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Videogame Theory and Analysis >> Content Detail



Study Materials



Readings

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This section contains the required readings, which are also presented by session, and optional readings for the course.



Assigned Readings


Amazon logo Salen, K., and E. Zimmerman. The Game Design Reader: A Rules of Play Anthology. Cambridge, MA: MIT University Press, 2005. ISBN: 9780262195362.

Amazon logo Frasca, G. "Simulation Versus Narrative: Introduction to Ludology." Video Game Theory Reader. Edited by M. Wolf and B. Perron. New York, NY: Routledge, 2003. ISBN: 9780415965781.

Juul, J. "The Game, The Player, The World: Looking for a Heart of Gameness." Level Up: Digital Games Research Conference Proceedings. Edited by M. Copier and J. Raessens. Utrecht, the Netherlands: Utrecht University Press, 2003.

Yee, N. "Motivations of Play in Online Games." CyberPsychology and Behavior 9 (2007): 772-775.

DeVane, B., and K. D. Squire. "The Meanings of Race and Violence in Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas." Games and Culture. (Forthcoming)

Amazon logo Consalvo, M., ed. "The Cheaters." In Cheating: Gaining Advantage in Videogames. Cambridge, MA: MIT University Press, 2007. ISBN: 9780262033657.



Readings by Session



SES #TOPICSREADINGS
1Introduction to the course, key assignments. Quick design exercise
2What is a game? What is play?Salen & Zimmerman. pp. 77-81 and 122-155.
3Salen & Zimmerman. pp. 83-86 and 296-313.
4Rules of playSalen & Zimmerman. pp. 9-13 and 476-502.
5Gaming the gameSalen & Zimmerman. pp. 9-13 and 728-753.
6Player and characterSalen & Zimmerman. pp. 27-31 and 642-669.
7
8Ludology

Frasca, G. "Simulation Versus Narrative: Introduction to Ludology."

Juul, J. "The Game, The Player, The World: Looking for a Heart of Gameness."

9

Narratology

Salen & Zimmerman. pp. 33-36 and 670-689.
10Guest lecture
11Midterm exam
12Student presentations
13Student presentations (cont.)
14Student presentations (cont.)
15Videogames and learningSalen & Zimmerman. pp. 228-267.
16Student presentations (cont.)
17Student presentations (cont.)
18Massively multiplayer online games

Salen & Zimmerman. pp. 754-787.

Yee, N. "Motivations of Play in Online Games."

19Student presentations (cont.)
20Race and violence in gamesDeVane, B., and K. D. Squire. "The Meanings of Race and Violence in Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas."
21Rules and play revisitedSalen & Zimmerman. pp. 28-37 and 116-125.
22Student presentations (cont.)
23Rules and play revisitedSalen & Zimmerman. pp. 298-311 and 502-513.
24Cheating and gamer cultureConsalvo, M. "The Cheaters."
25Final exam review



Optional Readings


Steinkuehler, C. "Massively Multiplayer Online Video Gaming as Participation in a Discourse." Mind, Culture, and Activity 12 (2006): 38-52.

Williams, D. "The Video Game Lightning Rod: Constructions of a New Media Technology, 1970-2000." Information, Communication and Society 6 (2003): 523-550.


 








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