From Pong to Playstation: The History of Video Games (3 Credit Hours)

Prerequisite:

T101 or permission of instructor

Course Description and Objectives

In 1952, A.S. Douglas wrote his PhD degree at the University of
Cambridge on Human-Computer interaction. Douglas created the first
graphical computer game - a version of Tic-Tac-Toe. The game was
programmed on an EDSAC vacuum-tube computer, which had a cathode ray
tube display.  The rest, as they say, is history.  50 years later,
video games are a multi billion dollar industry, and have become
worthy of mainstream attention and scholarly study.

The History of Video Games is an introductory survey course designed
to provide student with an opportunity to explore the foundations,
development, and current state of interactive entertainment as well
as the entertainment industry.  The course will take a socio-
historical approach to the subject, exploring not just the lineage
of game technology, genres, and trends, but the impact that the
industry had on society and vice versa.

Course Format

Dynamic large lecture format - including lectures from the
instructor, student group presentations, movies, participatory
gameplay, etc.


Texts

Trigger Happy: Video Games and the Entertainment Revolution by
Steven Poole

Joystick Nation: How Videogames Ate Our Quarters, Won Our Hearts,
and Rewired Our Minds by J.C. Herz


Meeting Times

Tuesday/Thursday,  1:00P-02:15P, RTV 251