Online Games: Literature, New Media, and Narrative from Coursera

Intended for both newcomers who are curious about video games and experienced gamers who want to reflect on their passion, this course will explore what happens to stories, paintings, and films when they become the basis of massively multiplayer online games. The Lord of the Rings trilogy—the novels, films, and video game—are our central example of how “remediation” transforms familiar stories as they move across media.

The course is designed as a university-level English literature class—a multi-genre, multimedia tour of how literature, film, and games engage in the basic human activity of storytelling. Our journey will enable us to learn something about narrative theory, introduce us to some key topics in media studies and cover some of the history and theory of video games. It will also take us to some landmarks of romance literature, the neverending story that lies behind most fantasy games: J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Fellowship of the Ring, a bit of Edmund Spenser’s Faerie Queene, and poems by Keats, Tennyson, Browning, and others.

Drawing on centuries of romance narrative conventions, the twenty-first century gaming industry has become a creative and economic powerhouse. It engages the talents of some of our brightest writers, artists, composers, computer engineers, game theorists, video producers, and marketing professionals, and in 2012, it generated an estimated $64 billion in revenue. Anyone interested in today’s culture needs to be conversant with the ways this new medium is altering our understanding of stories. Join me as we set out on an intellectual adventure, the quest to discover the cultural heritage of online games.

What's inside

Syllabus

Game on! The History and Theory of MMOs

The course opens with a brief look at gaming culture and history, then introduces the chief game we will study, Turbine's "The Lord of the Rings Online." We then look at some key concepts in game theory such as remediation and Jesper Juul's treatment of rules and game design from his book "Half-Real: Video Games between Real Rules and Fictional Worlds." We end by considering games as journeys using Constantine Cavafy's poem "Ithaca."For details about this week's Readings, go to the Syllabus page in your Resources tab. ***For details about this week's Readings, go to the Syllabus page in your Resources tab.

LOTRO and Tolkien

After an overview of storytelling modes, we turn to Tolkien and his work. We then examine the role of quests in games and literature. Finally, we introduce romance and lyric literature using Robert Browning's poem "Childe Roland to the Dark Tower Came." ***For details about this week's Readings, go to the Syllabus page in your Resources tab.

Romance and Realism

This week we journey into the Mines of Moria, comparing a scene in Tolkien's novel, Peter Jackson's film, and "The Lord of the Rings Online." Then it's back to romance literature to delve into the intricacies of allegory, plot, theme, and character. The week closes with a look at John Keats' haunting ballad, "La Belle Dame sans Merci." ***For details about this week's Readings, go to the Syllabus page in your Resources tab.

Space and Time in Three Media

Week 4's initial focus is our natural concepts of space and time, and how these dimensions inform the "storyworld" of a narrative. We then examine how directors, authors, and video game developers use these innate frameworks to tell stories, invoking Seymour Chapman's book "Film and Discourse: Narrative Structure in Fiction and Film." Close attention is paid to the mechanics of point of view, and how its use allows artists to connect with audiences. ***For details about this week's Readings, go to the Syllabus page in your Resources tab.

Pwning Spenser’s Faerie Queene

Hold on tight as we plunge into a discussion of Edmund Spenser's "The Faerie Queene," one of the greatest romance poems in English. You will see for yourself how deep the vein of romance is when you read this story of knights, castles, an evil seductress, and an indomitable heroine. Then watch how a group of students remediated the same story in a video game they created: "Faerie Queene Online." ***For details about this week's Readings, go to the Syllabus page in your Resources tab.

The Holy Grail: A Good End Game

Since Aristotle, the one constant in the study of narrative has been the analysis of beginnings, middles, and ends. As is appropriate for our last week, we spend much of our time examining how Tolkien takes leave of his readers at the end of "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy. The final stage of MMOs--when your character has maxed out and completed all the quests--has always presented challenges to game makers. Although LOTRO continues to take us on our journey toward Mordor, it cannot escape the challenge of creating end-game material for advanced players. We look at two attempts to include advanced players in the events of Western Rohan and Helm's Deep. Finally, we ponder what comes after the end, as we read Alfred, Lord Tennyson's poem, "Ulysses." ***For details about this week's Readings, go to the Syllabus page in your Resources tab.

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Course is suitable for people who are unfamiliar with video games and those who wish to learn more about their passion

Taught by Jay Clayton who has published works in this field

Examines the relevance and cultural significance of online games using The Lord of the Rings trilogy

Covers advanced gameplay that would interest veteran players

Takes a literary approach to the course material

May initially assume some background knowledge in literature and media studies

Reviews summary

Engaging interdisciplinary study of narrative

According to students, Online Games: Literature, New Media, and Narrative is a fun and engaging course that serves as a comprehensive interdisciplinary study of narrative in video games, literature, and other media. Students who enjoyed both literature and gaming especially appreciated the course, which features lively discussions, knowledgeable students, and an enthusiastic professor.

Engaging gameplay experience

"The course got me addicted to that world, so that's a +1 star for it as well!"

"I've also read new literary work, which were a nice example of the theoretical discussions of the course."

Strong focus on literary theory

"To my surprise, it also travels through different English literature pieces of chivalry, mythology, or adventure that serves as content to compare the narrative in videogames and films."

"This part was really enjoyable and so I also recommend this class if you want to know the basics of romance literature."

Mix of lectures and discussions

"The class is presented in an interesting way - a blend of lectures and discussions."

"There is a class group consisting of graduate students, who are each giving opinions about certain literary work, narrative genres or video games, so you feel as if you're a part of that discussion."

Applicable to various fields

"I've learned new things, even though I had background in literary theory, and, most importantly, I've read new literary work, which were a nice example of the theoretical discussions of the course."

