At the end of the seminar, you will be equipped with the skills and terms to analyse a video game for its genre components, to draw conclusions from these observations regarding their own game design practices, and to take critically reflected positions in the discourse field.

Four weekly on-campus sessions in the beginning of the semester and two on-campus block dates towards the end of the semester.

Understand the genre of any given video game as an ‘impossible’ taxonomy: a fluid hybrid of aesthetic practices, mechanic intentions, and (social) interaction. Follow the cultural history of genres and their importance in contemporary society. Understand their usage in game design as discursive contracts between developers, cultural institutions, and audiences. Understand the importance of genre discussions in game journalism and game studies. Refine your analytical skills by journaling a genre-focused playthrough. Adapt the course material into your working practices with a game prototype.

The seminar draws from various artistic and intellectual sources. All mandatory texts, mainly in the shape of theoretical secondary reading, are provided on Moodle.You are expected to buy or otherwise familiarise yourself with the primary works relevant to your individual assignments.

The seminar features four central assessments:Mid-term ExamPlay JournalGame PrototypeSeminar ParticipationYou must pass each of the assignments in order to pass the seminar!

Mid-term exam: Pass an exam on the fundamental key terms and concepts of genre theory and its importance in game studies. The exam consists of multiple choice and open answer questions. (Worth 30% of the final mark)Play journal: Engage with a video game for multiple sessions over the semester and keep a journal, containing your player experiences of, and analytical observations on, the game’s genre dimensions. (Worth 30% of the final mark)Game Prototype: Produce a prototype game project that implements course findings in a meaningful fashion.  Complement your prototype with a post-mortem that elaborates on your design choices. (Worth 30% of the final mark)Participation: regularly attend the seminar and participate in homework exercises and seminar tasks. (Worth 10% of the final mark) Detailed instructions for each assignment are provided during the first seminar week.

All assignments must fulfil a minimum standard to be considered for a positive evaluation. They must……not be written by an AI or generative language tool.…display seminar-appropriate command of English.…contain formal features as defined by their assignment instructions.…reference all their sources correctly. Use the Chicago Manual of Style Author/Date format.I may reject a paper if these criteria are not met and demand a revision. Revised papers that fail to meet the minimum standard receive a 5/F (fail grade).Assignments fulfilling the minimum standard are graded according to the following criteria:Idea (connection to assignment, quality of main idea, reasonability…)Coherency (argumentation, logic, structure, transition between contents…)References (quality, quantity, application of sources considered, evidence…)Style (Correct usage of key terminology, fittingly abstract or concrete…)Expression (academic tone, grammar, syntax, spelling…)An assignment that is severely flawed in one or several of these areas receives a 5/F (fail grade).Attendance:Attendance during the first session is mandatory for seminar participation.You are allowed to miss three ninety-minute-sessions without giving any reasons.You are allowed to miss a fourth session if you provide a valid reason (e.g. a doctor’s appointment) and provide an extra assignment for the missed session.General remark on expulsion:Academic misconduct leads to expulsion from class.Missing more than four sessions may lead to expulsion from class.Severe violation of the university’s or the master programme’s Code of Conduct may lead to expulsion from class.