History of Computer and Video Games (1 credit)

Teacher: Petri Kuittinen

Dates: Fridays 13:15-17:00, 7.3.2003, 14.3.2003, 28.3.2003, 25.4.2003., 2.5.2003

Course description:

The course provides an archeological view to world of computer and video games from the earliest experiments to current date, including all major game genres and platforms. It concentrates on the introductions of new concepts, important persons, design methods, technological breaktroughs and biggest commercial hits.

Participating 80% of lectures and doing the case study is compulsory for passing the course.

Case Study

Case study is an analysis and review of single game of historical importance or several related games. The subject is given by the teacher, but own subjects are also OK if approved by the teacher.

Case study is done in groups of two students or on your own. The result is some sort of electronic document (preferably a WWW page or PDF document with links to futher information or medias, such as video and audio files). Typical length is few pages of texts (or about 1000 words), but it can be longer. The case study should point out the roots of the game, compare the game with the similar games, analyze game's historical importance, provide information about the authors of the game and address the good and bad points of the game. Reserve your time and subject for case study by sending email to teacher.

The results are also presented in front of the class. The length of the presentation is 20-30 minutes.

Subjects

• board games e.g. computer chess, go
• sports games e.g. Summer Games, FIFA, NHL
• sports management games e.g. Championship manager
• classic C-64/MSX/Spectrum/Apple II game e.g. Archon, Boulderdash, Underwurlde, M.U.L.E.
• realistic driving games e.g. Gran Turismo, F1 Grand Prix
• god-games e.g. Populous, Lemmings, Black&White
• classic text-adventure game e.g. Infocom's Zork, Deadline, Stationfall/Planetfall
• graphical adventure games e.g. Leisure Suit Larry or King's Quest from Sierra or Monkey Islands from Lucasarts - Tatiana Zacharovska 2.5.
• Myst
• MUDs
• modern PC role-playing games e.g. Diablo II, Baldur's Gates, Neverwinter Nights - Miska Natunen 25.4.
• handheld games - Timo Leppänen 25.4.
• console role-playing games e.g. Final Fantasy-series
• massively multi-player role-playing games e.g. EverQuest, Ultima Online
• horror games e.g. Silent Hill, Resident Evil
• turn-based strategy games e.g. Civilization - Aki Hiltunen 25.4.
• real-time strategy games e.g. Caesar III - Jose Pajares 25.4.
• Grand Theft Auto III - Kalle Määttä 2.5.
• Nethack, Roguelike games - Markku Reunanen 28.3.
• non-traditional game controllers - Johanna Höysniemi 25.4.
• Metal Gear Solid 1&2
• Zelda-series
• The Sims
• Pokemon
• first-person-shooters e.g. Wolfenstein, Doom, Quake - Aki-Ville Pöykiö 2.5.
• Half-Life
• Artistics modifications to game - Olga Goriunova 28.3.
• MOD culture e.g. MODs of Doom and Half-life (especially Counter-Strike)
• clans/tribalism
• games for Digital Television - Mikko Lindholm and Tommi Tienhaara 2.5.
• mobile games, select platform: I-Mode, Java, WAP, SMS
• history of some big game company e.g. Sega, Electronics Arts, Sony

Year 2001 course

Literature:

• Leonard Herman: Phoenix - The Fall & Rise of Videogames (3rd Edition)
  Rolenta Press 2001 (order online from http://www.rolentapress.com)
• Steve L. Kent: The Ultimate History of Video Games
  Prima Publishing 2001

Net links

http://www.emuunlim.com/doteaters/

The Dot Eaters - Classic Video Game History

http://directory.google.com/Top/Games/Video_Games/History/?il=1

Google's Directory Index for History of Video Games

http://www.pinballhistory.com

The Penny Arcade Website - flipperien historia