Digital Play – Virtual Worlds, Virtual Communities ha&S 251 e fall 2006

TTh 1:30-3:20

MGH 271

Instructor: Wanda Gregory

TA: Donna Fontaine

Email: donna@hitl.washington.edu

Office Hours: by appointment

The ten billion dollar video game industry is now the second largest segment of the entertainment industry in the United States, outperforming film and book publishing. The launch of Halo2 alone brought in $125 million dollars in a single day rivaling blockbuster movies. The massively multiplayer game (MMO) World of Warcraft sold 250,000 copies in November of 2004—the most successful PC game launch in history. This game continues to grow with over 6 million subscribers. Today we have players spending thousands of dollars on virtual characters and digital items on eBay and sweatshops are being established in developing nations to service this micro-economy. Games have and will continue to become a major part of our culture today and a key component of the ever-growing digital entertainment industry.

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  Understand important aspects of online interactions
  
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  Understand the social design considerations in creation of online communities
  
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  Participate and analyze community elements within multiplayer games
  

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  Understand the issues that challenge MMO and community designers
  
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  Participate as a team in the process of designing a game including brainstorming, concept development, documentation and presentation of a pitch to experts from the game industry
  
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  Play and analyze games in terms of topics explored in the readings
  
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  Read and discuss class materials on the nature and aesthetics of online games
  

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  Weekly readings
  
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  Weekly updates to class blog
  
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  3 response papers (2-3 pages) based on weekly readings
  
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  1 game review paper (3-5 pages)
  
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  Team project – creation of game concept, design doc and presentation
  
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  All students must participate in some multiplayer space (an MMOG, XboxLive, Second Life, etc.).
  

Students will work in teams to create a game concept, pitch and design document. The team will submit a one-page summary in week 5 for class review and suggestions. In week 10, teams will present their game concept, and design to a panel of industry experts. More information on this as quarter progresses.

Students will be asked to participate in the class blog discussing their experiences with games they’ve played throughout the quarter. The purpose of the blog is to practice critical thinking skills in relation to games, their structure and content. Doesn’t have to be formal. I just want you to start thinking about games. You might want to even try playing games you don’t like. Students can also use the weblog to discuss their own ideas about fun, creativity and game design.

Four papers – 3 based on course readings (2-3 pages) and one game review (3-5 pages)

Class participation (5%)

Weekly blog participation (5%)

Papers (40%)

Group project (50%)
Reading Requirements:

Course package at RAM on University Way. (206) 632.6630

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  Theory of Fun for Game Design, by Ralph Koster
  

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  Between Play Worlds, by TL Taylor
  
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  Synthetic Worlds, by Edward Castronva
  
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  Designing Virtual Worlds, by Richard Bartle
  
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  Rules of Play, Eric Zimmerman and Katie Salen
  
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  The Game Design Reader, Ed. Eric Zimmerman and Katie Salen
  

Terra Nova

The Escapist Magazine

Nick Yee/Daedalus gateway

Water Cooler Games

Buzz Cut

Game Girl Advance

International Game Developers Association (IGDA)

Penny Arcade

Joystiq

Kotaku

MMORPG.com

This schedule may need to be adjusted as the quarter progresses (class with notice).