Overview

After completing this unit of study, students will have a theoretical and critical knowledge of the digital game medium and culture. This subject is also designed to develop generic skills that are applicable to a broad range of disciplines and contexts.

Requisites

Equivalent units
GAM10001 Introduction to Game Studies
Teaching periods
Location
Start and end dates
Last self-enrolment date
Census date
Last withdraw without fail date
Results released date
Semester 1
Location
Hawthorn
Start and end dates
02-March-2026
31-May-2026
Last self-enrolment date
15-March-2026
Census date
31-March-2026
Last withdraw without fail date
21-April-2026
Results released date
07-July-2026

Unit learning outcomes

Students who successfully complete this unit will be able to:

  1. Demonstrate comprehension of the fundamental ideas behind both non-electronic and electronic games
  2. Critically analyse play and game structures utilising specialised vocabulary
  3. Direct a critical perspective on the social and cultural factors of game design and consumption
  4. Illustrate an understanding of the relationship between theory and practice

Teaching methods

Hawthorn

Type Hours per week Number of weeks Total (number of hours)
On-campus
Lecture		2.00 12 weeks 24
On-campus
Class		2.00 12 weeks 24
Specified Activities
Various		4.00 12 weeks 48
Unspecified Activities
Various		4.50 12 weeks 54
TOTAL150

Assessment

Type Task Weighting ULO's
AssessmentIndividual 20% 1,2,3 
AssessmentGroup 50% 1,4 
EssayIndividual 30% 1,2,3 

Content

  • The philosophy of play and games
  • The history of games
  • The place of games in culture and society
  • Game design heuristics

Study resources

Reading materials

A list of reading materials and/or required textbooks will be available in the Unit Outline on Canvas.