Week 6 Lecture

Approaching Video Games in an Academic Way:

Media Effects and Games:
-The persistence of effect
-Games and Utopia - virtual worlds
-Video games - as a new form of cultural practise in the same way we now think about old media
e.g (newspaper, radio, t.v, films etc.)


What are some ways to approach thinking about games that might be unique to this genre?

Are there questions that are specific to video games that don't apply to any other form?

Narratology vs Ludology:

Narratology - is the study of video games from the perspective of them being stories or literally works. People who follow this sort of approach think that games can be studied like 'texts'.

Ludology -

Video games as mediums of communication or expression.

Semiotics - Taking the game apart - what aspects makeup the game.

Are video games similar to, or similar, or different from 'traditional games'?
Games containing logic and rules - implementing these elements into gaming.

The games' "Ontology"-(How their world shapes what you are in the virtual space of the game
world.

What aspects make the game fun?
Graphics, Artificial intelligence, interface etc.

Virtual philosophy:

How are games virtual worlds?
What is real and what is virtual?
What does something like the concept of "Plato's cave" offer us?

Video Games Studies:

Games are popular art, collective social reflections to the main drive or action of any culture.
Games are institutions,
extensions.

Film Review: "Existenz"

Due to technical difficulties, the film did not screen. spewing! We should of watched "Alphaville" again..he he.