Course Title: Principles of Play 1

Part A: Course Overview

Course Title: Principles of Play 1

Credit Points: 12.00

Terms

Course Code	Campus	Career	School	Learning Mode	Teaching Period(s)
OART1044	City Campus	Undergraduate	345H Media and Communication	Face-to-Face	Sem 1 2015, Sem 1 2016, Sem 1 2017
OART1044	City Campus	Undergraduate	370H Design	Face-to-Face	Sem 1 2018, Sem 1 2020

Course Coordinator: Christian McCrea

Course Coordinator Phone: Please email

Course Coordinator Email: christian.mccrea@rmit.edu.au

Course Coordinator Location: Please email

Course Coordinator Availability: Please email

Pre-requisite Courses and Assumed Knowledge and Capabilities

None

Course Description

This course introduces you to the concepts necessary for the critical study and analysis of digital games. You will critically examination of the development and design of video games and delve into their pre-digital historical role in culture and society.

Introductory concepts of game design, mechanics, narrative and character will be explored with reference to both traditional and new media. The course acts as an introduction to the field of game studies more generally.

Objectives/Learning Outcomes/Capability Development

Course Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this course, you will be able to:

• Explain core principles of play as described in game studies.
• Identify and analyse the practices and social dynamics involved during different kinds of play.
• Apply non-digital game design skills to design problems and contexts across media.
• Change rules and play forms to manage and change play behaviours.
• Critically experiment with play design to build understanding of a game form’s overall qualities and actual impact.

Overview of Learning Activities

You will be actively engaged in learning that involves a range of activities such as studios, project work, lectures, tutorials, class discussion, individual and group activities.

Overview of Learning Resources

RMIT will provide you with resources and tools for learning in this course through our online systems.

A list of recommended learning resources will be provided by your lecturer, including books, journal articles and web resources. You will also be expected to seek further resources that are relevant to the focus of your own learning.

There are services available to support your learning, including the University Library and Study Support services. For further information, please visit the Library page on the RMIT University website and the myRMIT student portal.

Overview of Assessment

You will be assessed on how well you meet the course’s learning outcomes and on your development against the program learning outcomes. Assessment may include essays, reports, reflective papers, creative projects and presentations, individually and in groups. Assessment will cover both theoretical and practical aspects of your learning.

Feedback will be given on all assessment tasks.