MEVIT4516 – Game Studies
Course content
Game Studies is a course about the field of academic video game research (game studies), video games as technological, aesthetic and cultural works, and gaming as a social and creative practice. The course will give you a thorough introduction to the history, theories and methodologies of game studies, with a focus on both classic and contemporary texts. You will gain research-based knowledge about video game technologies and content, players and gaming, game culture and the game industry. You learn to critically read and discuss game studies research, and to use research to analyze and discuss diverse aspects of video games and propose new ideas, improvements and solutions. You will also learn to write game studies essays and practice the ability to present and communicate academic knowledge about video games to a general audience.This course is especially suited if you are writing a master’s thesis about video games. It is also well suited if you want advanced research-based and practical knowledge on how to study video games, and if you wish to work with or research games further.
Learning outcome
Knowledge
The candidate
- Has knowledge about game studies as an academic research field and about important developments, possibilities and challenges in video game research
- Is familiar with different theoretical and methodological approaches in game studies
- Has advanced research-based knowledge about:
- Technological, aesthetic and cultural aspects of video games
- Players, gaming and game culture
- The game industry and game development
Skills
The candidate
- Can locate, evaluate and use research from game studies journals in their own work
- Can use academic research to analyze and discuss cases related to the game industry, game aesthetics and game culture and propose new ideas, improvements and solutions
- Can write game studies essays
- Can communicate critical, analytical and academic knowledge about video games and gaming to a general audience in written formats like review, article or feature story
General competence
The candidate
- Has academic and industry knowledge about video games and gaming
- Can create their own game studies project
- Can critically analyze and reflect on topics and issues related to video games and gaming in both academic and popular formats
Recommended previous knowledge
It is strongly recommended that you have completed MEVIT2725 - Video Games: Aesthetics, Industry and Culture or a similar game-focused course. You are expected to be familiar and have practical playing experience with different types of video games and game genres. This course is not suited if you have little to no prior experience with video games.
If you have not completed MEVIT2725 or a similar game-focused course, we advise you to read an introductory academic video game coursebook, such as?Understanding Video Games?(4th edition) by Egenfeldt-Nielsen et al. or similar, prior to attending this course.
Teaching
The teaching consists of workshops that combine lectures and student activities. Attendance is compulsory. The workshops alternate between lectures, individual and group assignments, presentations, plenary discussions, play sessions and excursions. The workshops require that you come prepared and actively participate in class.
Compulsory attendance:
Attendance at 80% of the teaching is a prerequisite for being allowed to sit for the examination.??
If you get ill or have other valid reasons for not being able to attend, you must apply for valid absence. The course teacher can assign a different task to compensate for missed attendance.?
Approved mandatory activities are valid the semester you attend the course and the two following semesters the course is offered.
Examination
Term paper of up to 10 standard pages (of 2,300 characters without spaces)
Front page, reference list and attachments should not be counted.
You need to have the compulsory activity approved in order to take the exam.
Language of examination
You may write your examination paper in Norwegian, Swedish, Danish or English.
Grading scale
Grades are awarded on a scale from A to F, where A is the best grade and F?is a fail. Read more about?the grading system.
More about examinations at UiO
- Use of sources and citations
- Special exam arrangements due to individual needs
- Withdrawal from an exam
- Illness at exams / postponed exams
- Explanation of grades and appeals
- Resitting an exam
- Cheating/attempted cheating
You will find further guides and resources at the web page on examinations at UiO.