Gaming Across the Curriculum: The Place of Videogames in

the Liberal Arts

Jason MittellAmerican Studies / Film & Media Culture

Middlebury CollegeJune 2007

Games as Tool & Topic• Pedagogical instrument - drills & training, problem-

solving, simulations, collaboration, systems analysis, active learning

• Research instrument - simulation, virtual worlds, mode of publication

• Social / cultural phenomenon - media influences, site of representations, commercial industry, aesthetic form, user-generated creativity, part of everyday life

• Videogames as interdisciplinary liberal art

Drills - Math / Languages

Kanji Invaders - http://www.silentmonkeyproductions.com

Simulation - Physics

Supercharged - particle physics game, Education Arcade

Simulation - History

Revolution - 18th century America RPG, Education Arcade

Simulation - Geography

SimCity - PC

System Analysis - Sociology

The Sims - PC/Playstation2

Activism - Env. Studies

McDonalds Video Game - http://mcvideogame.com

Criticism - Political Science

September 12th - http://newsgaming.com

Simulation - Economics

World of Warcraft - PC/Mac

Media Influence - Psychology

Grand Theft Auto: Vice City - Playstation2

Representations - WAGS

Tomb Raider - PC

Media Industry - Film/Media

Lord of the Rings: Two Towers - Playstation2

Aesthetics - Film/Media

Katamari Damacy - Playstation2

Aesthetics - Music

Guitar Hero - Playstation2

Design - Art / Math

Second Life - PC/Mac

Game Design

Game Maker / Neverwinter Nights - PC

Machinima

Second Life - PC/Mac (by Jake Moreno Coplon)

‣ Talk to faculty & students

‣ Look for gaming opportunities

‣ Go play - have fun!