Science, Engineering and Technology

KXH242

2010  KXH242  Fundamentals of Interactive Entertainment

Unit Level: Intermediate

Available as a Student Elective: Yes

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OFFERINGS

Unit Sem 1 Sem 2 Full Yr Spring Summer Winter KXH242 L Key Semester Dates Semester Note Start Date Census Date Final WW Date* End Date Sem 2 12-JUL-2010 10-AUG-2010 30-AUG-2010 15-OCT-2010 *The Final WW Date is the final date from which you can withdraw from the unit without academic penalty, however you will still incur a financial liability (see Withdrawal dates explained for more information). About Census Dates

DESCRIPTION

Virtual Worlds are an ever-growing presence that is reshaping society and creating a cultural phenomenon bringing the Internet to the forefront of people's lives. The massively multiplayer game (MMO) World of Warcraft sold 250,000 copies in November of 2004-the most successful PC game launch in history. This game continues to grow with over 11 million subscribers. Today we have players spending thousands of dollars on virtual characters and digital items on eBay and sweatshops have been established in developing nations to service this micro-economy. Games have and will continue to become a major part of our culture today and a key component of the ever-growing digital entertainment industry.
Drawing on a wide variety of examples and disciplines, this class will look at the video game industry. Topics include: overview of virtual worlds, aesthetics and design, narrative and character development, game and social design, sociological and psychological dimensions of games, play, identity and community. We will also look at other types of virtual worlds being developed today for entertainment, health, education, and work.
The class will be a combination of lecture, guest presentations, case studies, readings, and exploration of variety of game genres, along with participation in team projects.

WEIGHT:  12.5%

ASSESSMENT: Game Journal (10%), Assignments (20%), Discussion Paper (20%), Examination (50%)

TEACHING PATTERN: 2 hrs lectures and 2 hrs Lab work weekly or equivalent

FLEXIBLE & ONLINE STUDY OPTIONS
Note: Class attendance may still be required

   Web supported - L
Online access to some part of this unit online is optional
   Resource supported teaching & learning - L
Additional resources are provided for your optional use; e.g. audio taped lectures
   Video conferencing - L
A live video link between campuses is used for at least some teaching in this unit
About Flexible Study Options

TEXTS
Information about any textbook requirements for Semester (Sem 2) will be available from mid April 2010

Units are offered in attending mode unless otherwise indicated (that is attendance is required at the campus identified). A unit identified as offered by distance, that is there is no requirement for attendance, is identified with a nominal enrolment campus. A unit offered to both attending students and by distance from the same campus is identified as having both modes of study.

Campus - H Hobart, L Launceston, W Burnie. Study Centre - V Sydney, R Rozelle. Distance units may also have a campus identifier of I Isolated, N Interstate, O Overseas. Units delivered in Transnational Education (TNE) Programs have a campus identifier of A Hangzhou, F Fuzhou, G Shanghai, J Indonesia, K KDU Malaysia, Q Kuwait or Z New Zealand.

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