Studying Videogames

KefkaTaran · 08-29-2004, 02:29 AM

Further proof that videogames are starting to be taken more and more seriously:

Did you know they now have a name for the study of videogames? It is 'ludology', taken from the Latin ludos, which means game. According to an article in the newest issue of EGM, ludology is getting a big push at major colleges around the United States and may even become a major within the next 10 years. Earlier this year two Princeton English students held a conference called "Form, Culture, and Videogame Criticism" at their college. Their goal was to try and get universities to recognize videogames as a subject just as valid as literature and film. According to the EGM article: "Scholars around the world, particularly in the U.K. and Europe, are busy helping game studies become legitimate."

Exciting times we live in.

Discuss.

CheshireThief · 08-29-2004, 02:32 AM

If this does become some kind of major, I might have to switch majors yet again! I do think that enough people play and enjoy video games that they should be taken as a subject of study. Especially games that use a lot of symbolism, or games within categories. Lots of intellectual value can be taken from video games, and it's about time we as a civilized group of people take that into consideration.

BlackMageGirl! · 08-29-2004, 02:38 AM

If you think about it, wouldn't game developement go faster if more people were studying it? Also, if there are going to be such classes then you can be sure that it will become popular in a short period of time. The result, if more people took video game classes and spread the word around, then more people will become gamers.

At least that's what I think.

CheshireThief · 08-29-2004, 02:41 AM

I think that a lot of games with deep, involved plots would make good subjects for lectures. Imagine a lecture about all the religious allusions and comparisons in games like Chrono Trigger or Xenogears.

AndyBloodredMage · 08-29-2004, 02:46 AM

I really hope they manage to succeed with that within the next 4 years. When I head off to college, I would love to specialize in a topic which I am most familiar with. And if you doubt that games are never deep or complex, head on over to the ff7 explanation thread. That'll shut you right up.

BlackMageGirl! · 08-29-2004, 02:47 AM

I wonder what if it would be all about RPG's? I mean, they have the most complex stories that I have ever seen in a video game......Does anyone think that the classes will be divided up into sections?

CheshireThief · 08-29-2004, 02:49 AM

They wouldn't have to just be about RPG's. You could make a class or a lecture about just about any type of game. Especially comparison type things. You could even make it like a psychology type class to determine what kind of person likes what kind of games. Or something like that.

BlackMageGirl! · 08-29-2004, 02:53 AM

Who would teach these classes? I can't imagine today's professors and teachers to be lecturing students about this type of thing. Ideas anyone?

CheshireThief · 08-29-2004, 02:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BlackMageGirl!

Who would teach these classes? I can't imagine today's professors and teachers to be lecturing students about this type of thing. Ideas anyone?

Well, along with my music degree, I am working on an Education degree. And I'm sure some of the younger Literature professors could handle it. They might play video games.

BlackMageGirl! · 08-29-2004, 03:02 AM

Or maybe they could ask some of the big gaming companies for help. The gaming comp. might do it. It's a good way to promote thier products and to recruit new people in the future.

08-29-2004, 02:29 AM	#1
KefkaTaran Magikoopa Join Date: Nov 2003 Posts: 1,545	Studying Videogames Further proof that videogames are starting to be taken more and more seriously: Did you know they now have a name for the study of videogames? It is 'ludology', taken from the Latin ludos, which means game. According to an article in the newest issue of EGM, ludology is getting a big push at major colleges around the United States and may even become a major within the next 10 years. Earlier this year two Princeton English students held a conference called "Form, Culture, and Videogame Criticism" at their college. Their goal was to try and get universities to recognize videogames as a subject just as valid as literature and film. According to the EGM article: "Scholars around the world, particularly in the U.K. and Europe, are busy helping game studies become legitimate." Exciting times we live in. Discuss. __________________ So break, my heart, for I must hold my tongue.

08-29-2004, 02:32 AM	#2
CheshireThief Still RaiRai's ***** Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Shut up, KP. Posts: 2,365	If this does become some kind of major, I might have to switch majors yet again! I do think that enough people play and enjoy video games that they should be taken as a subject of study. Especially games that use a lot of symbolism, or games within categories. Lots of intellectual value can be taken from video games, and it's about time we as a civilized group of people take that into consideration. __________________ Holy crap! A CheshireThief spotting!

08-29-2004, 02:41 AM	#4
CheshireThief Still RaiRai's ***** Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Shut up, KP. Posts: 2,365	I think that a lot of games with deep, involved plots would make good subjects for lectures. Imagine a lecture about all the religious allusions and comparisons in games like Chrono Trigger or Xenogears. __________________ Holy crap! A CheshireThief spotting!

08-29-2004, 02:49 AM	#7
CheshireThief Still RaiRai's ***** Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Shut up, KP. Posts: 2,365	They wouldn't have to just be about RPG's. You could make a class or a lecture about just about any type of game. Especially comparison type things. You could even make it like a psychology type class to determine what kind of person likes what kind of games. Or something like that. __________________ Holy crap! A CheshireThief spotting!

08-29-2004, 02:38 AM	#3
BlackMageGirl! Oh hi! :D Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Currently in reality! Posts: 2,688	If you think about it, wouldn't game developement go faster if more people were studying it? Also, if there are going to be such classes then you can be sure that it will become popular in a short period of time. The result, if more people took video game classes and spread the word around, then more people will become gamers. At least that's what I think.

08-29-2004, 02:47 AM	#6
BlackMageGirl! Oh hi! :D Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Currently in reality! Posts: 2,688	I wonder what if it would be all about RPG's? I mean, they have the most complex stories that I have ever seen in a video game......Does anyone think that the classes will be divided up into sections?

08-29-2004, 02:53 AM	#8
BlackMageGirl! Oh hi! :D Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Currently in reality! Posts: 2,688	Who would teach these classes? I can't imagine today's professors and teachers to be lecturing students about this type of thing. Ideas anyone?

08-29-2004, 03:02 AM	#10
BlackMageGirl! Oh hi! :D Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Currently in reality! Posts: 2,688	Or maybe they could ask some of the big gaming companies for help. The gaming comp. might do it. It's a good way to promote thier products and to recruit new people in the future.