IMED 260 - Purposeful Games: Contexts and Concepts

(3 semester hours)
Prerequisites: IMED 245
Description: From entertainment to education, digital and analogue games are created and consumed in a wide range of contexts and purposes. This course aims to map the field of ‘purposeful’ games; games that serve a specific purpose other than pure entertainment, to examine and recognize the scope of games that are created towards a specific purpose including serious games, games for change, and educational games. Designed as a survey course, the student will be introduced to different types of purposeful games, examine case studies, diverse audiences, and explore design principle that exemplify each category. The student will learn the basic principles of game design as they relate to the different purposes and be given the opportunity to explore their own game ideas as they relate to the course content. Offered Spring semester, annually.