Topics in Literature & Media
Class Information
Instructor: Boluk, Stephanie/LeMieux, Patrick,
CRN: 42263
Time: W 3:10-6/R 5:10-8
Location: 120 V./201 Sprocket
Description
Game/Design/Philosophy
This courses will combine philosophical and critical readings of games and play with the history and design of videogames. The course will be 6 hours/week split between seminar and play sessions in which, as a group, we work together, play together, think together, and make together in pursuit of what Bernie DeKoven called "the well-played game." Following what Edmond Chang has termed "close playing," each week will pair a historically significant videogame with a more contemporary counterpart. We will explore the rise and fall of different periods game design, from AAA and "indie" games to the circulation of trash games, art games, and queer games. We will explore the history of digital distribution from Valve's early experiments with proto-versions of Steam to the rise of platforms like Itch, Twitch, and Twine. If there is sufficient student interest, we will also spend time learning some introductory game design using engines like Unity, Inform, Twitch, Ren'Py, and Unreal.
Possible Authors
Anna Anthropy
Mattie Brice
Roger Caillois
Bernie DeKoven
Nick Dyer-Witherford and Greig De Peuter
Mary Flanagan
Kishonna L. Gray
N. Katherine Hayles
Johan Huizinga
Janet Murray
Lisa Nakamura
Celia Pearce
Bernard Suits
Alexander Galloway
Adrienne Shaw
T.L. Taylor
McKenzie Wark
Games:
Super Mario Bros. and Braid
Eliza and Galatea
Doom and Portal
Colossal Cave Adventure and Kentucky Route Zero
Space War! and Videoball
Tetris and Tetris Effect