FF:TIM_B_027 Applied Game Studies - Course Information

TIM_B_027 Applied Game Studies – Research and Design

Extent and Intensity

0/2/0. 4 credit(s). Type of Completion: zk (examination).

Teacher(s)

Mgr. et Mgr. Zdeněk Záhora (lecturer)

Guaranteed by

Mgr. et Mgr. Zdeněk Záhora
Department of Musicology – Faculty of Arts
Contact Person: Bc. Jitka Leflíková
Supplier department: Department of Musicology – Faculty of Arts

Timetable

Mon 16:00–17:40 G02

Prerequisites

IM082 Game Studies
IM082 Game Studies.
Ability to read texts in English.
Broad knowledge of game genres is an advantage.

Course Enrolment Limitations

The course is also offered to the students of the fields other than those the course is directly associated with.
The capacity limit for the course is 60 student(s).
Current registration and enrolment status: enrolled: 0/60, only registered: 0/60, only registered with preference (fields directly associated with the programme): 0/60

fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with

• Theory of Interactive Media (programme FF, B-INME_) (3)

Course objectives

The aim of the course is to deepen the knowledge of game studies and to present methods and techniques by which the digital games, their industry and the audience can be explored. During the course the student acquires knowledge applicable not only to the academic sphere but also to the professional environment. Lecture topics are structured into several thematic blocks, divided into use of games in research, industry research, and game audience analysis. Students will acquire both the theoretical knowledge necessary for a deeper understanding of games and game culture as well as selected methods by which these topics can be explored.

Learning outcomes

Ability to prepare the design of applied research, including presentable materials.

Syllabus

• - Formal (digital) game analysis
• - Methodology and scientific paradigms
• - Game genres
• - Game industry and game journalism
• - Semiotics, Cybertext
• - Narrative
• - Reading Week
• - Players as an audience
• - Virtual worlds as an ethnographic field
• - Playbour and link to game mechanics
• - Crowdresearch and game telemetry
• - Design of applied research

Literature

required literature
• WOLF, Mark J.P.; PERRON, Bernard, eds. The Video Game Theory Reader. 2003.
• AARSETH, Espen. Cybertext: Perspectives on Ergodic Literature. JHU Press. 1997.
• JENKINS, Henry. Convergence culture: where old and new media collide. 1. vyd. New York: New York University Press, 2006, xi, 308 s. ISBN 978-081-4742-952.
• MÄYRÄ, Frans. An introduction to game studies :games in culture. 1st ed. Los Angeles: SAGE Publications, 2008
• AARSETH, Espen. Introduction to Gamestudies. 2001. Dostupné z: http://www.gamestudies.org/0101/editorial.html
• SCHNELL, Jesse. The Art of Game Design. The Book of Lenses. CRC Press. 2008.
• KERR, Aphra. The business and culture of digital games: gamework/gameplay. Thousand Oaks, Calif.: SAGE, 2006, 177 p. ISBN 978-141-2900-461.
• GEE, James Paul. What video games have to teach us about learning and literacy. Palgrave. 2003.
• BARTLE, Richard. Hearts, Clubs, Diamonds, Spades: Players who suits MUDs. 1996. Dostupné z: http://www.mud.co.uk/richard/hcds.htm
• BOGOST, Ian. Persuasive games: the expressive power of videogames. London: MIT Press. c2007.
• JUUL, Jesper. Half-real: video games between real rules and fictional worlds. Cambridge, Mass.: MIT Press, 2005.
• MCALLISTER, Graham. The difference between focus testing and player testing. Edge [online]. 2012. Dostupné z: http://www.edge-online.com/features/the-difference-between-focus-testing-and-player-testing
• HUNICK, LEBLANC & ZUBEK. MDA: A formal approach to game design and game research. Discovery. 3 2004, Sv. 83. Dostupné z: http://www.cs.northwestern.edu/~hunicke/MDA.pdf

Teaching methods

Lectures, reading, active participation in lectures (discussion), proposal of applied research and its consultation.

Assessment methods

- intermediate tasks (40% of the evaluation)
- final seminar paper (60% of the evaluation | proposal of applied research)

Language of instruction

Czech

Further Comments

Study Materials
The course is taught annually.

• Enrolment Statistics (Autumn 2019, recent)
  
• Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/phil/autumn2019/TIM_B_027