Credit: Three semester hours

Time: 12:15-5:15

Dates: Jan 04, 05, 06, 07, 08, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14

Location: Satterlee 300

Purpose: This course is a seminar in Simulations and Games. The purpose of this course is for the students to acquire and understanding of how simulations and games can be used for instructional purposes. Not only will the students develop this understanding, but they will also apply their knowledge in creating an instructional lesson based on a simulation or game.

Further areas of study in the course include the study of the narrative structure of simulations and games, as it compares to other types of stories (literature, television, cinema, etc . . .). For this section of the course, the students will develop an activity which demonstrates the narrative structure of simulations and games.

Along with the course projects, students will be expected to do assigned readings, and come to class prepared to discuss these readings.

Readings
 

History of Games

1. Katz and Yates, Inside Electronic Game Design, part one. (28Pages)



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2. Herz, J.C. Joystick Nation, Little Brown and Company, 1997. 223 pages. {required}
3. Hart, Sam "A Brief History of Home Video Games" http://www.physics.arizona.edu/~hart/vgh/
4. History of Video Games http://www.videogames.com/features/universal/hov/index.html

5. "Zap! Splat! Smarts!: Why video games may actually help your children learn."Business Week, 1996. (8 pages)
6. Cudworth, A.L. "Simulations and Games" in the International Encyclopedia of Education (1994). (4 pages)
7. Watson, D.M. "Computer Simulations and Modeling." International Encyclopedia of Education (1994). (8 pages)
8. Reigeluth and Schwartz. "An Instructional Theory for the Design of Computer-Based Simulations" in the Journal of Computer-Based Instruction (1989). (10 pages)
9. Dempsey et al, "Instructional Applications of Computer Games", paper presented at AERA 1996 in Computers in Education, 8th edition. (7 pages)
10. Heinich et al, Instructional Media, 1993 Chapter 13: Simulations and Games. (23 pages)
11. Gagne et al Principles of Instructional Design 4th edition. Ch. 10: The events of Instruction. 1992. (20 pages)
12. Betrus, Qualifying Exam, Simulations and Games. 1997. (13 pages.)
13. Aycock, H.E. "Edutainment Update", in PC Gamer October 1996. (2 pages)

14. "Blade Runner: The Westwood Cut", PC Gamer, Sept. 1997. (7 pages)
15. Crawford, Chris. "The way games ought to be . . ." in Next Generation, May 1996. (2 pages)
16. PC Gamer "The 50 Best Games Ever" PC Gamer, May 1997. (16 pages)
17. Grossman, Lev "The Doom Generator: How John Romero Became a First-Person Zillionaire", Yahoo! Internet Life, July 1997.
18. Interview with Hironobu Sakaguchi (creator of Final Fantasy), Next Generation, February 1999.



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19. http://www.strangecreations.com/library/games/gamfaq.txt
20. http://www.crossover.com/~costik/nowords.html
21. http://www.greggman.tierranet.com/pages/game.htm
22. http://www.duke.edu/~srg3/IFdesign/raif/design.html

19. Eastman, A. "The After Action Review: The Link between training and the Army Standard" Armor Magazine May-June 1993. (2 pages)
20. Eastman, "Simulations and Training: Designing the Unit Training Program: Constructive, Virtual, and Live Simulation." pre-publication draft, Armor Magazine. (7 pages)
21. "The SIMNET Times" A publication of the Mounted Warfare Simulation Training Center. 1995 (4 pages)
22. McCormick, John "On a High-Tech Firing Line", Newsweek, December 6, 1999.
23. Trotter, William R. "An Update from the Halls of Montezuma", PC Gamer, August 1996

24. Sellers, M. "The Alchemy of Addiction: Creating Games that Keep People Playing" Paper Presented at the 1997 Computer Game Developers Conference. (9 pages)
25. Wolf, M. "Why We Play" in PC Gamer. February, 1998. (1 page)
26. Howland, Geoff "Game Design: The Addiction Element".
27. DeGaetano & Bander, "Violent Games and Stimulus Addiction", http://www.media-awareness.ca/eng/med/class/teammedia/VIDINTRO.HTM
28. DePellegrin, Mike, "The Jury is still out...", Fulcrum Online
29. The Psychological Impact of Video Games, http://www.saqnet.co.uk/users/nickf/public_html/design/litrev3.htm

30. Entertainment Software Review Board (ESRB) Home Page http://www.esrb.com
31. VIDEO GAMES AND VIOLENCE By: Jon Konrath http://www.theroc.org/roc-mag/textarch/roc-15/roc15-08.htm
32. Gaming Violence: At TC-100  Group WEB Project http://www.msu.edu/~murphyp6/group1/
33. IDSA Press Release: "The Nation's Pre-Eminent Video and Computer Game Rating System Moves onto the Internet." Dec 2, 1997.  http://www.idsa.com/press/summit.htm
34. "Coalition To Develop Rating System for Video Games", Teacher Magazine on the Web, December 15, 1993 http://www.teachermag.org/ew/vol-13/15video.h13
35. "Libertarian Party critiques proposed video game regulation", Feb 4, 1994. http://www.lp.org/rel/940204-games.html
36. "Pull the Plug on TV and Video Game Violence Week", Governor James B. Hunt Endorses Smart Choice Television Viewing for Children, Oct 21st, 1996. http://www.kidsource.com/kidsource/content2/news2/pullplug.html
37. "Flesh Feast: An interactive web site on the topic of video gaming violence"
38. "MediaScope: Video Game Violence" http://www.mediascope.org/fvidviol.htm
39. "Ask the Expert - Video Game Violence" http://www.mhsource.com/expert/exp1102797g.html
40. Sex in Games - Gamecenter Magazine Feature http://www.gamecenter.com/Features/Exclusives/Sexingames/?gcd

