General provisions

The course is part of the Master's Programme in Game Design, 120 Credits.

Entry requirements

Bachelor's degree with in-depth subject study in a main field of study specialising in games or gaming and knowledge of English corresponding to English 6.

Learning outcomes

Upon completing the course, students will be able to:

• Demonstrate an awareness of the socio-cultural and geographic space within which a pervasive game is situated.
• Prototype a pervasive game that demonstrates a knowledge of business models.
• Analyse a Pervasive Game using methods found in this course, as well as from previous courses.
• Prototype a Transmedia game using at least three types of media.
• Build an Alternate Reality Game that will be played in a remote location.
• Critically reflect on their design decisions.

Content

This course examines the theory and practice of pervasive, social, and transmedia games. It is entirely gamified, and is modelled on an open world role playing game. The content is envisioned as the Land of Ubiquita. Students explore, and map, the land - adding towns, cities etc. Each location teaches an aspect of the subject and it is up to the students to determine their path through the content. As students progress, they can add landmarks for additional "quests" - assignments that extend an understanding, or offers a new perspective, on the material.

The world map is a shared resource, allowing students to add areas for each other to explore, and travel to, as needed.

Instruction

Instruction takes the form of lectures, workshops and seminars.

Assessment

The course grades are Pass with distinction, Pass, or Fail. Assessment is based on artifacts, i.e. applied, practical work, and accompanying reflection materials that take the form of written or oral reports.

If there are special reasons for doing so, an examiner may make an exception from the method of assessment indicated and allow a student to be assessed by another method. An example of special reasons might be a certificate regarding special pedagogical support from the University's disability coordinator.

Uppsala University does not accept cheating or plagiarism. Suspected incidents of cheating or plagiarism are reported to the Vice-Chancellor, which may issue a formal warning to the student or suspend the student from studies for a certain period.