Game Studies

Studio Art 135
Winter 2009
Tu/Th 1-2.50pm, HIB 335
Final: Fri, Mar 20, 4:00-6:00pm
_x, _y, _z: Bldg. #610

Contact

Robert Nideffer
web: http://nideffer.net
email: nideffer@uci.edu (email contact preferred)
phone: (949) 824.4218

Course Overview

This course explores computer games and gaming from technological, artistic, and socio-cultural perspectives. It is divided into three main topics: 1) infrastructure - the development and evolution of hardware and software systems used as platforms for gaming; 2) intervention - the experimental cultural practices that take advantage of and/or interrogate those systems; 3) institutionalization - the organizational embrace of games and gaming by the broader culture.

In relation to these topical explorations we will discuss game mechanics and interaction paradigms, game development processes, historical approaches to the study of play and gaming, analytical methods for analysis and critique of games, games and art, "serious" games, the rise of computer game studies, and games and consumerism. Each week will involve intensive reading, discussion, and play.

Required Materials

All course materials are available online for reading/printing/playing (see weekly breakdown). You are expected to have copy of the week's reading assignment accessible during class for reference purposes.

Assignments

WEEK ONE

01.06.09

Introduction Assignment: Gaming Autobiography

01.08.09

Infrastructure: Cold-War Computing and the Birth of the Net

Screening: Assignment Due: Gaming Autobiography

WEEK TWO

01.13.09

Infrastructure: New Interactional Paradigms

Screening: Miscellany:

01.15.09

Infrastructure: New Interactional Paradigms Cont.

Screening: Play Session: Discussion: Assignment: 1 Page Project Proposal Miscellany:

WEEK THREE

01.20.09

Infrastructure: Arcades and Consoles

Play Session: Discussion: Assignment Due: 1 Page Project Proposal

01.22.09

Intervention: Game Art

Screening:

WEEK FOUR

01.27.09

Intervention: Game Art Cont.

Screening: Discussion:

01.29.09

Intervention: Game Art Cont.

Screening: Play Session: Discussion: Miscellany:

WEEK FIVE

02.03.09

Intervention: Game Art Cont.

Screening: Play Session: Discussion:

02.05.09

Intervention: Game Art Cont.

Screening: Discussion:

WEEK SIX

02.10.09

Class Presentations - Project Proposals

02.12.09

Class Presentations - Project Proposals

WEEK SEVEN

02.17.09

Case Study

Screening: Discussion: Miscellany:

02.19.09

Case Study

Directed Play Session: Discussion: Miscellany:

WEEK EIGHT

02.24.09

Institutionalization: Exhibitionism

Discussion:

02.26.09

Institutionalization: Exhibitionism Cont.

Screening: Discussion:

WEEK NINE

03.03.09

Institutionalization: Gaming the Academy

Screening: Discussion:

03.05.09

Institutionalization: Gaming the Academy Cont.

Discussion:

WEEK TEN (AND BEYOND)

03.10.09

Class Presentations - Final Project Reports

03.12.09

Class Presentations - Final Project Reports

03.20.09

Final Projects Due - Last day to submit projects either electronically or in my mailbox in the Studio Art Main Office.