"I'm giving a huge recommendation for anyone who wants to see an interdisciplinary approach to online gaming (gaming is optional, but it's really a fun experience), and to brush up (or learn as a beginner) your comparative literature skills."

Fun assignments playing Lord of the Rings Online

"The practical part of the course focuses on playing Lord of the Rings Online, and this course got me addicted to that world, so that's a +1 star for it as well!"

"His love towards literature and online games was contagious, and there were really fun assignments regarding playing LOTRO, that felt you weren't in a course - you were just having fun."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Online Games: Literature, New Media, and Narrative with these activities:

Explore the Lord of the Rings Universe

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Familiarize yourself with the central example and source material for the course.

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Read the novel by J.R.R. Tolkien.
Watch the film adaptations directed by Peter Jackson.
Play the video game The Lord of the Rings Online by Turbine.

Dive into Romance and Lyric Literature

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Explore the roots of fantasy storytelling by delving into the world of romance and lyric literature.

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Read and analyze Spenser's The Faerie Queene.
Identify the key elements of romance literature.
Trace the influence of romance literature on modern fantasy.

Improve Your Knowledge of Game Theory Concepts

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Reinforce your understanding of key concepts by completing practice exercises.

Browse courses on Game Theory

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Work through practice problems on game theory websites.
Read and summarize articles on game theory.
Participate in online discussions about game theory.

Four other activities

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Analyze the Role of Storytelling in Video Games

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Apply concepts from the course to a specific video game by creating an essay or video presentation.

Browse courses on Storytelling

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Choose a video game that interests you.
Identify the key narrative elements of the game.
Analyze how these elements contribute to the game's overall story.
Write an essay or create a video presentation presenting your analysis.

Master the Mechanics of Video Game Storytelling

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Enhance your understanding of game storytelling through guided tutorials and resources.

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Watch video tutorials on game storytelling techniques.
Read articles and books on game storytelling.
Join online communities for game storytellers.

Test Your Skills in Game Design Challenges

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Put your knowledge and skills to the test by participating in game design contests.

Browse courses on Game Design

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Research and identify relevant game design contests.
Form a team or work independently to develop your game.
Submit your game and receive feedback from judges.

Enhance Your Storytelling Abilities

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Develop your storytelling skills through workshops and exercises led by experienced professionals.

Browse courses on Storytelling

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Attend workshops on storytelling techniques.
Participate in writing exercises and receive feedback from instructors.
Apply your learning to your own writing projects.

Career center

Learners who complete Online Games: Literature, New Media, and Narrative will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Novelist

A Novelist crafts extended works of fiction. Online Games: Literature, New Media, and Narrative provides insight into the creative process of writing fiction. Through the study of video games, literature, and film, you will witness how stories and characters come to life. These insights are invaluable for any aspiring Novelist.

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Video Game Writer

A Video Game Writer develops storylines, characters, and dialogue for video games. Online Games: Literature, New Media, and Narrative will introduce you to the fundamentals of storytelling. Furthermore, this course examines how stories are adapted across different media. This knowledge is vital for any aspiring Video Game Writer.

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Screenwriter

A Screenwriter writes scripts for movies and television shows. Online Games: Literature, New Media, and Narrative will familiarize you with the essential elements of storytelling and narrative structure. This knowledge is essential for any aspiring Screenwriter.

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Teacher

A Teacher educates students in a variety of subjects. Online Games: Literature, New Media, and Narrative will provide you with a deep understanding of literature, film, and video games. This knowledge is beneficial for any aspiring Teacher.

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Game Designer

A Game Designer creates the rules and mechanics of video games. Online Games: Literature, New Media, and Narrative will introduce you to the fundamental principles of game design. Moreover, this course explores the history and theory of video games. This knowledge is essential for any aspiring Game Designer.

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Journalist

A Journalist writes articles, stories, and other content for newspapers, magazines, and websites. Online Games: Literature, New Media, and Narrative will provide you with the writing skills and critical thinking skills necessary to succeed in this field. Furthermore, this course will introduce you to the ethics of journalism.

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Marketing Manager

A Marketing Manager develops and executes marketing campaigns. Online Games: Literature, New Media, and Narrative will provide you with a solid foundation in storytelling and narrative. This knowledge is essential for any aspiring Marketing Manager.

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Public Relations Specialist

A Public Relations Specialist manages the public image of organizations and individuals. Online Games: Literature, New Media, and Narrative will provide you with the communication skills and critical thinking skills necessary to succeed in this field.

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Event Planner

An Event Planner organizes and manages events. Online Games: Literature, New Media, and Narrative will provide you with the project management skills and attention to detail necessary to succeed in this field.

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Social Media Manager

A Social Media Manager develops and executes social media campaigns. Online Games: Literature, New Media, and Narrative will provide you with a solid foundation in storytelling and narrative. This knowledge is essential for any aspiring Social Media Manager.

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UX Designer

A UX Designer designs the user experience for websites, apps, and other digital products. Online Games: Literature, New Media, and Narrative will provide you with the user-centered design principles necessary to succeed in this field.

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Instructional Designer

An Instructional Designer creates and develops educational materials. Online Games: Literature, New Media, and Narrative may be useful for gaining knowledge of learning theories.

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Librarian

A Librarian helps people find and access information. Online Games: Literature, New Media, and Narrative may be useful for gaining additional knowledge about literature and culture.

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Archivist

An Archivist preserves and manages historical records. Online Games: Literature, New Media, and Narrative may be useful for additional knowledge about how stories are preserved in different formats.

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Museum curator

A Museum Curator manages and exhibits museum collections. Online Games: Literature, New Media, and Narrative may be useful for gaining additional knowledge about the history of video games and other cultural artifacts.

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