Videogames are literature.

[Fetzenfisch]

heya fellow escapists.
As some of you dont know, like the rest of you, i have mentioned before that i am studying german and english literature over here in Germany.
Tomorrow i will be part of a new seminar "literary criticism/analysis of computergames". As far as i know until now, we will start with a look at devices and styles of narrative and character development. The Prof suggested to start with WC3 and the Character of Arthas, followed by a look at Max Payne 2 some weeks later. Then we start the real work after we figured out the best way to work with this kind of literature compared to the purely written or films. Maybe there will be something published afterwards if we get some good results.

I have to say the man does have picked some good examples so far and i am very excited how it will be.
If you are as interested as me, how this (new[?]) scientific approach will turn out. I can offer to keep you informed here.
cheers
Fetzenfisch

 

[Ftaghn To You Too]

Good for you?

That really sounds like an amazing class for anyone who cares about plot in games.

But... Please, don't sign your posts. Please, for me?

 

[xdgt]

Honestly the first Max Payne had far better story and deeper characterization than Max Payne 2, why would you start with the sequel without considering how the characters came to be the way they are? Arthas is basically a cliche tragic hero (with a bit of magic involved).

 

[LogicNProportion]

May I suggest some Metal Gear Solid 3? Big Boss is a much better tragic hero than Arthas could ever be. Though...the game is Japanese, so I don't know if you can study it for your English/German literature course.

The course itself sounds intriguing, as I've been saying for years that some games have far better narratives than many required novels we read in school. And while to assign the whole class to go home and play a game is a bit over-the-top for many people in my school, at least studying the stories in class could be a remarkable way for people to discover a better side of games. Please, keep me posted how your class goes!

Auf Wiedersehen.

 

[Geekosaurus]

I've heard video games being called a lot of things, but never literature. I don't think it really works. A script is a script; and although that's a type of literature, it's not the end product.

 

[Fetzenfisch]

I've heard video games being called a lot of things, but never literature. I don't think it really works. A script is a script; and although that's a type of literature, it's not the end product.

Thats why we dont talk about the scripts. If you analyse a movie, you dont only look at the script, but how it works together with stylistic devices like camera angles, lighting, music etc etc. In this case it will be like that, plus a little bit more. The game#s mechanics, art style and so on.

literary criticism/analysis of computer games. Wow is that really a class thats worse than films in lit. Can you fail that class. Video game story lines are a bag of cliches that was swung over some developers head and then the programmer puts a blind fold on and bobs for plot lines.Video games are not literature.

The quality of the story itself is not always that bad, but i do know what you are talking about. But it does not mean that novels, dramas or poems have to be of better quality, even if the author is big and famous. Still they are more likely be discussed scientificly.

Honestly the first Max Payne had far better story and deeper characterization than Max Payne 2, why would you start with the sequel without considering how the characters came to be the way they are? Arthas is basically a cliche tragic hero (with a bit of magic involved).

I guess in this case it is because there was already some secondary literature about it and we will have a look at it. It had summary of the story of part I and II, but the analysis and discussion of a whole title focused on part 2. Why i cant state right now, i am not through the text yet.

May I suggest some Metal Gear Solid 3? Big Boss is a much better tragic hero than Arthas could ever be. Though...the game is Japanese, so I don't know if you can study it for your English/German literature course.

The course itself sounds intriguing, as I've been saying for years that some games have far better narratives than many required novels we read in school. And while to assign the whole class to go home and play a game is a bit over-the-top for many people in my school, at least studying the stories in class could be a remarkable way for people to discover a better side of games. Please, keep me posted how your class goes!

Auf Wiedersehen.

We will see witch titles we will work on later. I will have a look at your suggestion, i havent played the MGS titles yet myself, but perhaps one or a few of the other guys and gals in class will be able to tell a little bit more about it.
As far as i know till know, he picked Arthas because he is the main character and you can directly experience the developement of his character the whole time. It must not be the best tragic hero in existence, its just an example how it is done and a popular one in gaming i guess.

We'll see how it goes on later today.


@Ftaghn To You Too "[...]That really sounds like an amazing class for anyone who cares about plot in games."

That's why i addressed people who might be interested , thanks for not participating anymore and enjoy your high-end graphics nonstories