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.

Traffic lights

Read about what's good

what should give you pause

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

Exploring narrative across literature and online games

According to students, this course offers insightful connections between classic literature and modern online games, particularly focusing on The Lord of the Rings Online. Learners frequently praise the professor's passion and knowledge. While the course is well-structured and broadens perspective on narrative across media, students note that the required readings can be heavy and challenging, especially for those without a strong literature background. Some found the lectures varied in engagement and wished for more diverse game examples beyond LOTRO. Be aware this is a university-level academic analysis, not a practical game design course.

Uses The Lord of the Rings Online extensively as its main example.

"I appreciated the focus on The Lord of the Rings Online as a running example, it made the abstract concepts easier to grasp."

"Wish they had included examples from other popular MMOs or even single-player RPGs for variety."

"LOTRO is a good case study, but felt a bit dated sometimes."

"The focus on LOTRO was smart for consistency, but a bit limiting as mentioned by others."

Course is a literature class, not a practical game design guide.

"Very academic approach, which I enjoyed."

"It feels a bit academic and less practical."

"Be aware it's not a 'how-to' game design course, it's academic analysis."

Instructor is knowledgeable and enthusiastic about the topic.

"The professor is clearly passionate and knowledgeable."

"Professor was excellent."

"The professor's expertise is evident."

"Professor was passionate and made complex ideas accessible."

Explores links between classic literature and games.

"I found the connections drawn between classic literature (Spenser! Tennyson!) and modern MMOs like LOTRO incredibly insightful."

"It perfectly blended my love for video games and my interest in storytelling."

"The historical context of romance literature influencing fantasy games was brilliant."

"I never thought about the literary heritage of games like this."

Quality of lectures can be inconsistent; some engaging, some dry.

"Lectures were engaging..."

"The lectures were a bit dry at times..."

"Some lectures were great, others less so."

Required texts, especially classic literature, can be dense.

"readings were well-chosen, though sometimes dense."

"The literary analysis part was a bit challenging for me as I don't have a strong literature background"

"The required readings could be heavy, prepare for that."

"Requires reading complex texts."

"I struggled with the older literature."

"Requires significant reading commitment, including classic poetry."

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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