Video game students step back in time

A class at Okanagan College spent some time at Scandia Golf and Games in Kelowna as part of studies on the history of video games.

The course called An Introduction to Video Game Studies, explores video games as a cultural phenomenon

“While highly popular, they are the least understood, theorized and explored form of media. Scandia posed an opportunity for the class to explore how the phenomenon began,” said a news release from the college.

“Scandia is something of a time capsule,” said second-year student Scott MacLaren. “It offers a uniquely social experience, representative of the former cultural value of video games from back when arcades facilitated social gathering of like-minded individuals for the sole purpose of play in a shared space.”

Students were asked to play arcade games and post their reflections on the course blog, using multiple perspectives available to researchers in digital game history. These perspectives include art history, software studies, history of technology, social history, history of mentalities or games historiography.

Students also considered the notion that arcade games can be “meme machines,” a term introduced by Steven Poole in his book Trigger Happy – Video Games and the Entertainment Revolution.

While reflecting on concepts like race, class, identity and gender, the course examines the contexts and content of video games and their impact on players, audiences and society.

“Video games are one of the fastest media industries to grow and develop in complexity. It is fascinating to see students engage with video games, to see them play and reflect on these experiences,” said Raluca Fratiloiu, Communications Department Chair. “It is always nice to take advantage of the opportunities in Kelowna to take the students somewhere to play. This type of experience creates an immediate connection with the class material.”