2023-2024 / COMU2149-1

History and analysis of the use of video games*

Duration

30h Th

Number of credits

 Bachelor in ancient and modern languages and literatures5 crédits 
 Bachelor in ancient languages and literatures : classics5 crédits 
 Bachelor in information and communication5 crédits 
 Bachelor in modern languages and literatures : German, Dutch and English5 crédits 
 Bachelor in history of art and archaeology : general5 crédits 
 Bachelor in history5 crédits 
 Bachelor in modern languages and literatures : general5 crédits 
 Bachelor in history of art and archaeology : musicology5 crédits 
 Bachelor in ancient languages and literatures : Oriental studies (Registrations are closed)5 crédits 
 Bachelor in philosophy5 crédits 
 Bachelor in French and Romance languages and literatures : general5 crédits 
 Master in performing arts (120 ECTS) (international master)5 crédits 

Lecturer

Björn-Olav Dozo

Language(s) of instruction

French language

Organisation and examination

Teaching in the second semester

Schedule

Schedule online

Units courses prerequisite and corequisite

Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program

Learning unit contents

The course aims to provide an introduction to the field of game studies as well as an overview of different cultural approaches to video games. After a presentation of the main game theories and the different ways of defining this object (what is a game? what is playing? what is the place of this activity among other cultural practices?), the course addresses several themes related to the cultural dimension of the medium.

In order to anchor these various studies in a detailed understanding of video game works and the multiple practices that gaming can involve, the theories presented can be linked to the analysis of various games that are made available to students during and after the course (at the Espace Digital de la Province de Liège or at the Liège Game Lab).

Learning outcomes of the learning unit

Learning how to constitute video game as an object of study and research with different disciplinary approaches

Prerequisite knowledge and skills

Planned learning activities and teaching methods

Some of the course sessions are divided into two parts: a theoretical part (presenting research in game science on a defined topic) and a practical part of game commentary in class.

Directed by Björn-Olav Dozo, the course is given collegially by a teaching team.


External speakers are also invited each year.

 

 

Mode of delivery (face to face, distance learning, hybrid learning)

Face-to-face course


Additional information:

Face-to-face course

Recommended or required readings

Two books are recommended to accompany the course:
- Liège Game Lab, Culture vidéoludique ! 2019, Liège;
- Sébastien Genvo and Thibaut Philippette (eds.) Introduction aux théories des jeux vidéo. 2023, Liège, PULG.
More detailed references on each course topic will be given during the sessions and PowerPoint presentations will be made available on eCampus.

Written work / report


Additional information:

Course assessment will take the form of a written assignment due during the session.

Further explanation:

MANDATORY: Students must submit a 3000-word paper (excluding bibliography) on a topic of their choice related to the course.

An optional (but recommended) meeting will be organized at the end of April to help students write their paper.

The paper must be submitted in digital format (Word) on eCampus.

The evaluation criteria are as follows

Mobilization and understanding of game science in the paper
Writing according to academic conventions
Use of relevant and properly referenced sources (footnotes and bibliography).

One session of the course will be devoted to explaining the criteria.

OPTIONAL: Students must produce a 5-minute Let's Play video. In this video, they must show a section of a game of their choice (that has not already been analyzed in class) and present how it illustrates a question raised in class.


WARNING: Let's Play is not a substitute for written work.



 

Work placement(s)

Organisational remarks and main changes to the course

The course takes place in the second semester, every Friday from 1:00 to 3:00 pm.


Depending on the equipment of the room, the sessions will be recorded and made available as podcasts on MyULiège.

Contacts

Teacher in charge: Björn-Olav Dozo

Contact by email : alexis.messina@uliege.be

More info: https://www.liegegamelab.uliege.be/

Association of one or more MOOCs

The MOOC entitled 'Il était une fois la littérature jeunesse (P1)' is associated with this course.
The MOOC entitled 'Introduction à la culture vidéoludique (P2)' is associated with this course.