Explore a comprehensive series of video lectures examining social and political issues within the gaming community. Delve into topics such as ethical game design, character representation, piracy, toxicity, game addiction, diversity, and the impact of games on education. Analyze how games can address sensitive themes, influence mental health, and contribute to social change. Investigate the challenges facing the game industry, including archiving games for future generations, crowdfunding, and the evolution of game journalism. Learn about the potential of games in education, politics, and scientific research. Discover insights on game design, player psychology, and the cultural significance of gaming across different countries. Gain a deeper understanding of the complex relationship between games, society, and personal growth through discussions on topics like religion in games, free speech, and the catharsis of gameplay.
Overview
Syllabus
Propaganda Games - Ethical Game Design - Extra Credits.
God Does Not Play Dice - The Danger of Unquestioned Belief - Extra Credits.
True Female Characters - How to Write Deep and Interesting Characters - Extra Credits.
Piracy - How Can the Game Industry Stop Illegal Downloads? - Extra Credits.
Toxicity - Why Players Rage and How to Defuse It - Extra Credits.
World of Warcraft Epidemiology - The Corrupted Blood Plague (And Why It Matters) - Extra Credits.
Call of Juarez: The Cartel - How Lazy Design Hurts Everyone - Extra Credits.
How Minecraft Changes the Future of Games - Minecraft Generation - Extra Credits.
Sex in Games - How Games Need to Mature as a Medium - Extra Credits.
Anonymous - Who Really Hacked PlayStation Network in 2011? - Extra Credits.
Harassment - Why Gaming Struggles to Escape Toxicity - Extra Credits.
"Gamer" - What's in a Name? - Extra Credits.
Not a Babysitter - Why Parents Should Play Games with their Kids - Extra Credits.
Religion in Games - I: Mechanics, Lore, and Heart - Extra Credits.
Sexual Diversity - How a Queer Character Made Persona 4 Great - Extra Credits.
Race in Games - Racial Tensions in LA Noire as Character Development - Extra Credits.
Used Games - Ownership in the Digital Age - Extra Credits.
Game Addiction - I: Myths About Gaming's Impact on Health - Extra Credits.
Game Reviews - How Can We Improve Game Journalism? - Extra Credits.
Net Neutrality - What a Closed Internet Means - Extra Credits.
Game Addiction - II: How to Defeat Game Compulsion - Extra Credits.
Facing Controversy - How to Stand Up for Games as a Medium - Extra Credits.
"My Name Is Ozymandias..." - How to Archive Games for Future Generations - Extra Credits.
Gamifying Education - How to Make Your Classroom Truly Engaging - Extra Credits.
Ludus Florentis - Embracing Change in the Games Industry - Extra Credits.
What Is a Game? - How This Question Limits Our Medium - Extra Credits.
Education: An End to Fear - Why Students Hate Homework - Extra Credits.
Global Games: Norway - The Challenges of Norwegian Game Companies - Extra Credits.
Religion in Games - II: How Games Can Explore Faith - Extra Credits.
Minority - Race and Relationships in The Walking Dead - Extra Credits.
Dansky - How to Explore Sensitive Themes Tastefully - Extra Credits.
Free Speech - The Supreme Court Case Against Violent Video Games - Extra Credits.
Gamification - How the Principles of Play Apply to Real Life - Extra Credits.
Ladders and Team Games - Doing it Wrong - Extra Credits.
Game Addiction - III: Why Does Game Compulsion Exist? - Extra Credits.
Incentive Systems and Politics I - Making Congress Responsible for Their Decisions - Extra Credits.
A Little Bit of Yesterday - Why We Love Retro Games So Much - Extra Credits.
"Art" Is Not the Opposite of "Fun" - Why Analyzing Games Makes Them Better - Extra Credits.
Evil Races are Bad Game Design - Bioessentialism & Worldbuilding - Extra Credits.
Growing with Our Heroes - Why Childhood Favorites Get Dark Reboots - Extra Credits.
Games in Education - How Games Can Improve Our Schools - Extra Credits.
Diversity - Why Do Games Lack Diverse Characters? - Extra Credits.
Beyond Fun - Why Games Need to Be More than Fun - Extra Credits.
Sharing Our Medium - How to Introduce Games to Your Friends - Extra Credits.
Incentive Systems and Politics III - Breaking the Gridlock in US Government - Extra Credits.
Incentive Systems and Politics II - Limiting Corporate Influence on Policy - Extra Credits.
Global Games: Brazil - How to Kickstart a Thriving Game Industry - Extra Credits.
Crowdfunding - How Kickstarter Helps Games Innovate - Extra Credits.
Our Oscars - Why Games Deserve Better than the Spike Video Game Awards - Extra Credits.
The Joy of Losing - Learning to Have Fun Playing Games - Extra Credits.
The Catharsis of Doing - Designing Emotionally Intense Experiences - Extra Credits.
Education: 21st Century Skills - How Games Prepare You for Life - Extra Credits.
Education: Responsive Learning - How Games Help Teachers - Extra Credits.
Moving Forward - Games That Do Good - Extra Credits.
Politics - How to Make Your Voice Heard - Extra Credits.
Global Games: Mexico, Argentina & Chile - The Future of Game Design in Latin America - Extra Credits.
Episode 300: Letters to My Nephews - Never Giving Up - Extra Credits.
The Good We Do - Charity in the Gaming Community - Extra Credits.
Education: Agency - How Games Empower Us - Extra Credits.
Comfortable Play - Respecting Boundaries in Tabletop RPGs - Extra Credits.
Game Therapy - How Can Games Improve Mental Health? - Extra Credits.
A Season of Hope - Child's Play Charity and the Games Community - Extra Credits.
College E-Sports - Road to Glory? - Extra Credits.
User Generated Content - The Upsides and Pitfalls to Level Editors - Extra Credits.
Letters to My Nephews #2 - Learning to Learn - Extra Credits.
Letter to My Nephews #3 - This Is Your Story - Extra Credits.
Mental Health in Games - How We Can Do Better - Extra Credits.
Do You Own Your Games? - Retrogaming Responsibly - Extra Credits.
Mixed Success - Winning and Losing in Tabletop Roleplaying Games - Extra Credits.
Character Creators & Cyberpunk - Player Freedom in Expression - Extra Credits.
Finding Your Favorite Game - Game Discovery in a Crowded Market - Extra Credits.
A Rebuilding Year - Navigating the Ups and Downs of Creative Careers - Extra Credits.
Saving the World with Games - Citizen Science and More - Extra Credits.
Distant Socializing - Gaming in the Time of COVID - Extra Credits.
Reciprocity in RPGs - How to Share the Spotlight - Extra Credits.
Letters to My Nephews #4 - Playing for the Long Game - Extra Credits.
Taught by
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