Games Studies Colloquium Fall 2009

DMS 548/448 :: 1:00-2:50 M W :: Center for the Arts Room 232 

Video games encompass an increasingly diverse set of practises, populations, locations - from fantasy football to multi-player medieval fantasy; from simulations of real life to alternate realities; from fanatics to activists; from nightclubs to competitive arenas to public streets to the classroom; from consoles to mobile phones to large-screen projections. In this course we will analyze not only popular games but interactive installations, pervasive games, mixed and virtual reality environments. We will discuss the interdisciplinary nature of a cultural practice which depends on art, artificial intelligence, computer graphics, interface design, human-computer interaction, psychology, narrative, networking and technical innovation. We will ask why interactive experiences are popular, and try to understand the social and cultural implications of games and gaming.

(considering spacewar! @MIT c.1962)

Presentation Dates

Important information! Please get your presentation topics to Cayden & Josephine by Monday the week before your presentation date. That means, if you're presenting on 11/11, get your topic in by 11/2.

Virtual War :: 10/14/2009 :: Danny & Ted

Activist Games :: 10/21/2009 :: Lucas

Games & Social Identity :: 10/28/2009 :: Brian, Peter Tyler & Gavin

Art Games :: 11/4/2009 :: Hans, Kevin & Varun

MMO/Virtual Worlds :: 11/11/2009 :: Jesse, John & Laurence

Wii Games :: 11/18/2009 :: Charlotte & Jonathan

Game Reviews

When you write reviews of games, post them here for the class to read.

Some examples of academic game reviews.

Some examples of non-academic game reviews.

Modules

Serious Games

Virtual War

Games Save the World

Games & Social Identity

Games as Art & Art Games

Multiplayer Games & Virtual Worlds

Wii Games

Users

You may create a user information page about yourself where you are welcome to post interesting information that you've found, want to share, but aren't sure where to put it yet. Also, feel free to link to your personal website!

Josephine Anstey :: jranstey AT buffalo :: office hrs T/W 3-4 CFA 248A

Cayden Mak :: caydenma AT buffalo :: office hrs TH 3-4 CFA 288

Useful Links

Syllabus

Schedule

Modules