Spring 2006: LIT 4930 :: Gaming Cultures
Projects for this class include both individual and group projects, and both analytical and creative projects.
Project 0
Throughout the class, you'll be assigned to write entries in a Wikipedia book on gaming etiquette based on the gaming genre you've been assigned. Your critical reading (Project 1) will also be based on the gaming genre you've been assigned. Projects 2 and 3 can deviate from that genre, but pick a genre you like since you'll be working with it a great deal. Everyone in the class will read Rules of Play by Salen and Zimmerman, and then each group will be required to read 1 additional book for Projects 0, 1, and 2.
Project 1 (due Feb 3-Mar 10)
For project 1, you will be assigned a book on a particular gaming genre and a game in that same genre. You will present on both the book and the game, and will develop a theory of how that particular game operates or can be designed. [You will also use this material to write your section of the gaming etiquette book for Project 0.] The books and genres for this assignment are on the texts page and you will choose one.
For your review, please cover the entire the book and game, it's relevance to Rules of Play and to the book-game you're reviewing, and then presentat to class on these in relation to gaming. These reviews will be posted online.
Project 2
Project 2 involves applying the theory and concepts from Project 1 into making a creative full game [in the case with a board or card game] or game proposal.
Points to think about for the game proposal: do you want to create a full game? If so, you'll need to pick a shorter game--a card game, a board game, a short Inform game. Use the readings from the class and your knowledge from gaming in general to create this game or game proposal. Whichever you choose, you can choose to expand upon this project for Project 3 or you can choose to pick up a new project. For this and the next project, please keep in mind that you can use these to build into newspaper articles for the Satellite, radio pieces for Recess, and potential proposals for a collaborative game design with the Digital Worlds Institute--if you're looking for experience in journalism, design, or other fields, we can work these into experience. These will also be released online.
Short samples of parlor games are here and the Preview treasure hunt and board game is here.
Project 3 (ongoing, will take the longest time to complete)
Project 3 involves applying the theory and ideas from Projects 1 and 2 into making an evolving game mockup. This will be the full project mockup and not just the initial proposal. This mockup should be significantly more involved than Project 2 in that this project should be more fully detailed or it should layout a larger game. Whereas Project 2 should take from 5-15 hours to complete, this project should take between 15-25.