Games: Analysis and Theory- Period 5

Computer and videogames have become a common popular medium in today's society. Despite the fact that games are a relatively young medium, games have been studied from a humanities perspective almost as long as narrative computer games have been around. In this course we will use theory and practical assignments to study narrative elements of computer and video games. The knowledge of narrative, or story-structures games is necessary, both to get a better understanding of the medium of the computer game itself as well as to better understand how the medium differs from other narrative media such as books and film. In addition, media texts are used less and less as individual entities but increasingly function in convergence with other media texts e.g. George Martin's book series The Song of Ice and Fire, which was adapted to the successful TV-series A Game of Thrones, which also exists as comic book adaptations as well as a game series. Subjects we will study will include, but not be limited to, game studies, game history & historiography, genre, narrative & character, space, time, sound & music. Although the course focuses on theoretical and analytical aspects, questions relating to production, design, distribution and reception are inherently linked to the study of computer and videogames, especially when compared to film.

Contact hours listed under a course description may vary due to the combination of lecture-based and independent work required for each course therefore, CEA's recommended credits are based on the ECTS credits assigned by VU Amsterdam. 1 ECTS equals 28 contact hours assigned by VU Amsterdam.