General provisions

The course is a freestanding course and elective course in the Bachelor's programmes Game Design and Graphics, Game Design and Programming, Game Design and Project Management, and Game Design.

Entry requirements

30 credits in Game Design

Learning outcomes

The general aim of the course is to develop knowledge and skills related to character design in digital games, with special focus on how gender and ethnicity are presented.

On completion of the course, the student should be able to:

• Present basic knowledge of character design and production of graphics for digital games
• Outline and critically discuss theories of cultural representations
• Describe cultural conventions with regards to how individuals and groups are represented in games and discuss them from a critical perspective
• Discuss and analyse different dimensions of power, particularly gender and ethnicity
• Show ability to discuss and justify their ethical choices and aesthetic results, in writing as well as orally, and to describe the underlying theoretical knowledge and argumentation
• Demonstrate ability to formulate and solve assignments based on relevant course content within a set time frame, both orally and in writing.

Content

The course has an interdisciplinary foundation and is based on collaboration between ethnology, gender studies and game design.

The course covers different perspectives on cultural representations and dimensions of power, such as gender and ethnicity, and focuses particularly on different ways to present these in games and through game mechanics.

The course consists of theoretical and practice based components. The students apply their theoretical knowledge in practice based creative assignments that are carried out in groups and individually, allowing them to reflect on their own work processes and results. The students are encouraged to use examples from their own local environment in the creative assignments. Guest lecturers in the course contribute with perspectives from their respective areas.

Instruction

The teaching consists of lectures, compulsory seminars, workshops and group work. In addition, students are expected to work on assignments, individually or in groups.

Assessment

Examination is based on active participation in seminars with oral presentations, written assignments and a final written minor essay that describes the connection between theory, method and artistic results. The grading scale on the course consists of the expressions Pass with Distinction, Pass or Fail. Achieving a Pass grade on the course, requires a Pass grade on each of the assessed elements in the course: Seminar participation, written assignments and the memorandum. To achieve a Pass with Distinction, a deeper understanding of the underpinning theory is additionally required, as demonstrated by applying said theory in the final memorandum.

Plagiarism and cheating

Uppsala University takes cheating and plagiarism seriously and disciplinary measures are taken against students who are suspected of being involved in any form of cheating and/or plagiarism. The disciplinary measures are formal warnings and suspension during a specified time.

Note: The course needs to be fully completed in order to be included in a degree.