Computer games form an area of intersection between technology, economy, culture and society. They are not only constantly evolving at a technical level, but also in terms of content. Their narratives and interactive storytelling, their approach to concepts of identity, gender, self-perception and representation are constantly evolving. This is reflected in both the way games are played (and by whom), but also in the way they are developed and programmed.In this course, we will have a closer look at various games that deal with identity, gender and representation in different ways, including “The Last of Us II”, “Stray”, “Detroit: Become Human”, “2064: Read Only Memories”, but also games like “Call of Duty”, “Mass Effects” and “Tomb Raider”. They all allow for different perspectives on how identity is handled in games and how this is also reflected at the production level and engineering (e.g. (male) gaze, role models, artificial intelligence, etc.).By the end of the semester, you will be able to conduct independent academic research on a specific, videogame related topic. You will be able to identify artworks as belonging to identity and gender representation, critically understand the importance of their main features. You will be knowledgeable about the necessities and challenges of heeding this in practical and academic work.

Synchronous online class meetings and block sessions that may take place off campus.

The seminar gives students an overview of core works discussing identity and gender and its representation in game studies.

The seminar draws from various artistic and intellectual sources. Most of the texts, mainly in the shape of theoretical secondary reading, are provided on Moodle.Students are expected to buy or otherwise familiarise themselves with the primary works and computer games relevant to their assignments.

The seminar features three central assessments. Students mustdo a presentation and prepare a discussion about the presentationcreate a game prototype (digital or analogous) and write a post mortemactively participate in the seminar

Presentation: Students (either alone or in a group, depending on number of participants) must present a game chosen from a canon of specified games. This also contains some Let’s Play-Videos and handling of relevant key texts. (Worth 25% of the final mark)Discussion: Students prepare several questions that will be discussed in class in context of their presentation (Worth 25% of final mark)Prototype game projects: Students ought to collect their understanding of what defines identity and gender on a scientifically founded way. This means that this content must be adapted into an interactive artwork, allowing players to exert agency with or influenced by representation of identity and gender as tropes and topics. A proper documentation of their work is necessary. The interactive artwork may be analogue or digital. Students of the master’s programme Game Studies and Engineering are advised to conclude the seminar with a digital project. You can develop your idea as groupwork but it is important for the prototype and written elaboration that the tasks are clearly assigned and that it is clearly identifiable in the submission who was in charge of which part. (Worth 40% of the final mark)Participation: regularly attend the seminar and participate in homework exercises and pop quizzes as demanded. (Worth 10% of the final mark)Detailed assignment instructions are provided during the first seminar week.

All assignments must fulfil minimal standards to be considered for a positive evaluation. They must:Display seminar-appropriate command of EnglishContain formal features as defined by their assignment instructionsReference all their sources correctly.Rely only on academic sources unless warranted by specific research interests.Apply rigorous critical scrutiny to the quality of all of your sources.Use the Chicago Manual of Style Author/Date format for your references.Your lecturer/supervisor may reject your paper if these criteria are not met. Papers subsequently failing even the minimum standard receive a 5/F (fail grade).If an assignment fulfils these minimal standards, then the following factors are considered for grading:Idea (connection to assignment, quality of main idea, reasonability…)Coherency (logic in argument, structure, transition between contents…)References (quality, quantity, and application of sources considered, evidence…)Style (Correct usage of key terminology, fittingly abstract or concrete…)Expression (academic tone, grammar, syntax, spelling…)A severely flawed assignment in one or several of these areas is graded as 5/F (fail grade).Attendance during the first session is mandatory for seminar participation.General remark on our code of conduct and plagiarism policy:Plagiarism and cheating leads to expulsion from class.Severe violation of the GSE Code of Conduct leads to expulsion from class.