Craft a careful analysis of a video game. You should choose a game you're familiar with or the game you are playing for this course. Your argument should explore the game's semiotic domain, examining key elements and making an argument about the game's place in our cultural milieu.
In the first few weeks of the course, we have encountered a number of different approaches to games that focus on 'readings' drawing mostly from the semiotic domains of gaming and critical theory. Mia Consalvo's “It's a Queer World After All” examined elements from The Sims to craft an argument about how the people-simulator allows for expressions of non-hetero sexual attractions and perspectives. Patrick Crogan's article used an understanding of the military-entertainment complex to suggest how the logistical nature of tasks in gaming disrupt the narrative (and ethical) channels at work in most games. Finally, Julian Dibbell used a close-reading of the “Mr.Bungle affair” to examine the nature of community and violence in electronic environments. Each of these articles, along with the other articles we have read and will read before this project is due, gives you insight into how to analyze games.
Goals of the project:
- Explore the process of game analysis, using semiotic strategies to focus on specific examples from your game.
- Make an argument about the game's relationship to culture or vice versa.
- Craft a careful, thoughtful essay.
Tips for the project (Do these things):
- Think through your argument before you begin. Decide what you're going to argue (your thesis statement) and plan out a path that will allow you to prove your argument.
- Start early—good writing is a time-consuming process.
- Use appropriate academic language and style.
- Use the articles we've read as models for how to conduct game analysis.
- Use citations for any quotes you use (though you shouldn't be using many).
- Go to the Writing Center for extra help on your paper (5% bonus!)
Cautions as you work on the project (Don't do these things):
- Don't do outside research. I want to read your ideas about the game, so you shouldn't be doing research about what other people have said. If you draw ideas from course texts or other places, of course, you must cite them (see below).
- Don't plagiarize. You should be producing all the ideas and writing for this project. If you borrow text from anywhere else, indicate that you have done so with quotes and a works cited page.
- Don't wait until the last minute to work on this project.
- Don't summarize the game. While a short paragraph is okay to give the reader a sense of what the game is about, you should be using examples from the game to prove your points, not summarizing it.
- Don't review the game. I don't care whether it's a good game or not.
Nitty Gritty:
- MLA Format (12 point font, double-spaced, stapled, works cited list)
- 1000-1200 words (4 full pages or so). You may go up to five full pages (or around 1500 words), but I don't want to see fewer than 1000 words.
- Outline due 1 March
- Rough Draft due 8 March
- Final Draft due 15 March
