Course Description

Covers a variety of play-related media, from tabletop games to digital games, to the interactive narrative, to broader social gaming. Students will interrogate theories of play and apply those theories to different kinds of gaming in entertainment media.

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Athena Title

Playful Media

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Prerequisite

EMST 3320 and permission of department

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Grading System

A - F (Traditional)

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Course Objectives

Upon completing this course, students will have an understanding of the history, culture, and industry of video games. Additionally, students will be able to deploy several theoretical viewpoints about the meaning and analysis of a variety of games. As a final project, students will be guided through producing a functioning interactive narrative. Students are expected to purchase a small number of games as part of this class.

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Topical Outline

The history of video games Theories of games and interactive narrative The business of the video game industry Video game culture Emerging trends in video games Prototyping and designing an interactive narrative

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