[game_edu] Reading material for Critical Game Studies course

[Joan Jasak]

Hi Monica,

I teach undergraduate philosophy of culture about play and video games.  I
use selections from Salen and Zimmerman, "Rules of Play" on systems and
meaning (the accompanying reader is also helpful); "Digital Play: The
Interaction of Technology, Culture, and Marketing" by Kline, et al. about
gender and the industrial complex; Caillois (both *Man, Play, and Games* and
the appendix to *Man and the Sacred* are neat), Huizinga (*Homo Ludens*),
Sutton-Smith (*Ambiguity of Play*).  The three latter are helpful with
concepts and frames of analysis.  For higher level students and/or emphasis
on aesthetics of games in culture, Gadamer (short chapter on play in *Truth
and Method*) and Winnicott (on play in culture) in *Playing and Reality* (or
a short version in the essay on transitional objects located in the
collected papers).

Best wishes,

Joan

On Wed, Mar 7, 2012 at 10:00 AM, <game_edu-request at igda.org> wrote:


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> ----------------------------------------------------------------------

>              IGDA Education SIG

> ----------------------------------------------------------------------

>

> Today's Topics:

>

>   1. Re: game_edu Digest, Vol 92, Issue 7 (Alex Myers)

>   2. Re: game_edu Digest, Vol 92, Issue 7 (Scott Price)

>   3. Post-doc position (Jacques Carette)

>   4. WSJ  Article (Dan Carreker)

>   5. Call for Submissions for Meaningful Play 2012 (Brian Winn)

>

>

> ----------------------------------------------------------------------

>

> Message: 1

> Date: Tue, 6 Mar 2012 09:54:03 -0600

> From: Alex Myers <myers.alex at gmail.com>

> Subject: Re: [game_edu] game_edu Digest, Vol 92, Issue 7

> To: IGDA Game Education Listserv <game_edu at igda.org>

> Message-ID: <EFBB4E9FA6164CD09E2CB093CE53B75B at gmail.com>

> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8"

>

> Hi Monica,

>

> I teach a course in Serious Games at Bellevue University. For our texts, I

> use excerpts from Mary Flanagan's Critical Play (

> http://mitpress.mit.edu/catalog/item/default.asp?ttype=2&tid=11870),

> Astrid Ensslin's The Language of Gaming (

> http://www.amazon.com/Language-Gaming-Astrid-Ensslin/dp/0230238599/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1331049152&sr=1-1)

> and How to Do Things with Videogames (

> http://www.amazon.com/How-Things-Videogames-Electronic-Mediations/dp/081667647X)

> by Ian Bogost, among others.

>

> Hope this helps.

>

> Alex

>

> http://alexmyers.info

>

> On Mar 5, 2012, at 11:30 PM, "Harrington, Timothy" <tharrington at devry.edu(mailto:

> tharrington at devry.edu)> wrote:

>

> > Hi Monica,

> >

> > If you are developing a course that is focusing on game criticism and

> critical analysis on the interactive nature of play, consider "Man, Play

> and Games", by Caillois. You may also consider, "Perceiving Play: The Art

> and Study of Computer Games", by Mortensen; or, "The Business and Culture

> of Digital Games", by Kerr.

> >

> >

> > Tim J. Harrington, Ed.D.

> > University Academic Affairs

> > Assistant National College Dean

> >

> > College of Media Arts & Technology

> > Game & Simulation Programming

> > Web Graphics Design

> > Multimedia Design & Development

> >

> >

> ........................................................................................................................

> >

> > Message: 3

> > Date: Mon, 05 Mar 2012 14:39:00 -0500

> > From: "McGill, Monica" <mmcgill at bumail.bradley.edu (mailto:

> mmcgill at bumail.bradley.edu)>

> > Subject: [game_edu] Reading Material for Critical Game Studies course

> > To: <game_edu at igda.org (mailto:game_edu at igda.org)>

> > Message-ID: <CB7A8084.27547%mmcgill at bumail.bradley.edu (mailto:

> mmcgill at bumail.bradley.edu)>

> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"

> >

> > Hi,

> >

> > Could anyone recommend relevant books or reading materials for

> undergraduate

> > students for a game studies course? The course will be offered for the

> first

> > time this fall and is being designed to cover the "Game Criticism"

> portion

> > of the IGDA curriculum framework (Game Studies, Experience-Centered

> > Criticism, Consumer-Oriented Criticism, Genre Analysis, Auteur studies,

> > Analysis of Game Design).

> >

> > I'm also open to any advice from others who have taught this type of

> course

> > before.

> >

> > Thanks in advance!

