Commercial video games are an extremely profitable global industry, emblematic of how media is produced, distributed, marketed, and monetized in contemporary capitalism. Students will examine a variety of issues, including the history of the industry, consolidation and concentration of ownership, digital distribution and platformization, systemic sexism, racism, and discrimination in the industry, labour and collective organizing, independent and alternative game production cultures, local, regional, national and transnational contexts, and more. To make sense of these complex phenomena, students will learn to apply critical lenses and methods from game studies, media industry studies, and cultural studies. No previous experience or expertise with video games or knowledge of the game industry is required to take this course.
Commercial video games are an extremely profitable global industry, emblematic of how media is produced, distributed, marketed, and monetized in contemporary capitalism. Students will examine a variety of issues, including the history of the industry, consolidation and concentration of ownership, digital distribution and platformization, systemic sexism, racism, and discrimination in the industry, labour and collective organizing, independent and alternative game production cultures, local, regional, national and transnational contexts, and more. To make sense of these complex phenomena, students will learn to apply critical lenses and methods from game studies, media industry studies, and cultural studies. No previous experience or expertise with video games or knowledge of the game industry is required to take this course.
