Module Descriptors
MMOG DESIGN, COMMUNITIES AND NARRATOLOGY
GAME60177
Key Facts
Digital, Technology, Innovation and Business
Level 6
30 credits
Contact
Leader: Esther Maccallum-Stewart
Hours of Study
Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities: 48
Independent Study Hours: 252
Total Learning Hours: 300
Assessment
- COURSEWORK weighted at 50%
- COURSEWORK weighted at 50%
Module Details
Additional Assessment Details
COURSEWORK weighted at 50 %
written reports 3000 word accompanied by a presentation
Assessing Learning outcomes 1, 3 and 5
COURSEWORK weighted at 50 % (Final)
written reports 3000 word accompanied by a presentation
Assessing Learning outcomes 1, 2 , 4 and 5
written reports 3000 word accompanied by a presentation
Assessing Learning outcomes 1, 3 and 5
COURSEWORK weighted at 50 % (Final)
written reports 3000 word accompanied by a presentation
Assessing Learning outcomes 1, 2 , 4 and 5
Indicative Content
Students will learn MMO design and community, services and narrative covering the following:
1. Fundamentals of MMO design principle
2. MMOG infrastructure and platform services, cross platform, on demand and technical support services
3. MOG environment and community design, community management and communication
4. Narrative frameworks within MMOG's
5. Storytelling in a non-narrative environment
1. Fundamentals of MMO design principle
2. MMOG infrastructure and platform services, cross platform, on demand and technical support services
3. MOG environment and community design, community management and communication
4. Narrative frameworks within MMOG's
5. Storytelling in a non-narrative environment
Texts
Game Development Essentials: Online Game Development, Rick Hall, Jeannie Novak 2008
Online Game Interactivity Theory, Markus Friedl, Charles River Media, Oct 2002
Massively Multiplayer Games Development, Thor Alexander, Charles River Media 2003
Massively Multiplayer Game Development 2, Thor Alexander, Charles River Media 2005
Designing Virtual Worlds by Richard Bartle Publisher: New Riders Games; 1 edition (July 25, 2003)
Digital Culture, Play, and Identity: A World of Warcraft Reader by Corneliussen H & Rettberg JW, [Eds] 2008. MIT Press.
Online Game Interactivity Theory, Markus Friedl, Charles River Media, Oct 2002
Massively Multiplayer Games Development, Thor Alexander, Charles River Media 2003
Massively Multiplayer Game Development 2, Thor Alexander, Charles River Media 2005
Designing Virtual Worlds by Richard Bartle Publisher: New Riders Games; 1 edition (July 25, 2003)
Digital Culture, Play, and Identity: A World of Warcraft Reader by Corneliussen H & Rettberg JW, [Eds] 2008. MIT Press.
Module Learning Strategies
3 hour lecture/tutorial per week
The module will be delivered using a combination of lectures and seminars. The majority of the work will be of understanding and reflection of their MOG game experiences. The students are expected to use their independent study time to consolidate this work
The module will be delivered using a combination of lectures and seminars. The majority of the work will be of understanding and reflection of their MOG game experiences. The students are expected to use their independent study time to consolidate this work
Module Resources
Free MMOGs and WOW or Eve
Module Learning Outcomes
1. DEMONSTRATE AN UNDERSTANDING OF THE ISSUES, NARRATIVE, STRATEGIES, COMMUNITY AND SERVICES INVOLVED IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF MASSIVELY MULTIPLAYER ONLINE GAMES (MMOG). Knowledge & Understanding
2. ADDRESS THE PROBLEMS FACED IN THE DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT OF A MULTIPLAYER ONLINE GAME INCLUDING NARRATIVE, ENVIRONMENT AND GAMEPLAY.
Problem Solving
3. CRITICALLY EVALUATE THE COMMUNITY AND SERVICE STRATEGIES OF DIFFERENT MASSIVELY MULTIPLAYER GAMES.
Reflection
4. DEMONSTRATE CRITICAL AWARENESS AND SYSTEMATIC UNDERSTANDING OF KEY ASPECTS AND LEVELS OF MEANING WITHIN MMOG NARRATOLOGY.
Analysis
5. COMMUNICATE THE RELEVANCE OF GROUP NARRATIVE WITHIN MMOGS.
Communication
2. ADDRESS THE PROBLEMS FACED IN THE DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT OF A MULTIPLAYER ONLINE GAME INCLUDING NARRATIVE, ENVIRONMENT AND GAMEPLAY.
Problem Solving
3. CRITICALLY EVALUATE THE COMMUNITY AND SERVICE STRATEGIES OF DIFFERENT MASSIVELY MULTIPLAYER GAMES.
Reflection
4. DEMONSTRATE CRITICAL AWARENESS AND SYSTEMATIC UNDERSTANDING OF KEY ASPECTS AND LEVELS OF MEANING WITHIN MMOG NARRATOLOGY.
Analysis
5. COMMUNICATE THE RELEVANCE OF GROUP NARRATIVE WITHIN MMOGS.
Communication
Web Descriptor
This module takes an in-depth look at massively multiplayer online games, the stories they tell and the communities they build and manage. Students will utilise play based research to examine the vast virtual worlds of MMOGS from within the stories and communities that they create. We will look at how narratives and communities must be uniquely tailored for, and how the intricacies of these designs are unique in games design due to the need for complex interactive storytelling to be achieved.