> >

> > Monica

> >

> > _______________________________________________

> > game_edu mailing list

> > game_edu at igda.org (mailto:game_edu at igda.org)

> > http://seven.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/game_edu

> >

>

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>

> ------------------------------

>

> Message: 2

> Date: Tue, 6 Mar 2012 08:24:46 -0800

> From: Scott Price <sprice at textuality.org>

> Subject: Re: [game_edu] game_edu Digest, Vol 92, Issue 7

> To: IGDA Game Education Listserv <game_edu at igda.org>

> Cc: IGDA Game Education Listserv <game_edu at igda.org>

> Message-ID: <982B6F27-F819-449C-B16E-AA038A944F9A at textuality.org>

> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

>

> Hello --

>

> If you haven't looked through the "Well Played" series from ETC Press and

> the accompanying new journal, I'd add that to the list.  Not all of the

> essays are going to fit, but some will and are very good.

>

> --Scott Price

>

> On Mar 6, 2012, at 7:54 AM, Alex Myers <myers.alex at gmail.com> wrote:

>

> > Hi Monica,

> >

> > I teach a course in Serious Games at Bellevue University. For our texts,

> I use excerpts from Mary Flanagan's Critical Play, Astrid Ensslin's The

> Language of Gaming and How to Do Things with Videogames by Ian Bogost,

> among others.

> >

> > Hope this helps.

> >

> > Alex

> >

> > http://alexmyers.info

> >

> > On Mar 5, 2012, at 11:30 PM, "Harrington, Timothy" <

> tharrington at devry.edu> wrote:

> >

> >> Hi Monica,

> >>

> >> If you are developing a course that is focusing on game criticism and

> critical analysis on the interactive nature of play, consider "Man, Play

> and Games", by Caillois. You may also consider, "Perceiving Play: The Art

> and Study of Computer Games", by Mortensen; or, "The Business and Culture

> of Digital Games", by Kerr.

> >>

> >>

> >> Tim J. Harrington, Ed.D.

> >> University Academic Affairs

> >> Assistant National College Dean

> >>

> >> College of Media Arts & Technology

> >> Game & Simulation Programming

> >> Web Graphics Design

> >> Multimedia Design & Development

> >>

> >>

> ........................................................................................................................

> >>

> >> Message: 3

> >> Date: Mon, 05 Mar 2012 14:39:00 -0500

> >> From: "McGill, Monica" <mmcgill at bumail.bradley.edu>

> >> Subject: [game_edu] Reading Material for Critical Game Studies course

> >> To: <game_edu at igda.org>

> >> Message-ID: <CB7A8084.27547%mmcgill at bumail.bradley.edu>

> >> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"

> >>

> >> Hi,

> >>

> >> Could anyone recommend relevant books or reading materials for

> undergraduate

> >> students for a game studies course? The course will be offered for the

> first

> >> time this fall and is being designed to cover the "Game Criticism"

> portion

> >> of the IGDA curriculum framework (Game Studies, Experience-Centered

> >> Criticism, Consumer-Oriented Criticism, Genre Analysis, Auteur studies,

> >> Analysis of Game Design).

> >>

> >> I'm also open to any advice from others who have taught this type of

> course

> >> before.

> >>

> >> Thanks in advance!

> >>

> >> Monica

> >>

> >> _______________________________________________

> >> game_edu mailing list

> >> game_edu at igda.org

> >> http://seven.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/game_edu

> > _______________________________________________

> > game_edu mailing list

> > game_edu at igda.org

> > http://seven.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/game_edu

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>

> ------------------------------

>

> Message: 3

> Date: Tue, 06 Mar 2012 13:57:39 -0500

> From: Jacques Carette <carette at mcmaster.ca>

> Subject: [game_edu] Post-doc position

> To: game_edu at igda.org

> Message-ID: <4F565E23.40101 at mcmaster.ca>

> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=windows-1252; format=flowed

>

>

> Council on Library and Information Resources (CLIR) Postdoctoral

> Fellowship in Design for Multiple Visual Scales at McMaster University

>

> The Computing and Software Department and the University Library at

> McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada invite applications for

> a two-year CLIR Postdoctoral Fellowship in software design, with an

> emphasis on games, for multiple visual scales, from the iPod Touch to

> 60inch high-resolution screen panels. The Fellowship is part of the

> Gaming Scalability Environment (G-ScalE) project involving Dr. Jacques

> Carette (Computing and Software, Faculty of Engineering), Dr. Andrew

> Mactavish (Multimedia, Faculty of Humanities), and Jeff Trzeciak

> (University Librarian). The fellow will start immediately and report to

> Dr. Carette but also work closely with the library on certain projects.

>

> Duties

> ? Work with Dr. Carette and his students to identify all of the issues

> relating to usability at different scales, then help design (and

> implement) a set of domain-specific languages which capture the

> constraints of user-interface features with respect to scale.

