Overview

After completing this unit of study, students will have a theoretical and critical knowledge of the digital game medium and culture. This subject is also designed to develop generic skills that are applicable to a broad range of disciplines and contexts.

Requisites

Equivalent units
GAM10001 Introduction to Game Studies
Teaching periods
Location
Start and end dates
Last self-enrolment date
Census date
Last withdraw without fail date
Results released date
Semester 1
Location
Hawthorn
Start and end dates
03-March-2025
01-June-2025
Last self-enrolment date
16-March-2025
Census date
31-March-2025
Last withdraw without fail date
24-April-2025
Results released date
08-July-2025

Learning outcomes

Students who successfully complete this unit will be able to:

  • Demonstrate comprehension of the fundamental ideas behind both non-electronic and electronic games
  • Critically analyse play and game structures utilising specialised vocabulary
  • Direct a critical perspective on the social and cultural factors of game design and consumption
  • Illustrate an understanding of the relationship between theory and practice

Teaching methods

Hawthorn

Type Hours per week Number of weeks Total (number of hours)
On-campus
Lecture		2.00 12 weeks 24
On-campus
Class		2.00 12 weeks 24
Specified Activities
Various		4.00 12 weeks 48
Unspecified Activities
Various		4.50 12 weeks 54
TOTAL150

Assessment

Type Task Weighting ULO's
AssessmentIndividual 20% 1,2,3 
AssessmentGroup 50% 1,4 
EssayIndividual 30% 1,2,3 

Content

  • The philosophy of play and games
  • The history of games
  • The place of games in culture and society
  • Game design heuristics

Study resources

Reading materials

A list of reading materials and/or required textbooks will be available in the Unit Outline on Canvas.