INST730

Videogames are designed objects that players bring their own history to, resulting each time in a unique emergent experience. If you've ever wondered why you love a certain game but others hate it, why you prefer one genre of game over another, or why the frustration you feel in complicated games is often actually enjoyable, this is the class for you! We will examine design principles instantiated in various games, analyze how failure and feedback support productive gameplay, discuss how mechanics and aesthetics contribute to emergent experiences, and develop an understanding of the field of games scholarship.