Narrative Design and Analysis and Interactive Games

Code:

ICPD034

Acronym:

CANJI

Keywords
Classification	Keyword
OFICIAL	Sciences and Communication Technologies

Instance: 2014/2015 - 1S

Active?	Yes
Responsible unit:	Department of Journalism and Communication Sciences
Course/CS Responsible:	Third cycle of studies in Information and Communication in Digital Platforms

Cycles of Study/Courses

Acronym	No. of Students	Study Plan	Curricular Years	Credits UCN	Credits ECTS	Contact hours	Total Time
ICPD	0	ICPD - Study Plan	1	-	6	60	162

Teaching language

Suitable for English-speaking students

Objectives

 

Objectives:

- Promote understanding, analysis and discussion of various theories of digital storytelling and interactive games;

Understand the concepts of ludology versus narratology;

- Promote the acquisition of knowledge in the game design development process;

- Promote understanding, analysis and discussion on the impact of video games on present society;

- Promote the ability to analyse and evaluate digital storytelling and interactive digital games;

 

Learning outcomes and competences

Competencies:

It is expected that students can:

- Make a critical analysis of the various theories and concepts about digital storytelling and interactive games;

- Experience game design process

- Analyze the impacts of gaming in society (strengths and weaknesses);

- Planning an assessment of digital storytelling and/or interactive games;

The students should apply the learned concepts in news situations, develop self-autonomy working with the presented software tools and develop workgroup social skills.

Working method

Presencial

Pre-requirements (prior knowledge) and co-requirements (common knowledge)

-

Program

Unit 1 - key concepts about games, play, digital narratives and historical issues;

- Games;

- Play;

- Storytelling;

- Types of interactive games and digital narratives;

- Historical contextualization of interactive games and digital narratives;

 

Unit 2 - game design and general principles

- General principles;

- The development process;

- Analysis of the public;

- Analysis of the devices;

- Analysis of development tools;

 

Units 3 - society effects of digital games

- Effects (psychological, cognitive, behavioral, ...);

- Specific audiences;

 

Unit 4 - analysis of digital games

- Study cases;

- Ratings heuristics.

Mandatory literature

SALEN, K., ZIMMERMAN, E. (coord.); The Game Design Reader: A Rules of Play Anthology, Massachusetts: MIT press., 2006
FULLERTON, Tracy; SWAIN, Christopher and HOFFMAN, Steven ; GAME DESIGN WORKSHOP - A Playcentric Approach to Creating Innovative Games. , Morgan Kaufmann Publishers, 2nd Edition. , 2008. ISBN: ISBN: 978-0-240-80974-8
ADAMS, Ernest; Fundamentals of Game Design., New Riders, 3rd Edition. , 2013. ISBN: ISBN-13: 978- 0321929679
SALEN, K., ZIMMERMAN, E.; Rules of Play: Game Design Fundamentals., Massachusetts: MIT press., 2004
Juul, J.; Half-real - Video Games between Real Rules and Fictional Worlds, MIT press, 2005
BATEMAN, C., BOON R.; 21st century game design (charles river media game development) , Pub. Jenifer Niles, 2005
CALLOIS, R. ; Os jogos e os homens. , Ed Cotovia: Lisboa (traduzido do original de 1967). , 1990
HARRIGAN, P., WARDRIP-FRUIN, N. (coord.); First Person New Media as Story, Performance, and Game. , Massachusetts: MIT press, 2004
HARRIGAN, P., WARDRIP-FRUIN, N. (coord.); Second Person Role-Playing and Story in Games and Playable. , Massachusetts: MIT press, 2007
OXLAND, K.; Gameplay and design, Addison Wesley, 2004
ROLLINGS, A., ADAMS, E.; On Game Design, New Riders Games, 2003

Teaching methods and learning activities

Expositive teaching, supported by projections, in order to supply the basic theoretical concepts; discussion among the class of the theoretical foundations of the subjects; practical assessments to analyse the various theories, models and concepts presented about digital storytelling and interactive games.

Evaluation: oral and written presentation of a theoretical/practical assessment on digital storytelling and interactive games research.

Evaluation Type

Distributed evaluation without final exam

Assessment Components

Designation	Weight (%)
Participação presencial	10,00
Prova oral	20,00
Trabalho escrito	70,00
Total:	100,00

Calculation formula of final grade

-