Syllabus
The complete and updated syllabus for this semester is available HERE.
List of topics:
Introduction to game historiography – approaches and methods
Non-digital games (folklore games, Kriegsspiele, pen and paper role-playing games)
The origins of games in research and university settings (Spacewar!, Adventure, Lunar Landing Game)
Arcade machine industries and designs (Pong, Space Invaders, Missile Command, Adventure, Pitfall, Yar’s Revenge)
Field trip to the Arcadehry.cz arcade museum
Homebrew and “bedroom” programming; 1980s British surrealism (Manic Miner, Attack of the Mutant Camels, Deus Ex Machina)
Activist and political games; Computer games in Czechoslovakia and the Czech Republic
Genre histories; the example of the adventure game (Adventure, Mystery House, King’s Quest, Maniac Mansion, Monkey Island, Grim Fandango, Walking Dead)
History of game engines (Filmation, Freescape, SCUMM, ZZT, DOOM, Source, Unreal, Unity); histories of digital game labor
Authorship in the history of game design (Warren Robinet, Roberta Williams, Matthew Smith, Mel Croucher, Peter Molyneux, Sid Meier, Will Wright, CliffyB, Mojang, the Flappy Bird case)
History of game worlds (Ultima, The Hobbit, Knight Lore, Elite, Dungeon Master, Wasteland, Grand Theft Auto, Daggerfall, Fallout)
Regional and transnational histories – French games and “French touch” in game design; the origins of the Japanese RPG fames
Annotation
The class will introduce the students to the history of computer and video games, with frequent excursions into non-digital games. Its goal is to allow students to understand digital games as a medium interconnected with social, cultural and technological histories.
Moreover, it will teach students to identify and interpret influential and inspiring works in the history of games, and use the inspiration in their creative work. It emphasizes the diversity of game histories across nations and platforms, with special focus on European productions and independent, experimental games that might not be familiar to students.
Lectures are organized conceptually rather than chronologically. They will be interspersed with class discussion.