Final Project
The final project for our class is a 10-page analytical paper, which offers a critical interpretation of one or two videogames or of some phenomenon central to the social significance of videogames. In addition to a deep understanding of a specific game or trend, this paper will require outside research, using sources from established academic journals or academic books.
Your analysis should consider both the formal elements and the narrative elements of gameplay, and the dynamic between the two. Remember that form includes rules, interface, graphics, music and sound effects. And keep in mind that narrative is shorthand for a wide range of concerns, such as evocative symbolism, cultural assumptions, explicit or implicit ideological messages, and so on.
It is up to you to decide which game or games to examine for the final project. Aim for a richer, more contemporary game than you might find on the Atari or NES. The Nintendo 64 is probably the lowest threshold of what system would offer the most analytically satisfying project. (And there is a Nintendo 64 emulator, which you run on a PC using ROMs.) There are dozens of top-notch freeware games you can write about too. See for example, this discussion of the best freeware games of 2007.
Here’s a timeline for the final project:
- On Thursday, April 24, come to class with a short paragraph describing what game or games you want to look at and what you want to investigate in the game.
- Be prepared to present briefly on Tuesday, April 29 and Thursday, May 1. Think of the presentation as a snapshot of one thing that you’ll be looking at with your chosen game(s).
- Final Paper is due Tuesday, May 6
