Duration
30h Th
Number of credits
Lecturer
Language(s) of instruction
French language
Organisation and examination
Teaching in the second semester
Schedule
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.