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Course Outline

SGD202 Video Game Analysis and Design

Course Coordinator:Alexander Smith (asmith16@usc.edu.au) School:School of Business and Creative Industries

2026Trimester 2

UniSC Sunshine Coast

UniSC Moreton Bay

 Blended learning Most of your course is on campus but you may be able to do some components of this course online.

Online

 Online You can do this course without coming onto campus, unless your program has specified a mandatory onsite requirement.

Please go to unisc.edu.au for up to date information on the
teaching sessions and campuses where this course is usually offered.

What is this course about?

Description

Videogames are complex systems of representation. As cultural artefacts, videogames function as media texts serving to represent and produce cultural phenomena. This course examines the form and function of videogame texts and considers the impact of their cultural, historical, and industrial contexts. The course develops a comprehensive understanding of videogame aesthetics, and these combine with principles of game design to create meaning. You will engage and apply theoretical concepts on games, design, and production, to acquire skills needed to critically analyse and design games.

How will this course be delivered?

Activity Hours Beginning Week Frequency
Blended learning
Learning materials – Interactive online learning activities. 1hr Week 1 12 times
Tutorial/Workshop 1 – Scheduled face to face workshops. 2hrs Week 1 12 times
Online
Learning materials – Interactive online learning activities. 1hr Week 1 12 times
Tutorial/Workshop 1 – Scheduled online workshops (Recorded). 2hrs Week 1 12 times

Course Topics

  • Video game criticism
  • The developers post mortem
  • Poetics of video game design
  • Analysis 1: Context
  • Analysis 2: Game Overview
  • Analysis 3: Formal Elements
  • Postmortem 2

What level is this course?

200 Level (Developing)

Building on and expanding the scope of introductory knowledge and skills, developing breadth or depth and applying knowledge and skills in a new context. May require pre-requisites where discipline specific introductory knowledge or skills is necessary. Normally, undertaken in the second or third full-time year of an undergraduate programs.

What is the unit value of this course?

12 units

How does this course contribute to my learning?

Course Learning Outcomes On successful completion of this course, you should be able to... Graduate Qualities Completing these tasks successfully will contribute to you becoming...
1 Research and describe the theoretical and analytical frameworks that apply to games. Empowered
2 Assess and describe the social values that games reflect and propagate. Ethical
Sustainability-focussed
3 Analyse, critique and design digital games based on theoretical and reflective frameworks. Creative and critical thinker
4 Organise analysis in clear, concise, and accurate written forms. Empowered

Am I eligible to enrol in this course?

Refer to the UniSC Glossary of terms for definitions of “pre-requisites, co-requisites and anti-requisites”.

Pre-requisites

Not applicable

Co-requisites

Not applicable

Anti-requisites

Not applicable

Specific assumed prior knowledge and skills (where applicable)

A fundamental understanding of video games design

Microcredential Information

Not applicable

How am I going to be assessed?

Grading Scale

Standard Grading (GRD)

High Distinction (HD), Distinction (DN), Credit (CR), Pass (PS), Fail (FL).

Details of early feedback on progress

​Task 1 is designed to give students time to practice analytical investigations into video games through theoretical vantage points. Feedback will be given in workshops leading up to the first assessment task submission, which will provide formative feedback in week 3 for subsequent submissions.

Assessment tasks

Delivery mode Task No. Assessment Product Individual or Group Weighting % What is the duration / length? When should I submit? Where should I submit it?
All 1 Journal Individual 30% 
2 journal entries.
 Refer to Format Online Assignment Submission with plagiarism check
All 2 Report Individual 30% 
1000 words
 Week 9 Online Assignment Submission with plagiarism check
All 3 Report Individual 40% 
2000 words
 Week 12 Online Assignment Submission with plagiarism check
All - Assessment Task 1:Observational Journal
Goal: 
This assessment is designed to give you the opportunity to examine videogames and topics, and test your understanding of theoretical concepts and analytical approaches through an observational analysis.
Product: Journal
Authorship Statement:
Format: 
Submit: Week 3 & 6. Academic Format: You will submit two journal entries based on your observations of a series of videogames and topics.

