780.222 (24S) Practical Game Criticism

Sommersemester 2024

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Erster Termin der LV
06.03.2024 08:00 - 10:00 N.0.27 On Campus
Nächster Termin:
08.05.2024 08:00 - 10:00 N.0.27 On Campus

Überblick

Lehrende/r
LV-Titel englisch Practical Game Criticism
LV-Art Kurs (prüfungsimmanente LV )
LV-Modell Blended-Learning-Lehrveranstaltung
Online-Anteil 30%
Semesterstunde/n 2.0
ECTS-Anrechnungspunkte 2.0
Anmeldungen 24 (20 max.)
Organisationseinheit
Unterrichtssprache Englisch
LV-Beginn 06.03.2024
eLearning zum Moodle-Kurs

Zeit und Ort

Liste der Termine wird geladen...

LV-Beschreibung

Intendierte Lernergebnisse

Class starts too early? You can't come to Klagenfurt in time? Fear not!
We won't be meeting every single week, some assignments will be asynchronous with others (probably) taking place online, and we may even start our sessions a little later anyway (which will be discussed in our Welcome Session!).

Students completing this class will be familiar with the most important terminology in video game criticism, and will be able to apply this knowledge to in-depth analyses of the medium.

Important notice:

Blended Learning integrates thoughtfully structured online activities into face-to-face courses. Detailed instructions about the schedule and procedure will be provided via e-mail and Moodle. To stay up-to-date, please make sure to check your AAU inboxes on a regular basis.

This information is subject to change. Please check course description regularly for updates.

Lehrmethodik inkl. Einsatz von eLearning-Tools

Short lecture inputs; hands-on analyses of selected games; participation in a Game Jam; discussions

Inhalt/e

Game ideas are cheap and plentiful. Advancing those ideas into games that people want to play is one of the hardest, and most under-appreciated, tasks in the game development cycle. This course introduces students to the craft of designing computer and video games, including a detailed analysis of the key game design elements, such as examining game concepts and worlds, storytelling, character and user interface design, core mechanics and balance. Plus, we will discuss the major game genres and identify the design patterns and unique creative challenges that characterize them. We'll start by taking a look at various examples, then moving forward to an accessible, practical approach to analyzing games (beginner's guide). Video games and other digital experiences have become the leading medium in western, post-/late modern societies, overcoming stereotypical expectations as to the gender and age of players. In order to be able to appreciate games and their socio-cultural potential accordingly, it is necessary to use an appropriate terminology and accurate critical methods - we must learn to 'read' games. This is what this class is there to achieve, to give students access to useful theories and then have them apply this knowledge to their hands-on, shared experience of selected games.

Keywords/Topics:

Development cycle
Craft of designing (video) games
Game design elements
Major game genres
Video game marketing
Video game journalism
Practical approach - analyzing games
Socio-cultural potential
Appropriate terminology
Critical thinking
Hands-on experience

Erwartete Vorkenntnisse

No prior knowledge required.

Literatur

Reading packets will be provided in digital form. There is no need to buy any books.

Link auf weitere Informationen

https://www.itec.aau.at/gamejam/

Prüfungsinformationen

Im Fall von online durchgeführten Prüfungen sind die Standards zu beachten, die die technischen Geräte der Studierenden erfüllen müssen, um an diesen Prüfungen teilnehmen zu können.

Prüfungsmethode/n

Active participation in class and at home
Written assignment (game review)

The use of AI support or AI-generated text is prohibited in all of my courses: In order to check whether this ban is respected, there is the possibility of a compulsory, individual, and oral follow-up defence of submitted or presented work. Should the use of AI be detected in any assignment, or a follow-up defence not be sufficient, the task concerned will automatically receive a fail-grade and your violation will be reported to university leadership, just as is the case with any other form of academic dishonesty or cheating.

GSE Code of Conduct: Please join the Welcome Session to hear more on how both students and lecturers are expected to uphold their moral responsibilities within our program.

Prüfungsinhalt/e

Active participation and written assignments: Documentation, analysis and critical reflection.

For further information, please join the Welcome Session!

Beurteilungskriterien/-maßstäbe

The game review complies with criteria explained during lecture. The final grade is an aggregate (three pillars of assessment):

45% active participation

45% game review

10% video game quiz

Beurteilungsschema

Note Benotungsschema

Position im Curriculum

  • Masterstudium Artificial Intelligence and Cybersecurity (SKZ: 993, Version: 20W.1)
    • Fach: Responsible Innovation (Wahlfach)
      • Fachlich relevante Lehrveranstaltungen ( 0.0h XX / 8.0 ECTS)
        • 780.222 Practical Game Criticism (2.0h KS / 2.0 ECTS)
          Absolvierung im 2., 3. Semester empfohlen
  • Masterstudium Game Studies and Engineering (SKZ: 992, Version: 23W.1)
    • Fach: Game Studies (Pflichtfach)
      • 3.2 Practical Game Criticism ( 0.0h KS / 2.0 ECTS)
        • 780.222 Practical Game Criticism (2.0h KS / 2.0 ECTS)
          Absolvierung im 1. Semester empfohlen
  • Masterstudium Game Studies and Engineering (SKZ: 992, Version: 17W.2)
    • Fach: Game Studies (Pflichtfach)
      • Practical Game Criticism ( 0.0h KS / 2.0 ECTS)
        • 780.222 Practical Game Criticism (2.0h KS / 2.0 ECTS)
          Absolvierung im 1. Semester empfohlen

Gleichwertige Lehrveranstaltungen im Sinne der Prüfungsantrittszählung

Wintersemester 2023/24
  • 780.222 KS Practical Game Criticism (2.0h / 2.0ECTS)
Sommersemester 2023
  • 780.222 KS Practical Game Criticism (2.0h / 2.0ECTS)
Wintersemester 2022/23
  • 780.222 KS Practical Game Criticism (2.0h / 2.0ECTS)
Sommersemester 2022
  • 780.222 KS Practical Game Criticism (2.0h / 2.0ECTS)
Wintersemester 2021/22
  • 780.222 KS Practical Game Criticism (2.0h / 2.0ECTS)
Sommersemester 2021
  • 780.222 KS Practical Game Criticism (2.0h / 2.0ECTS)
Wintersemester 2020/21
  • 780.222 KS Practical Game Criticism (2.0h / 2.0ECTS)
Wintersemester 2019/20
  • 780.222 KS Practical Game Criticism (2.0h / 2.0ECTS)
Wintersemester 2018/19
  • 780.222 KS Practical Game Criticism (2.0h / 2.0ECTS)
Wintersemester 2017/18
  • 780.222 KS Practical Game Criticism (2.0h / 2.0ECTS)