Video Games: Remaking Reality (CCDP10003)

Undergraduate level 1Points: 12.5On Campus (Parkville)

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Overview

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Semester 1
Semester 2
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This subject is a full overview of Video Games. The great games, the history, the techniques, and the future of this developing medium and industry are explored in 12 weeks. Games have developed from simple electronic entertainment in the 70s to an epic cinematic medium that now is larger than the entire film industry and one of the most popular and complex forms of art and virtual reality in the 21st century.

Games have moved past being shoot and kill spectacles and are becoming a form of expression for millions of people and a new medium of social interaction and technological development that is engaging gamers and non-gamers alike.

As virtual reality becomes a greater part of ‘real life’ this course explores the complex network that makes up the video game world and the emerging group of designers and artists who are exploring new possibilities.

To understand the full picture of video games it is impossible to separate the commercial elements from the artistic and the technological from the social and mental. A wide range of disciplines need to be explored and the connections between them as well as looking at the game industry itself and how it is transforming.

Each week will combine the issues that surround games and an overview of the best and most complex games from multi million dollar blockbusters to the new ‘art games’ and independent games that re-invent the concept of a game.

Guest speakers from the game industry and from the arts, sciences and business will share their perspective on the state of the present and new ideas that will shape the future. Tutorials will present new aspects of current and past games and students will discuss their experience with games and present ideas and new finds each week.

Intended learning outcomes

On completion of this subject, students should be able to:

  • have a broad understanding of video games and a full overview of the history, development, theory, current industry and possible future directions;
  • have developed an appreciation and understanding of the cross discipline nature of Video games and the hybrid creative and technical mix that makes games unique from other forms of expression;
  • be cognisant of and sympathetic to a broad range of art forms which have and do influence games within their technological and economic context;
  • understand the technical aspects of developing a game in all of its forms from conception to design to individual and mulitplayer realizations;
  • appreciate the collaborative creative process and the aspects necessary for success in the presentation in a variety of media contexts and the social aspects and implications of engaging an international gaming and non gaming community.

Generic skills

On completion of this subject, students should be able to:

  • express a high level of knowledge and broad range of artistic influences problem solving and communication in games;
  • be critical and creative thinkers, with an aptitude for continued self-directed learning;
  • have the capacity to participate fully in collaborative learning and to have facility in applying creative problem solving to a range of specialist disciplines and applications both in games and how those issues may influence other innovative ideas.

Last updated: 4 March 2025

Eligibility and requirements

Prerequisites

None

Corequisites

None

Non-allowed subjects

None

Inherent requirements (core participation requirements)

The University of Melbourne is committed to providing students with reasonable adjustments to assessment and participation under the Disability Standards for Education (2005), and the Assessment and Results Policy (MPF1326). Students are expected to meet the core participation requirements for their course. These can be viewed under Entry and Participation Requirements for the course outlines in the Handbook.

Further details on how to seek academic adjustments can be found on the Student Equity and Disability Support website: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/student-equity/home

Last updated: 4 March 2025

Assessment

DescriptionTimingPercentage

Plan and concept for a new innovative type of video game. The mark will be based on: depth of the concept 30%; the inclusion of key ideas already covered in the lecture 30%; and the clarity of the plan expressed in writing (500 words) 40%.

  • 2000 words (equivalent)
Mid teaching period50%

A written work on all aspects of a single game that you choose. A game you are both interested in and contains many of the elements that are cover.

  • 2000 words
End of the teaching period50%

Last updated: 4 March 2025

Dates & times

  • Semester 1
    CoordinatorDavid Shea
    Mode of deliveryOn Campus (Parkville)
    Contact hours36 hours, comprising one 1-hour lecture and one 2-hour tutorial per week
    Total time commitment170 hours
    Teaching period 3 March 2025 to 1 June 2025
    Last self-enrol date14 March 2025
    Census date31 March 2025
    Last date to withdraw without fail 9 May 2025
    Assessment period ends27 June 2025

    Semester 1 contact information

    For all administrative enquiries, e.g. enrolment, class registration, special consideration enquiries: Contact Stop 1

    For all academic enquiries, e.g. assessment, subject matter enquiries:

    David Shea: dshea@unimelb.edu.au 

  • Semester 2
    CoordinatorDavid Shea
    Mode of deliveryOn Campus (Parkville)
    Contact hours36 hours, comprising one 1-hour lecture and one 2-hour tutorial per week
    Total time commitment170 hours
    Teaching period28 July 2025 to 26 October 2025
    Last self-enrol date 8 August 2025
    Census date 1 September 2025
    Last date to withdraw without fail26 September 2025
    Assessment period ends21 November 2025

    Semester 2 contact information

    For all administrative enquiries, e.g. enrolment, class registration, special consideration enquiries: Contact Stop 1

    For all academic enquiries, e.g. assessment, subject matter enquiries:

    David Shea: dshea@unimelb.edu.au 

What do these dates mean

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  • Your tuition fees, academic transcript and statements.
  • And for Commonwealth Supported students, your:
       -  Student Learning Entitlement. This applies to all students enrolled in a Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP).
     

    Subjects withdrawn after the census date (including up to the ‘last day to withdraw without fail’) count toward the Student Learning Entitlement.

Last updated: 4 March 2025

Further information

Last updated: 4 March 2025