> o From the psychology and user-interface literature, identify cognitive

> issues relating to scale perception, and capture these in a formal

> model. Examples: Fitts? Law, Hick?s Law and the Steering Law;

> o Identify examples of such concerns, and pre-existing solutions, from

> existing software which works at multiple scales; put an emphasis on

> solutions concerning gaming software;

> o Relate these models and solutions to design constraints for features

> in software;

> o Embody these design constraint into a set of domain specific

> languages; and

> o Provide interpreters for these languages.

> ? The above work will be done in conjunction with a number of other

> researchers and students, and is expected to lead to several

> peer-reviewed publications, as well as working software.

> ? The candidate will be expected to teach one course (in the CAS

> department).

> ? The candidate will be expected to work with the library to:

> o Identify the current and future library needs of Engineering faculty

> and students;

> o Assess current state of library resources, services and facilities in

> support of Engineering;

> o Make recommendations to the library administration for improvement;

> o Promote greater awareness of library resources, services and

> facilities within Engineering;

> o Promote greater awareness within the library of the faculty?s teaching

> and research priorities ; and

> o Provide support as needed to students and faculty within Engineering.

>

> Required Skills:

> ? Ph.D. in Computer Science or Software Engineering is preferred, but a

> Ph.D. in psychology, human factors, or mathematics accompanied by a

> demonstrable expertise in software development and mathematical modelling.

> ? Interest in multi-disciplinary work.

> ? Capable of understanding the requirements of faculty and students in

> Engineering with regards to library resources, services and facilities.

>

> How to Apply

> If you have received your Ph.D. within the last five years and are

> interested in this fellowship, please email your curriculum vitae to

> abishop at clir.org or carette at mcmaster.ca.

>

> The Council on Library and Information Resources (CLIR) is an

> independent, nonprofit organization that forges strategies to enhance

> research, teaching, and learning environments in collaboration with

> libraries, cultural institutions, and communities of higher learning.

> CLIR promotes forward-looking collaborative solutions that transcend

> disciplinary, institutional, professional, and geographic boundaries in

> support of the public good.

>

>

>

> ------------------------------

>

> Message: 4

> Date: Tue, 6 Mar 2012 11:48:37 -0800

> From: "Dan Carreker" <danc at narrativedesigns.com>

> Subject: [game_edu] WSJ  Article

> To: "'IGDA Game Education Listserv'" <game_edu at igda.org>

> Message-ID: <0249E77E4CF04D8A8F481AA6F50C7BD8 at Zombie>

> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

>

> Interesting article about the positive effects of video games.

>

>

>

>

> http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970203458604577263273943183932.ht

> ml?mod=googlenews_wsj

>

>

>

> --Dan Carreker

>

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> ------------------------------

>

> Message: 5

> Date: Tue, 6 Mar 2012 20:23:02 -0500

> From: Brian Winn <winnb at msu.edu>

> Subject: [game_edu] Call for Submissions for Meaningful Play 2012

> To: game_edu at igda.org

> Message-ID: <886B4E6A-681F-4D54-96EB-27A6762E78D6 at msu.edu>

> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

>

> Meaningful Play 2012

> October 18 - 20, 2012

> East Lansing, MI, USA

> http://meaningfulplay.msu.edu

>

> Call for Submissions (Deadline July 16, 2012)

>

> Whether designed to entertain or to achieve more "serious" purposes, games

> have the potential to impact players' beliefs, knowledge, attitudes,

> emotions, cognitive abilities, physical and mental health, and behavior.

>

> Meaningful Play 2012 is a conference about theory, research, and game

> design innovations, principles and practices.   Meaningful Play brings

> scholars and industry professionals together to understand and improve upon

> games to entertain, inform, educate, and persuade in meaningful ways. The

> conference includes thought-provoking keynotes from leaders in academia and

> industry, peer-reviewed paper presentations, panel sessions (including

> academic and industry discussions), innovative workshops, roundtable

> discussions, and exhibitions of games and prototypes.

>

> Meaningful Play 2012 and the International Journal of Gaming and

> Computer-Mediated Simulation (IJGCMS) have partnered to bring a special

> issue of the IJGCMS containing top papers from the Meaningful Play 2012

> conference. Top paper authors will be invited to revise their Meaningful

> Play paper for publication consideration in the special issue. The

> International Journal of Gaming and Computer-Mediated Simulations (IJGCMS)

> is a peer-reviewed, international journal devoted to the theoretical and

> empirical understanding of electronic games and computer-mediated

> simulations.

>

> Paper, Panel, Poster, Roundtable, Workshop, and Game submissions are

> sought from both researchers and practitioners in academia and industry.

> Graduate and advanced undergraduate students are also encouraged to submit

> either jointly with an academic/member of industry or alone.

>

> Details on the conference, including the call for submissions, is

> available at:

> http://meaningfulplay.msu.edu

>

>

>

> ------------------------------

>

> _______________________________________________

> game_edu mailing list

> game_edu at igda.org

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>

>

> End of game_edu Digest, Vol 92, Issue 9

> ***************************************

>

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