MDIA 2221 - Digital Games, Cultures & Technologies

North Terrace Campus - Semester 1 - 2021

The digital games industry is the most economically powerful media industry in the world. In this course, students will contextualise their engagement with games ? both as players and as producers ? through the history and philosophy of digital games. This will include discussing key contemporary controversies and issues in gaming cultures and the games industry, as well as engaging with the political economy of games. Representation, narrativity, and subjectivity in games will be central touchpoints in this course.

  • General Course Information
    Course Details
    Course Code MDIA 2221
    Course Digital Games, Cultures & Technologies
    Coordinating Unit Media
    Term Semester 1
    Level Undergraduate
    Location/s North Terrace Campus
    Units 3
    Contact Up to 3 hours per week
    Available for Study Abroad and Exchange Y
    Prerequisites At least 12 units of Level I undergraduate study including MDIA 1018
    Course Description The digital games industry is the most economically powerful media industry in the world. In this course, students will contextualise their engagement with games ? both as players and as producers ? through the history and philosophy of digital games. This will include discussing key contemporary controversies and issues in gaming cultures and the games industry, as well as engaging with the political economy of games. Representation, narrativity, and subjectivity in games will be central touchpoints in this course.
    Course Staff

    Course Coordinator: Dr William Andrade

    Course Timetable

    The full timetable of all activities for this course can be accessed from Course Planner.

  • Learning Outcomes
    Course Learning Outcomes
    1. Demonstrate understanding of games history, theory, and industry
    2. Critically analyse games texts
    3. Assess the role of digital games in contemporary culture and society
    4. Communicate appropriately in both written and oral forms
    5. Demonstrate appreciation of the nuances of games discourse
    University Graduate Attributes

    This course will provide students with an opportunity to develop the Graduate Attribute(s) specified below:

    University Graduate Attribute Course Learning Outcome(s)
    Deep discipline knowledge
    • informed and infused by cutting edge research, scaffolded throughout their program of studies
    • acquired from personal interaction with research active educators, from year 1
    • accredited or validated against national or international standards (for relevant programs)
    1,2,3,5
    Critical thinking and problem solving
    • steeped in research methods and rigor
    • based on empirical evidence and the scientific approach to knowledge development
    • demonstrated through appropriate and relevant assessment
    1,2,3
    Teamwork and communication skills
    • developed from, with, and via the SGDE
    • honed through assessment and practice throughout the program of studies
    • encouraged and valued in all aspects of learning
    4
    Career and leadership readiness
    • technology savvy
    • professional and, where relevant, fully accredited
    • forward thinking and well informed
    • tested and validated by work based experiences
    1,2,3,4,5
    Intercultural and ethical competency
    • adept at operating in other cultures
    • comfortable with different nationalities and social contexts
    • able to determine and contribute to desirable social outcomes
    • demonstrated by study abroad or with an understanding of indigenous knowledges
    3,4,5
    Self-awareness and emotional intelligence
    • a capacity for self-reflection and a willingness to engage in self-appraisal
    • open to objective and constructive feedback from supervisors and peers
    • able to negotiate difficult social situations, defuse conflict and engage positively in purposeful debate
    4,5
  • Learning Resources
    Required Resources
    More information about required resources will be provided through MyUni.
    Recommended Resources
    More information about recommended resources will be provided through MyUni.
    Online Learning
    This course makes extensive use of MyUni, and all assignments are submitted via MyUni. Other websites may also be used.
  • Learning & Teaching Activities
    Learning & Teaching Modes
    This course is taught using a mix of face-to-face teaching and online resources.
    Workload

    The information below is provided as a guide to assist students in engaging appropriately with the course requirements.

    1 x 1-hour lecture/seminar per week (12 weeks) 12 hours per semester
    1 x 2-hour seminar per week (10 weeks) 20 hours per semester
    2 x 2-hour structured independent learning activity 4 hours per semester
    6 hours reading per week 72 hours per semester
    2 hours research per week 24 hours per semester
    2 hours assignment prep per week 24 hours per semester
    Learning Activities Summary
    Week-by-week course content is available on the MyUni site.
    Specific Course Requirements
    No specific course requirements.
    Small Group Discovery Experience
    All classes taught in computer labs incorporate elements of Small Group Discovery Experience.
  • Assessment

    The University's policy on Assessment for Coursework Programs is based on the following four principles:

    1. Assessment must encourage and reinforce learning.
    2. Assessment must enable robust and fair judgements about student performance.
    3. Assessment practices must be fair and equitable to students and give them the opportunity to demonstrate what they have learned.
    4. Assessment must maintain academic standards.

    Assessment Summary
    Quiz x 5 Formative and Summative 25%
    Journal Formative and Summative 25%
    Written Assignment Summative 40%
    Participation Summative 10%

    Due to the current COVID-19 situation, modified arrangements have been made to assessments to facilitate remote learning and teaching. Assessment details provided here reflect recent updates.
    1. From Week 4, all workshops will be conducted remotely using Zoom and other software. We may also have some class activities that occur inside online multiplayer games, scheduled during the workshop time.
    2. Participation 10% - attendance and active participation in 80% of workshops is a hurdle requirement. All written assessment tasks must be submitted.
    Assessment Related Requirements
    Attendance and active participation in 80% of workshops is a hurdle requirement. All written assessment tasks must be submitted.
    Assessment Detail

    No information currently available.

    Submission
    All assignments must be submitted via MyUni.
    Course Grading

    Grades for your performance in this course will be awarded in accordance with the following scheme:

    M10 (Coursework Mark Scheme)
    Grade Mark Description
    FNS   Fail No Submission
    F 1-49 Fail
    P 50-64 Pass
    C 65-74 Credit
    D 75-84 Distinction
    HD 85-100 High Distinction
    CN   Continuing
    NFE   No Formal Examination
    RP   Result Pending

    Further details of the grades/results can be obtained from Examinations.

    Grade Descriptors are available which provide a general guide to the standard of work that is expected at each grade level. More information at Assessment for Coursework Programs.

    Final results for this course will be made available through Access Adelaide.

  • Student Feedback

    The University places a high priority on approaches to learning and teaching that enhance the student experience. Feedback is sought from students in a variety of ways including on-going engagement with staff, the use of online discussion boards and the use of Student Experience of Learning and Teaching (SELT) surveys as well as GOS surveys and Program reviews.

    SELTs are an important source of information to inform individual teaching practice, decisions about teaching duties, and course and program curriculum design. They enable the University to assess how effectively its learning environments and teaching practices facilitate student engagement and learning outcomes. Under the current SELT Policy (http://www.adelaide.edu.au/policies/101/) course SELTs are mandated and must be conducted at the conclusion of each term/semester/trimester for every course offering. Feedback on issues raised through course SELT surveys is made available to enrolled students through various resources (e.g. MyUni). In addition aggregated course SELT data is available.

  • Student Support
  • Policies & Guidelines
  • Fraud Awareness

    Students are reminded that in order to maintain the academic integrity of all programs and courses, the university has a zero-tolerance approach to students offering money or significant value goods or services to any staff member who is involved in their teaching or assessment. Students offering lecturers or tutors or professional staff anything more than a small token of appreciation is totally unacceptable, in any circumstances. Staff members are obliged to report all such incidents to their supervisor/manager, who will refer them for action under the university's student’s disciplinary procedures.

The University of Adelaide is committed to regular reviews of the courses and programs it offers to students. The University of Adelaide therefore reserves the right to discontinue or vary programs and courses without notice. Please read the important information contained in the disclaimer.