MEVIT4516 – Game Studies

Schedule, syllabus and examination date

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

Admission to the course

Students who are admitted to study programmes at UiO must each semester?register which co