An overview on the diverse roles videogames might serve in a liberal arts curriculum

1. Gaming Across the Curriculum:
The Place of Videogames in
the Liberal Arts
Jason Mittell
American Studies / Film & Media Culture
Middlebury College
June 2007

2. Games as Tool & Topic
• Pedagogical instrument - drills & training, problem-
solving, simulations, collaboration, systems analysis,
active learning
• Research instrument - simulation, virtual worlds,
mode of publication
• Social / cultural phenomenon - media influences,
site of representations, commercial industry,
aesthetic form, user-generated creativity, part of
everyday life
• Videogames as interdisciplinary liberal art

4. Drills - Math / Languages
Kanji Invaders - http://www.silentmonkeyproductions.com

5. Simulation - Physics
Supercharged - particle physics game, Education Arcade

6. Simulation - History
Revolution - 18th century America RPG, Education Arcade

7. Simulation - Geography
SimCity - PC

8. System Analysis - Sociology
The Sims - PC/Playstation2

9. Activism - Env. Studies
McDonalds Video Game - http://mcvideogame.com

10. Criticism - Political Science
September 12th - http://newsgaming.com

11. Simulation - Economics
World of Warcraft - PC/Mac

12. Media Influence - Psychology
Grand Theft Auto:Vice City - Playstation2

13. Representations - WAGS
Tomb Raider - PC

14. Media Industry - Film/Media
Lord of the Rings:Two Towers - Playstation2

15. Aesthetics - Film/Media
Katamari Damacy - Playstation2

16. Aesthetics - Music
Guitar Hero - Playstation2

17. Design - Art / Math
Second Life - PC/Mac

18. Game Design
Game Maker / Neverwinter Nights - PC

19. Machinima
Second Life - PC/Mac (by Jake Moreno Coplon)

20. ‣ Talk to faculty & students
‣ Look for gaming opportunities
‣ Go play - have fun!