Journal entries will focus on specific elements and readings of games and their experiences (representation, game concept, playability, and narrative).

Evidence of progress must be shown to your tutor during workshop sessions.
Criteria:
No. Learning Outcome assessed
1 
Organisation of ideas in a clear and concise form. Follows journal format.
 1 4
2 
Recognition and discussion of social values that games reflect and propagate, whether negative or positive representations.
 2 3
3 
Analysis of the functionality of the set video game.
 3
4 
Analysis of the social issues raised through the gameplay and narrative.
 3 4
5 
Reflection of how these representations expose social issues.
 2 3
Generic Skills: 
Communication, Information literacy
All - Assessment Task 2:Short Analytical Report
Goal: 
This task is designed to give you the opportunity (through guided instruction) to develop, synthesise and apply your understanding of videogame analysis through the use of specific theoretical frameworks.
Product: Report
Authorship Statement:
Format: 
Academic Format: You will write a fully referenced analytical report. You will apply a specific theories to your videogame analysis.Analytical reports offer both information and analysis, and avoid describing what the game is about.

Your report should consider: Purpose Statement; The areas of Information (gameplay, functionality, narrative etc.); The organisation of ideas; Supporting your ideas with reliable and current Information; Analysing your data (from your observational journal and gameplay); Applying a relevant theoretical framework; Articulating a sophisticated analysis of the set videogame. 

You must cite a minimum of two academic sources.

You are expected to show progress in your research, analysis, and writing in workshop sessions, and are expected to respond to feedback given.

Across all our Creative Industries undergraduate programs, we are collecting data for assurance of learning purposes. This task is being used for measurement. The following program competency will be assessed: Communication.
Criteria:
No. Learning Outcome assessed
1 
Recognition and discussion of social values that games reflect and propagate, whether negative or positive representations.
 2 4
2 
Conduct literature-based research. Locating and applying relevant and current criticism and/or theory.
 1 3
3 
Application of theoretical framework to analyse representation of class, gender, identity, race, power, agency, or other social issues that are evident in the set videogame.
 1 2
4 
Organise ideas in a clear and concise form.
 4
Generic Skills: 
Communication, Information literacy
All - Assessment Task 3:Major Analytical Report
Goal: 
This task is designed for you to independently analyse and critique a videogame based on theoretical frameworks and topics, as well as analyse gameplay experiences, design, and narrative of the game.
Product: Report
Authorship Statement:
Format: 
Academic Format: You will write a fully referenced analytical report based on your analysis of one of the videogame options. Using your knowledge obtained in the completion of tasks 1 and 2, you will apply a specific theoretical theory to your independent videogame analysis.

Analytical reports offer both information and analysis. Avoid describing what the game is about and focus on an area of inquiry for your analysis.

Your report should consider: Purpose Statement; The areas of Information (gameplay, functionality, narrative etc.); The organisation of ideas; Supporting your ideas with reliable and current information; Analysing your data (from your observational journal); Applying a relevant theoretical framework; Articulating a sophisticated analysis of the set videogame. 

Cite a minimum of four academic sources.

You must show evidence of progress of your work to your teacher during workshops, and respond to feedback given.

Across all our Creative Industries undergraduate programs, we are collecting data for assurance of learning purposes. This task is being used for measurement. The following program competency will be assessed: Ethical and cultural understanding’.
Criteria:
No. Learning Outcome assessed
1 
Recognition and discussion of social values that games reflect and propagate, whether negative or positive representations.
 2 4
2 
Conduct literary research. Locating and applying relevant and current criticism and/or theory.
 3 4
3 
Application of theoretical framework to analyse representations of class, gender, identity, race, power, agency, or other social issues that are evident in the set videogame.
 1 2
4 
Professional presentation of ideas and analysis
 4
Generic Skills: 
Organisation, Information literacy

Directed study hours

A 12-unit course will have total of 150 learning hours which will include directed study hours (including online if required), self-directed learning and completion of assessable tasks. Student workload is calculated at 12.5 learning hours per one unit.

