Units

---

Sample subject outline - Semester 1 2013

Note: Subject outlines often change before the semester begins. Below is a sample outline.

Rationale

Computer Game Development is a growth industry whose variety and revenue rivals that of the movie industry. Whether you want to play, design or evaluate computer games, it is important to understand the key issues relating to their growing popularity and to be exposed to a wide variety of game genres. This unit gives you the opportunity to actively explore a broad range of computer games and engage in evaluation and debate of their distinctive features and potential influences on users and society. The development of this critical insight into the culture, controversies and potential of gaming will enrich your capacity to appreciate and contribute to future directions in the industry.

Aims

This unit is designed to give you a clear understanding of the socio-cultural issues that affect the computer game industry. Through critical review of games and games industry literature, playing games and actively participating in classroom discussion you will develop your capacity to join in the discourse about the design, impact and future direction of computer games in our society.

Objectives

On completion of this unit you should be able to:

1. Demonstrate understanding and ability to discuss key concepts and vocabulary regarding the impact and potential of computer games and the game development industry in our society (GC1)


2. Analyse games and game literature in terms of genres and key concepts (GC1)


3. Apply critical and creative thinking to use, compare and evaluate a variety of games and game genres within the context of the key concepts presented throughout the unit (GC2)


4. Critically assess the reliability of information and credibility of sources regarding video games (GC2)


5. Engage in the cultural dialogue of computer games, develop and argue an opinion about game-related issues and professionally communicate your ideas in a variety of media (GC3)


6. Keep up-to-date with the latest research and industry trends related to the culture of games and identify the relevance and value of this research to your personal interests and direction (GC4)

Key: Graduate Capabilities
GC1 - Knowledge and Skills
GC2 - Critical and Creative Thinking
GC3 - Communication
CG4 - Lifelong Learning
GC5 - Independence and Collaboration
GC6 - Social and Ethical Responsibility
GC7 - Leadership and Change

Content

This unit explores the major socio-cultural issues related to the computer games industry, games design and game playing. It gives an overview of the history of games, identifies significant trends and innovations and helps you to understand your potential contribution to future directions in the industry.

The topics that will be covered in this unit include:

• History of Games


• Ludology (the study of computer games)


• Culture and Demographics of Gaming


• Violence in Games


• Educational Games


• Gender in Games


• Ethics and Games


• Social Issues in Games


• Cognitive and Psychological Issues

Approaches to Teaching and Learning

This unit will be comprised of a lecture and a tutorial each week. Lectures will explore critical issues supported by games examples and provide you with the knowledge required to understand the gaming industry and to analyse and compare different game genres and their socio-cultural impact. Tutorials will give you a structured opportunity to apply lecture concepts and to acquire practical skills in the discourse and critical analysis of the socio-cultural issues related to games. Much of the learning in this unit is achieved through direct experience and discussion, therefore your active participation in tutorial sessions is strongly encouraged.

Concurrent Teaching
This unit is being taught concurrently with an undergraduate offering of the same subject. University policy permits postgraduate and undergraduate students to attend the same lectures. Separate tutorial/practical sessions will be provided for postgraduates students where student numbers allow. As a postgraduate student you will be required to complete separate assessment tasks that reflect the advanced knowledge and understanding of the subject. For this unit that means your assessment will be of increased complexity but not necessarily of greater length or effort. The assessment will require you to show additional evidence of critical evaluation.

Assessment

Formative feedback will be provided by tutors during the workshop sessions and through the return of marked assignments.
Details of assignment submission will be announced during the teaching sessions. Students are expected to work on the assignments independently. Assistance can be sought from the teaching staff. Students are reminded that the university considers plagiarism a serious offence and that appropriate action will be taken if cases of academic dishonesty are detected (MoPP C/9.3).
Criterion-Referenced Assessment
Appropriate assessment criteria will be made available to students at the introduction of each assignment.You can obtain feedback on your progress throughout the unit through the following mechanisms:

• Advice and assistance provided by the teaching staff during lectures and workshop sessions


• Written feedback on items of assessment


• Specified consultation times, allowing individual contact between staff and students


• Written responses to emails and online forum postings

Assessment name: Essay Plan
Description: Point of view essay. Provide opinions on issue from the lectures, supported by games and related literature.
Relates to objectives: 1, 2, 4, 5 and 6
Weight: 10%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: Mid Semester

Assessment name: Essay
Description: Point of view essay. Provide opinions on issue from the lectures, supported by games and related literature.
Relates to objectives: 1, 2, 4, 5 and 6
Weight: 40%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: Mid-Late Semester

Assessment name: Exam
Description: Final written exam.
Relates to objectives: 1, 2, 3, 5 and 6
Weight: 50%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: Mid-Late Semester

Academic Honesty

QUT is committed to maintaining high academic standards to protect the value of its qualifications. To assist you in assuring the academic integrity of your assessment you are encouraged to make use of the support materials and services available to help you consider and check your assessment items. Important information about the university's approach to academic integrity of assessment is on your unit Blackboard site.

A breach of academic integrity is regarded as Student Misconduct and can lead to the imposition of penalties.

Resource materials

No extraordinary charges or costs are associated with the requirements for this unit.
Required text:
None
Recommended Reading:
None
Students will be required to access a variety of readings in order to complete the assessment for this unit. Readings will be made available to students through the QUT Blackboard website and via the Course Materials Database.
Students will be required to access a variety of computer games in order to complete the assignments for this unit. Games may be available from the QUT library, or you may choose to hire them at your own expense from video outlets. Alternatively your may choose to purchase some games or to borrow games from friends or fellow students. Further information and help for students having difficulty accessing games for the assignment will be available on the unit Blackboard site.

Risk assessment statement

There are no unusual health or safety risks associated with this unit.

Disclaimer - Offer of some units is subject to viability, and information in these Unit Outlines is subject to change prior to commencement of semester.

Last modified: 24-Oct-2012