IntroductionOutlineMeContacting meIntroductionsClass OrganizationResources: ReadingsResources: Game PlayVolunteersResources: InformationResources: Submit HomeworkResources: Analysis PapersResources: Game LabAssessmentReaction PapersAnalysis ProjectAnalysis Project MilestonesDesign ProjectsWhat to do now?Games and PlayWhy do we play?A Working HypothesisRequirementsCharacteristics of PlayPlay  GameCharacteristicsDefinitionDesignDesigning a GameMeaningful PlaySlide 31ChoiceDecomposing choiceBreakdowns of InteractionBoundaries"Magic Circle"EnteringLusory AttitudeExampleBoundary-challenging gamesGame DesignSystemsImportantSystems at Different LevelsWhere do we go from here?Primary SchemasOur UnitsMondayIntroductionRobin BurkeGAM 224Winter 2007OutlineIntroductionsClass organizationResourcesAssessmentReaction papersAnalysis projectDesign projectGames and playDesignMeaningful PlayChoiceThe Magic CircleSystemsPrimary SchemasRulesPlayCultureMeProfessor Robin BurkeHelped create the new GAM degreeDesigned this classGot A&L credit for this classOther classesGAM 206: History of GamesGAM 376: AI in Computer GamesGAM 378: Strategy Games ProgrammingButnot a game developer by training or experienceBackground in artificial intelligence•e-commerce and information retrievalContacting meEmail is best[email protected]I am not on campus every dayWhen I am on campus, I am not always in my officeOffice hoursOffice: 45310:30 – 12:00 pm M/Walternate hours possible – just ask!IntroductionsNameMajorFavorite computer (or non-computer) gameClass OrganizationStudying gamesas designed systemsas interactive experiencesas cultural artifactsFun!Also, workQuite a bit of writingResources: ReadingsTextSalen & Zimmerman, "Rules of Play"excellent textWe will draw heavily on the book•you are expected to do the reading before classChapters are shortWe will skip around a bitA few other online readingsResources: Game PlayGame play materialsdeck of cardspair of dicepaper and pencilbring to class!There may be unscheduled game play activitiesVolunteersI will send out an email asking for game play volunteersyour job will be to demonstrate a game during class•not requiredI'll need 8-10 over the course of the quarterResources: InformationCourse web site(run by me)http://josquin.cs.depaul.edu/~rburke/courses/w07/gam224/Contains•lecture notes•homework assignments•quarter schedule•links to readings•the most up-to-date infoButsite not up yetResources: Submit HomeworkCourse On-Line site(run by CTI)•http://dlweb.cti.depaul.edu/Contains•homework submission links•gradesResources: Analysis Papersturnitin.com(contracted by DePaul)http://www.turnitin.com/Contains•plagiarism checker•all Analysis Papers to be submitted hereMore details later in the quarterResources: Game Lab7th floor, Rm 710CTI Console LabConsoles•XBox, PS/2, GameCube•XBox 360s•PS/3, Wii, when we can get them.Many games9th floor, Rm 920PCs•16 (?) PC workstationsMany gamesOpen every dayhttp://defrag.depaul.edu/ for more detailsStudents doing coursework have priorityAssessmentQuizzes – 15%Weeks 4, 6, FinalsReaction Papers – 15%Six 1-page papersStarting week 3Analysis Project – 30%Three 5-page papersWeeks 5, 7, and Finals (no final exam)Design Projects – 25%Two group projectsWeeks 7, 10Homework assignments – 10%Three assignmentsWeeks 2, 4, 8Participation / In-class Activities – 10%Reaction PapersGame syllabusGrand Theft Auto 3, Grand Theft Auto: Vice City, Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, or BullyHalf-Life or Half-Life 2Katamari Damacy or We Love KatamariAge of Mythology, Civilization IV, Lord of the Rings: Battle for Middle Earth (I or II), Total War(any) or WarCraft IIIGuitar Hero, Guitar Hero II, or Dance Dance Revolution (any)Gears of War, Dead Rising, Rainbow Six: Vegas, or Ghost Recon: Advanced Warfighter (XBox 360 only)Submit a one-page reaction paperShould be tied to our readings and in-class discussionAnalysis ProjectIn-depth study of one computer / video gameThree different anglesRulesPlayCultureAnalysis Project Milestones1/10 (a week from today)Pick game1/31Rules paper2/19Play paper3/16Culture paperHard copy in class andSubmitted to turnitin.comDesign ProjectsTwo team projectsI will assign teams (randomly)Project #1design a card gameProject #2design a game levelWhat to do now?Get the bookif you haven't alreadyGet a deck of cards and a pair of diceRead the bookCh. 1-10 plus essaysby MondayStart thinking about what game you want to studyGames and PlayWhat is this all about?Should we care?What can we hope to learn by studying games and play?Three answersdesign: we will be better able to design new gamesappreciation: we will be better able to appreciate this media formcritical study: we will be better able to see how games give us insight into societyWhy do we play?Many approaches to this questionevolutionarypsychologicalsociologicalcultural/historicalA Working HypothesisPlay is the exercise of our physical and mental capacities in a constrained, low-risk environmentTo play is to learn to get better at somethingin an environment of reduced stressEvolution has wired us to enjoy playingso that we work to master skillsso that we learn a skill in a safe environment before needing it in a high-stakes oneRequirementsPlay must be low riskwar is high riskchess is low riskPlay must be constrainedrules for what is and is not part of the gamePlay must provide feedbackotherwise no learning is possibleCharacteristics of Playclearly separated from real lifeprimary outcomes non-consequentialfreely engagedgoverned by agreed-upon rulesExamplesTag, "House", "Cowboys and Indians"Chess, Monopoly, Old MaidUnreal Tournament, SimsGötterdammerung, HamletPlay  GamePlay as part of a gamea football "play"Play activities that aren't game-likeplaying "house"CharacteristicsGame-like (ludus)Beginning and endFixed rulesCentral objectivePlay-like (paidea)No game objectiveRules may be improvised and