What resources do I need to undertake this course?

Please note: Course information, including specific information of recommended readings, learning activities, resources, weekly readings, etc. are available on the course Canvas site– Please log in as soon as possible.

Prescribed text(s) or course reader

You need regular access to the resource(s) below. Many texts are available as ebooks through the Library at no additional cost.

Required? Author Year Title Edition Publisher
Recommended Clara Fernández-Vara 0 Introduction to Game Analysis 2nd n/a
Recommended Ian Bogost 2010 Persuasive Games 1st Mit Press

Specific requirements

You will be expected to play and review digital games in your own time. It is expected that you will be able to access gaming equipment as required.

How are risks managed in this course?

Health and safety risks for this course have been assessed as low. It is your responsibility to review course material, search online, discuss with lecturers and peers and understand the health and safety risks associated with your specific course of study and to familiarise yourself with the University’s general health and safety principles by reviewing the online induction training for students, and following the instructions of the University staff.

What administrative information is relevant to this course?

Assessment: Academic Integrity

Academic integrity is the ethical standard of university participation. It ensures that students graduate as a result of proving they are competent in their discipline. This is integral in maintaining the value of academic qualifications. Each industry has expectations and standards of the skills and knowledge within that discipline and these are reflected in assessment.

Academic integrity means that you do not engage in any activity that is considered to be academic fraud; including plagiarism, collusion or outsourcing any part of any assessment item to any other person. You are expected to be honest and ethical by completing all work yourself and indicating in your work which ideas and information were developed by you and which were taken from others. You cannot provide your assessment work to others. You are also expected to provide evidence of wide and critical reading, usually by using appropriate academic references.

In order to minimise incidents of academic fraud, this course may require that some of its assessment tasks, when submitted to Canvas, are electronically checked through Turnitin. This software allows for text comparisons to be made between your submitted assessment item and all other work to which Turnitin has access.

Assessment: Additional Requirements

Eligibility for Supplementary Assessment

Your eligibility for supplementary assessment in a course is dependent of the following conditions applying:
(a) The final mark is in the percentage range 47% to 49.4%; and
(b) The course is graded using the Standard Grading scale

Assessment: Submission penalties

Late submissions may be penalised up to and including the following maximum percentage of the assessment task’s identified value, with weekdays and weekends included in the calculation of days late:
(a) One day: deduct 5%;
(b) Two days: deduct 10%;
(c) Three days: deduct 20%;
(d) Four days: deduct 40%;
(e) Five days: deduct 60%;
(f) Six days: deduct 80%;
(g) Seven days: A result of zero is awarded for the assessment task.

The following penalties will apply for a late submission for an online examination:
Less than 15 minutes: No penalty
From 15 minutes to 30 minutes: 20% penalty
More than 30 minutes: 100% penalty

Links to relevant University policy and procedures

For more information on Academic Learning & Teaching categories including:

  • Assessment: Courses and Coursework Programs
  • Review of Assessment and Final Grades
  • Supplementary Assessment
  • Central Examinations
  • Deferred Examinations
  • Student Conduct
  • Students with a Disability

For more information, visit https://www.usc.edu.au/explore/policies-and-procedures#academic-learning-and-teaching

Student Charter

UniSC is committed to excellence in teaching, research and engagement in an environment that is inclusive, inspiring, safe and respectful. The Student Charter sets out what students can expect from the University, and what in turn is expected of students, to achieve these outcomes.

General Enquiries

For course-specific questions, contact your teaching staff or Course Coordinator.  

For other enquiries or to access support, please contact Student Central: 

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