We are quickly approaching the 50th anniversary of Dungeons & Dragons, the 10th anniversaries of Twitch and Itch.io, and the ninth generation of video game consoles. The most successful TV/film Kickstarter of all time funded the animated series for D&D livestream Critical Role. Game Studies has existed as an interdisciplinary field for over three decades, withs its own subfields and debates.

This course will explore games as storytelling devices. We’ll read academic articles, games journalism, and video reviews, and think about what makes for successful writing about games. We’ll think about the new narrative frames introduced by actual plays and livestreaming. We’ll think about games as transmedia phenomena, influencing and being influenced by television, film, comic books, and many other genres and modes. We’ll examine representation in games: both what is depicted and who creates them. And of course, share a lot of games, big and small, with one another.

Students will gain knowledge of the field of narratology (the study of the structure of stories) and how it related to ludology (the study of actions and events in games). In an active-learning classroom and in collaboration with the new RBD Library Innovation Commons, students will apply what they learn in practice as both makers and critics. No prior technical experience or console/specific platform is required.

Class Guests included: Auburn Theatre alum and actor London Carlisle, artist/game designer Tim Hutchings, actor/writer Aabria Iyengar, critic Mx. Tiffany Leigh, scholar/designer Evan Torner, and actor/writer B. Dave Walters.