41. Lewis, Michael "Sugar, Spice, and Everything Nice: Computer Games Girls Play" Slate Magazine Online.
42. Sherman, Aliza. "No Guns for Girls" 1997. http://www.tripod.com/women/feature/columns/970603guns2.html
43. Purple Moon Ships Third CD-ROM "Friendship Adventure for Girls"; Rockett's Tricky Decision Follows Industry Newcomer's Highly Successful 1997 Holiday Season: http://www.pathfinder.com/money/latest/press/BU/1998Feb24/963.html
44. "A Girl Named Rockett Takes Off" Time Magazine for Kids. http://pathfinder.com/TFK/rockett.htm
45. "Free Lunch with Brenda Laurel and Nancy Deyo", September 1st, 1997. http://www.newmedia.com/NewMedia/97/11/brainstorm/Free_Lunch_Purple.html

41. GameGirlz Online, http://www.gamegirlz.com/
42. Women Gamers http://www.womengamers.com
43. Next Planet Over http://www.npo.com
44. Girl Space http://www.girlspace.com

47. "Jobs on Games", MacADDICT March 1999.
48. Old Man Murray Web Site, http://www.oldmanmurray.com/
49. National Game Review Web Site, http://www.nationalgamereview.com/
50. The Video Game Connection, National Public Radio broadcast, 2/10/00 http://wbur.org/connection/archive/2000/02/0210a.shtml

Instructional Lessonhis lesson must be a complete lesson that incorporates an instructional simulation or game, computer based or otherwise. The lesson must contain three distance phases which include: Briefing, Action, and Debriefing. (1/4 overall grade)

Simulations and GamesProject: This presentation will present a simulation or game's narrative structure through a typical briefing-action-debriefing scenario. Demonstrations of the type of lesson will be made by the instructor. Other topical areas of research are possible with permission of the instructor. (1/4 overall grade)

Class Participation: As this is a seminar, students will be expected to read the assigned readings and contribute to class discussion.  Performance on daily quizzes and reaction papers will constitute the final portion of the course grade. (1/4 overall grade)

Journals: Students in this class will be expected to keep a simulations and games journal.  In this journal the students will keep notes on daily simulation and game activities, including in-class and out-of-class activities.  Specific class activites include the stock market challenge and virtual pet contest.  Other activities will be announced during class.

Reaction Papers: Students will be expected to write a 1/2 to 1 page reaction paper for each article assigned for topical discussions.

Student Led Discussions: Students will be assigned to lead a discussion of a topic during the seminar discussions during the middle section of the course.  Students will be required to submit a reading list to the instructor by the 3rd class session.

Plagiarism: This course adheres to the College's policy on academic honesty as stated in the Undergraduate Catalog. Plagiarism may lead to grade reduction, course failure, or expulsion from school.

Course Schedule: (subject to change as needed)
 

Date:	Topic:
1/4	Course Introduction/Overview; Review Syllabus & Textbook;  Choose Topic for Lessons; Frame Games  (Bingo)
1/5	Using Simulations and Games in Information Rich Environments: The Oregon Trail.
1/6	Chainsaw Theory of Game Design: Where in the USA is Carmen San Diego.
1/7	Student Presentations of Instructional Lessons
1/8	Student Led Discussion of Course Readings:  A History of Games / Inside the Gaming Industry
1/10	Student Led Discussion of Course Readings: Game Design / Addiction
1/11	Student Led Discussion of Course Readings: Military & Training / Atheletics
1/12	Student Led Discussion of Course Readings: Gender Issues / Game Research in Instructional Technology
1/13	Student Led Discussion of Course Readings: Violence in Video Games Teacher Led Discussion of Violence in Video Games: Issues surrounding school shootings
1/14	Simulations and Games Project Presentations

Possible Course Topics:
History of Games
Addiction in Games
Military Uses of Simulations
Instructional Uses of Simulations and Games
Violence in Video Games
Gender Issues in Games
Video Game Design
Sex in Games
Inside the Gaming Industry
Applications of Virtual Reality
Physiological Effects of Games
Other topics are also possible, with consensus of class.
Uses of Simulations in Business Training

Class Activities:
Yahoo Investment Challenge
Virtual Pet Contest
NCAA Tournament Challenge

Office Information:
E-mail: betrusak@potsdam.edu
Office: Satterlee Hall 216
Phone: (315) 267-2670
Office Hours: 11:15-12:15 Daily

Previously this course was offerd at Indiana University under the title: F401: Simulation and Gaming

This course offered in previous semesters at SUNY Potsdam:
Spring 1999
Spring 1998

This page created January 02, 2000. Last updated January 14, 2000.