This course introduces literary and critical methods for playing, reading, writing, and designing video games and interactive fiction. Students will play, read, and analyze interactive stories while engaging with broader critical issues in game studies and literary studies. We’ll explore topics such as game literacy, game writing, worldbuilding, character design, text adventures, user interfaces, dialogue trees, branching narratives, visual novels, environmental storytelling, and more. As an introduction to games, the course will be divided into three major units: Gaming Literacy; Writing and Narrative Design; and Aesthetics, Values, and Emotions. In each unit, students will explore the relationship between games, fiction, storytelling, design, and culture, learning how games are used to tell stories, build worlds, and think through social issues. The course is open and accessible to all kinds of players, from the experienced or casual to those without any gaming experience. Students will learn critical skills in reading, writing, and analysis, along with digital competencies in game writing and interactive storytelling.
COURSE OBJECTIVES:
• To familiarize students with the terms and skills needed to critically play, read, write, and analyze video games and interactive fiction
• To acquaint students with the formal, narrative, artistic, and cultural aspects of video games and interactive fiction
• To introduce theories and concepts that bridge literature, games, and interactive narratives
• To understand the unique affordances of games and interactive stories and their effect on those who read and play them
• To learn various genres of game writing, game documentation, and narrative design
• To develop skills in digital storytelling, professional writing, and user-interface design
• To historicize games within a critical framework that includes text adventures and IF
• To improve interpretive and critical skills in reading, writing, analysis, and design
• To understand the aesthetics, values, and cultural significance of interactive storytelling
• To improve writing skills and the use of standard English grammar, spelling, and style appropriate to humanities content
• To familiarize students with the terms and skills needed to critically play, read, write, and analyze video games and interactive fiction
• To acquaint students with the formal, narrative, artistic, and cultural aspects of video games and interactive fiction
• To introduce theories and concepts that bridge literature, games, and interactive narratives
• To understand the unique affordances of games and interactive stories and their effect on those who read and play them
• To learn various genres of game writing, game documentation, and narrative design
• To develop skills in digital storytelling, professional writing, and user-interface design
• To historicize games within a critical framework that includes text adventures and IF
• To improve interpretive and critical skills in reading, writing, analysis, and design
• To understand the aesthetics, values, and cultural significance of interactive storytelling
• To improve writing skills and the use of standard English grammar, spelling, and style appropriate to humanities content
