Digital Cultures and Technologies

Courses

• DIGC-199C RW Research-based Writing (3)

  Students learn the basics of writing an academic research paper in this discipline. Emphasis is on elements of persuasive argumentation, the inclusion of more than one perspective on an issue, the proper use and documentation of sources, and revision. Students also learn how to make an effective oral presentation of their research. Department-determined topic may change from semester to semester and is likely to include literary texts as primary materials.

  Restricted to freshmen and transfers.

  Note: 199C courses may not be taken for credit more than once.

  » Spring Research-based Writing (199) Courses & Topic Descriptions [pdf]

  Attributes: RW YLIB
  Restrictions: Including: -Class: Freshman, Sophomore
  

• DIGC-265 P1 Tpc: Digital Cultures (3)

  This course will cover topics not otherwise offered in the interdisciplinary field of digital cultures, with a focus on artistic production. Courses topics will vary, and may include 3-D Modeling, Animation, Writing for Games, and Cyberpolitics.

  Fall 2017 Topic: P1 Writing for Games In this course students focus on the practical and artistic writing elements of game design. This includes writing dialogue scripts for video games, understanding the part that narrative writing plays in informing game mechanics, and the creative and technical writing aspects of tabletop role-playing games. Students will workshop their writing in class similar to a development or playtest team, while creating their own game.

  Attributes: P1 YLIB
  

• DIGC-267 P4 Tpc: Digital Tech (3)

  This course will cover topics not otherwise offered in the interdisciplinary field of digital technologies. Courses topics will vary, and may include include: AI for Games and Game Modding. This course may be repeated with a different topic.

  Fall 2017 Topic: Game Modding Game modding, the opening up of a game system to allow end users to modify (mod) it, follows the web 2.0 trend of allowing users increasing control over and customization opportunities with the technologies they use. This course explores the modding trend as part of a fundamental shift in how we think about and interact with technology. Students will learn the basics of Java and create their own mods in Minecraft.

  Attributes: P4 YLIB
  

• DIGC-271 Video Game Design I (3)

  This course acts as an introduction to the basics of game design. Students will develop a theoretically grounded understanding of the game design process, including developing a theme, understanding genre conventions, and designing for an audience. The course will culminate with the development of a simple digital game.

  Attributes: YLIB
  

• DIGC-371 Video Game Design II (3)

  This course extends the conceptual framework developed in Video Game Design I. Students will learn to use a game engine and work through all stages of the game design process, including concept development, design, implementation, play-testing, and deployment. The final product for this course will be a multistage game.

  Attributes: YLIB
  Pre-requisites: DIGC-271 D-