The critique assignments are posted on the calendar and are on this spreadsheet by student name.
The assignment is to critique a serious game. The critique has two parts: a 5-10 minute presentation of the game that highlights the most relevant aspects and a 2-page more general critique. The goal of the presentations is to expose the class to a broad range of serious games and the assignments will be made in order to provide a breadth of exposure.
You can choose one of the games listed on the CATALOGUE page or you can propose a different serious game. I will evaluate proposed games for apprpriateness. You need to choose a game that you can play: critiques without playing are by their nature reflection of other people's views. Once the games hae been assigned, I will post the dates for the critiques. The written critique is due 24 hours prior to the presentation date and students are required to preview their presentation with me prior to class.
You are to use this google form to submit your preferences. You must submit 10 preferences. If you are choosing a game from a posted website, indicate which site it is from. If you are proposing an unlisted game, give me a website. Note that some games that are listed in the catalogue may no longer be available, not all are free, and not all are available on all platforms. If there are multiple versions of a game or it is part of a series, you can use any version. The form is due at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, Jan 21.
Once the assignments are made, a spreadsheet will be posted with two tabs: one by student and one by date. The games and student name will also be posted on the calendar.
The key requirement for the presentation is that you discuss the game's serious use, the context of the game: when was it developed and the environment in which was introduced, and the most interesting aspects of the game. If you have questions about possible topics, please discuss with me. You are required to expose the class to gameplay, wither through live play or videos.
Grading of the presentation will be based on both presentation style and content. You should display comfort with your presentation and the game. For more presentation suggestions, look at Presentation Tips. You are required to preview the presentation with me.
You will also submit a written critique tht is due 24 hours prior to your presentation. Without having thought about all aspects of the game, it is difficult to choose the most important aspects. You will submit it through Sakai and it is to be uploaded as a pdf. Note that Sakai will not have a due date on it as they are due on different days. There will, however, be a penalty for late submissions. The penalty is a full letter grade for each 24 hour that it is late. There will be no credit given for a critique that is more than 3 days late. The critique should be a cohesive essay (not a series of questions and answers), minimum 2 pages, 1.15 line spacing. There is no problem if you go longer, but I do deduct for unimportant filler.
Grading of the critique will be based on both writing and content. Do you focus on appropriate content? Is the critique presented in a cohesive manner? Has the paper been proofed? There is no excuse for misspellings and grammatical errors! If you are uncomfortable with your writing skills, it is fine to have someone proof your paper.
A critique is a critical review or commentary. For a good overview of what a critique ahould cover, read the series by Ryan Stanci, Katamari Damacy -- A Critique: Part One. Part Two. Part Three. Use this as an understanding of the process, not a list of possible forms.
To be critical, the review should be characterized by careful evaluation and judgment. The critique should include background information about the game that is valuable for evaluation. Background information should include
In general, a critique can cover both the design and the implementation. For this critique, you are to focus on the design and the effectiveness of the game for the intended purpose.
The following lists of questions should be seen as guidelines and potential ideas. You do not need to answer questions that are not relevant to the game you are critiquing. If there are other aspects that are relevant to your game, address them. Do not feel obligated to give equal time to each of the components. Focus on those aspects of the game that are the most interesting.
From a design perspective, questions of interest are:
From a serious game perspective, questions of interest are: