Schedule

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September 02, 2010, 2:00 pm – 4:30 pm

Course Introduction

Syllabus Overview; Why study the history of video games?

September 09, 2010, 2:00 pm – 4:30 pm

In the beginning

Discussion of Atari and the birth of home gaming

Reading

  • Chaplin and Ruby, Smartbomb.

    34-66.

  • Montfort and Bogost, Racing the Beam.

    1-43.

  • Video Game Timeline.

  • Post an annotated bibliography for your assigned article as a pair. Your entry is due at the end of class.
September 16, 2010, 2:00 pm – 4:30 pm

Invasions

Early iconic games; the birth of Pac-Man

Reading

  • Loguidice and Barton, Vintage Games.

    179-193, 225-238.

  • Montfort and Bogost, Racing the Beam.

    65-79, 99-143.

  • Google, Google PacMan.

September 23, 2010, 2:00 pm – 4:30 pm

Nintendo and the Battle between Good and Evil

Nintendo's origins

Reading

  • Chaplin and Ruby, Smartbomb.

    67-88.

  • Loguidice and Barton, Vintage Games.

    271-290, 303-318.

Groupwork

  • Designer Prezi

    Post a link to your prezi on a classic game designer by the start of class. Include the names of both team members.

September 30, 2010, 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm

First Person Shooters

The start of a genre; controversy over games and violence

Reading

  • Chaplin and Ruby, Smartbomb.

    89-126.

  • Loguidice and Barton, Vintage Games.

    15-26, 51-163.
October 07, 2010, 2:00 pm – 4:30 pm

Adventure Games

The evolution of storytelling in gaming; the tension of interactivity and narrativity

Reading

  • Montfort and Bogost, Racing the Beam.

    43-63.

  • Loguidice and Barton, Vintage Games.

    143-161, 163-177, 371-389.
October 14, 2010, 2:00 pm – 4:30 pm

Research Presentations

Presentations and approaches to further research in digital history

Writing

  • Classic Games Project Due
October 21, 2010, 2:00 pm – 4:30 pm

Digital Dungeons, Digital Dragons

The formalization of imaginative play

Reading

October 28, 2010, 2:00 pm – 4:30 pm

Midterm Exam

Take-home essay midterm

November 04, 2010, 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm

Seeing in 3D

The graphics revolution

Reading

  • Loguidice and Barton, Vintage Games.

    255-269.

  • Poole, Trigger Happy.

    112-136.
November 11, 2010, 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm

Playable Worlds

The birth and growth of MMORPGS

Reading

  • Chaplin and Ruby, Smartbomb.

    156-191.

  • Loguidice and Barton, Vintage Games.

    353-370.

  • Parc, PlayOn.

November 18, 2010, 2:00 pm – 4:30 pm

Casual Games

Gaming removed from the culture of "gamers"

Reading

  • Loguidice and Barton, Vintage Games.

    291-301.

  • Juul, Casual Revolution.

    25-78.

Writing

  • Modern Games Project Due
November 25, 2010, 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm

Thanksgiving

No class, enjoy the holiday!

December 02, 2010, 2:00 pm – 4:30 pm

Mimetic Interfaces, Augmented Reality, and Future Holodecks

Current trends, future possibilities

Reading

  • Juul, Casual Revolution.

    103-152.

  • Loguidice and Barton, Vintage Games.

    27-37.
December 09, 2010, 2:00 pm – 4:30 pm

Wrap-up

Last class, presentation of final essays and video products

Reading

Writing

  • Final Exam

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  1. November 11th, 2010
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