hand in your projects on the due date. For every day (not class period) that your assignment is handed in late, your grade will be reduced one full grade.
Evaluation
| Participation | 10% |
| Homework | 20% |
| Game Analysis Project | 20% |
| Game Design and Implementation Project | 50% (20% design, 20% implementation, 10% presentation) |