Topics
Here are the weekly topics. The materials and detailed instructions themselves are in Moodle.
Every week has also a video and brief reading material there. On 3 weeks there will be multiple-choice tests and another 3 weeks are covered in an interactive virtual tour game. The explanations here give only an overview of the weekly topics and activities.
1. What is a Video Game? 6.5h
Where did the term video game come from? What are video game consoles and how have they evolved?
Tasks: Write about what is a video game for you and about your interesting experiences with video games.
2. First Video Games, First Gameplays 7h
What were the first video games created? How did they affect the following upcoming games of that time? Where and when were these games available?
Tasks: Write down 10 most important ideas for you based on the material.
3. Video Game Genres and Target Audiences 12h
What genres people use to classify games? How Bartle pinpointed the video game player desires?
Tasks: Pick an older video game and play it. Write about that game based on the learned classifications or alternatively write about the shortcomings of the classifications themselves. Read and review fellow student's essays.
4. Video Game Lifespan 7h
What affects a video game's lifespan? What are the effects that various game difficulties and cheat codes have on a video game lifespan?
Tasks: Make a thought cloud and show it to others based on the material.
5. Controller Evolution and Virtual Reality 5.5h
What are the innovative changes and breakthroughs that helped shape today's video game controllers and accessories?
Tasks: Make up questions, which could potentially be test questions for this week. Answer fellow students' questions by the end of week 6. The debate topics are picked and groups formed.
6. Video Game Marketing 14h
How were video games marketed back in the day? What were the key strategies used to promote a video game? How has piracy affected the gaming industry?
Tasks: Devise and create a promotional video for a fake game or hardware you come up with. Video must include ideas from the material. Alternatively, make a new educational video about a topic not covered in this course. The debate: YES team puts forth their stance, NO team prepares.
7. Video Game Dematerialization 6h
What steps were taken in the process of achieving video game dematerialization? How was the market affected?
Tasks: The debate: NO team asks questions, YES team answers them and then the NO stance is put forth.
8. Video Game User Experience (UX) 5.5h
What does a game designer think when they design their game's user experience? What groundbreaking mechanics and innovations shaped today's video game development?
Tasks: The debate: YES team asks questions and NO team answers.
9. 3D Graphics 6h
When were 3D graphics first implemented to computer games? What were the key changes in computer game graphics over time?
Tasks: The debate: YES and NO teams form their closing arguments.
10. Mobile Games 8.5h
What were the first mobile games? How have mobile games changed since? What is the state of today's mobile gaming market?
Tasks: Devise a game design of the future (about 2-4 pages).