Module overview
In the Games Design & Culture module, you will delve into a wide array of cultural studies that have shaped and continue to influence game design. By engaging in "thinking through making," you will explore and respond to these cultural and theoretical influences through practical activities.
Aims and Objectives
Learning Outcomes
Subject Specific Intellectual and Research Skills
Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:
- Test ideas through critical reflection using a variety of physical and digital sources
Subject Specific Practical Skills
Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:
- Design and develop games outcomes and methodologies appropriate to the contemporary games industry for your current level of study.
- Employ practical intelligence and experimentation to exploit medium of games for your current level of study.
- Undertake and evaluate human (player) testing of game products, prototypes and projects concepts for your current level of study.
Knowledge and Understanding
Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:
- Plan strategies to evolve your digital skills in line with your discipline's expectations
Transferable and Generic Skills
Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:
- Identify strengths and weaknesses in your academic skills
Syllabus
What You'll Do:
•Cultural Studies Exploration: Examine diverse cultural theories and their impact on game design, understanding how historical and contemporary perspectives shape the field.
•Interactive Activities: Participate in activities that involve playing, creating, and reflecting on various subjects related to game making.
•Material Creation: Produce a variety of outputs, including sketchbook entries, visualisations, notes, reflective practices, prototypes, mock-ups, presentations, audio and video materials, and both physical and digital assets.
Learning:
•Critical Making and Thinking: Develop your ideas through workshops focused on critical making, thinking, and idea generation techniques, as well as common approaches to game design.
•Contextual Understanding: Gain the ability to situate your practice within relevant theories, practices, external influences, and cultural perspectives from both historical and contemporary viewpoints.
•Cultural Contextualisation: Understand the broader historical context, current issues, and definitions of arts and cultural practices, enabling you to contextualise your work within the larger cultural landscape.
Learning and Teaching
Teaching and learning methods
Teaching methods include:
• Project Briefings
• Group tutorials and discussions
• One-to-one tutorials
• Critical Reviews
• Seminars
• Creative and technical workshops
• Technical demonstrations
• Visual presentations
Learning activities include:
• Creative portfolio development
• Research and concept development workshops
• Creative design and technical workshops
• School resource based learning
• Seminars
• Study visits
• Peer group learning
• Group critiques
• Self-assessment
| Type | Hours |
|---|---|
| Independent Study | 252 |
| Teaching | 48 |
| Total study time | 300 |
Resources & Reading list
Textbooks
Crow, David (2003). Visible Signs, An Introduction to Semiotics in the Visual Arts. Bloomsbury.
Assessment
Formative
This is how we’ll give you feedback as you are learning. It is not a formal test or exam.
Portfolio
- Assessment Type: Formative
- Feedback: Feedback on project briefs. You will experience formative feedback during the module in different learning situations, for example: tutorials, crits and written feedback.
- Final Assessment: No
- Group Work: No
Summative
This is how we’ll formally assess what you have learned in this module.
| Method | Percentage contribution |
|---|---|
| Portfolio | 100% |
Referral
This is how we’ll assess you if you don’t meet the criteria to pass this module.
| Method | Percentage contribution |
|---|---|
| Portfolio | 100% |
Repeat
An internal repeat is where you take all of your modules again, including any you passed. An external repeat is where you only re-take the modules you failed.
| Method | Percentage contribution |
|---|---|
| Portfolio | 100% |