This unit provides the key components to understand how the games industry has evolved and currently operates. This will be achieved through an analysis of the history of video games and the role games play in society. This will be achieved through a study of key contemporary and historical influential designers, studios, game franchises and genres.

Learning outcomes

Upon successful completion of this unit, students will be able to:
1. Identify and review the history of console, arcade and computer games and how they impact on our society and aspects where society has influenced computer games;
2. Identify and interpret key concepts of games through the review and analysis of established games literature;
3. Analyse and engage with the games industry identifying its dialogue, context and culture;
4. Scrutinize and communicate the nuances of video games and the gaming industry from a journalistic perspective; and
5. Employ written and oral communication skills in a professional and academic context.

Graduate attributes

1. UC graduates are professional - communicate effectively
1. UC graduates are professional - display initiative and drive, and use their organisation skills to plan and manage their workload
1. UC graduates are professional - employ up-to-date and relevant knowledge and skills
1. UC graduates are professional - take pride in their professional and personal integrity
1. UC graduates are professional - use creativity, critical thinking, analysis and research skills to solve theoretical and real-world problems
2. UC graduates are global citizens - think globally about issues in their profession
2. UC graduates are global citizens - understand issues in their profession from the perspective of other cultures
2. UC graduates are global citizens - communicate effectively in diverse cultural and social settings
3. UC graduates are lifelong learners - adapt to complexity, ambiguity and change by being flexible and keen to engage with new ideas
3. UC graduates are lifelong learners - evaluate and adopt new technology
3. UC graduates are lifelong learners - reflect on their own practice, updating and adapting their knowledge and skills for continual professional and academic development
4. UC graduates are able to demonstrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander ways of knowing, being and doing - use Indigenous histories and traditional ecological knowledge to develop and augment understanding of their discipline

Prerequisites

None.

Corequisites

None.

Incompatible units

None.

Equivalent units

None.

Assumed knowledge

None.