Introduction to Game Studies

Catalog description

Games are cultural artifacts, artistic forms, and systems of interactive design that shape how people play, learn, imagine, and communicate. This introductory course examines games from multiple disciplinary perspectives—including literary analysis, aesthetics, cultural studies, computing, and design. Students will analyze how meaning is created through narrative, visual design, sound, and interactive mechanics, and will also participate in creative design activities such as prototyping and iterative playtesting. As a Creative & Aesthetic Inquiry (CA) General Education course, Introduction to Game Design and Game Studies develops both analytical and creative capacities. Students interpret games as expressive works, analyze how artistic choices create meaning, and engage directly in creative processes by making prototypes and participating in collaborative design workshops. Throughout the term, students will build reflective and critical habits that help them understand games not just as entertainment, but as complex aesthetic, cultural, and artistic systems. Fall and Spring.