General information


Subject type: Basic

Coordinator: Juan José Pons López

Trimester: First term

Credits: 6

Teaching staff: 

Ana Beatriz Pérez Zapata
Javier Cebrián Alonso 

Teaching languages


  • English

Skills


Specific skills
  • E5. Write the specifications of a game and communicate them effectively to the team of artists and developers and other members involved in the creation and development of the game.

General competencies
  • G4. Communicate information, ideas, problems and solutions to a specialized and non-specialized audience.

  • G5. Develop the learning skills needed to undertake further studies with a high degree of autonomy.

Transversal competences
  • T1. Communicate in a third language, preferably English, with an appropriate level of oral and written communication and in accordance with the needs of graduates.

  • T2. Work as a member of an interdisciplinary team either as an additional member or performing management tasks in order to contribute to developing projects with pragmatism and a sense of responsibility, making commitments and taking into account available resources.

Description


This course introduces the student to the world of video games and their terminology in English. The student prepares for future professional development in English: both with written and oral communication. Students will be required to write texts related to video games, develop their own video game concept and present it to the rest of the class and record a Let 's Play Video with comments. They will be free to choose the video game they want to work on.

There will also be additional activities to assimilate new vocabulary, videos and documentaries about the sector will be viewed and commented on, and grammar exercises such as fill the gaps, rephrasing, concordance, etc. will be carried out. The system of continuous evaluation will be used, that is to say, the final note of the student will depend to a large extent of the exercises and activities realized during the asignatura. It is not possible to pass this subject only by taking the final exam.

Contents


1. Game analysis (Game Reviews) - Reading comprehension - Written expression

  1. Reading comprehension of video game articles
  2. Assimilation of the part of grammar and basic phonetics that are relevant
  3. Familiarization with the terminology and style used
  4. Ability to adopt a critical attitude about the specific characteristics of a game
  5. Improvement of the editorial level to carry out this type of writing

 2. Presentation of a video game project (Game Concept Presentation) - Oral expression

  1. Writing and elaboration of the presentation of a video game project developed by the students themselves
  2. Assimilation of environment-related terminology and vocabulary
  3. Familiarization with the usual style and vocabulary used in this type of presentation
  4. Improving basic knowledge on how to make an effective oral presentation
  5. Improving written skills to prepare a presentation document, and oral skills for presentation
  6. Conceptual art design to include in the presentation (optional)
  7. Design of levels and characters to include in the presentation (optional)
  8. Development and explanation of the history of the game, its mechanics, etc.
  9. Ability to define and explain the history of the game, the genre, the mechanics, the characters, the monetization system, etc.
  10. Ability to answer questions that other students may have at the end of the presentation

3. Interviews / Documentaries of the sector - Oral comprehension

  1. Understanding of audiovisual content
  2. Familiarization with the most common terminology in the video game industry
  3. Knowledge of grammar and vocabulary to be able to communicate effectively in certain everyday situations and specific to the sector
  4. Perception of the working reality of the video game industry

4. Let’s Play (LP) and other audiovisual material - Oral comprehension - Oral expression

  1. Oral comprehension of different informal videos posted by players on YouTube about live game games and commented on simultaneously (Let's play)
  2. Familiarization with a less conventional context and comparison with the styles found in game guides or reviews
  3. Assimilation of jokes and more informal terminology: essential ingredients for making a viral LP
  4. Assimilation of the grammar and vocabulary needed to be able to make and publish this type of recording
  5. Assimilation of technical knowledge and use of software necessary to record and publish video on the Internet

Evaluation system


The final grade of the course will be obtained from the following weighting:

A1. Exercise in class: Reading and analysis of reviews real 5%

A2. Work at home: Delivery of an original (critical) analysis 10%

A3. Work at home: Presentation of a video game project (Game Concept Presentation) 10%

A4. Exercise in class: Visualization and commentary of interviews / documentaries on referents of the sector 5%

A5. Exercise in class: Additional comprehension and oral expression activities 5%

A6. Exercise in class: Visualization of Let's Plays 5%

A7. Work at home: Creating a Let's play original 10%

A8. Final exam 50%

Final Note = A1 x 0.05 + A2 x 0.10 + A3 x 0.10 + A4 x 0.05 + A5 x 0.05 + A6 x 0.05 + A7 x 0.10 + A8 x 0.50

Considerations:

  • It is necessary to obtain a mark higher than 5 in the final exam / equivalent test to pass the subject.

  • An activity not delivered or delivered late and without justification (court summons or medical matter) counts as a 0.

  • It is the responsibility of the student to prevent plagiarism in all its forms. In the case of detecting a plagiarism, regardless of its scope, in some activity it will correspond to have a note of 0. In addition, the professor will communicate to the Head of Studies the situation so that measures applicable in matter of sanctioning regime are taken. .

Recovery

It is necessary to obtain a mark higher than 5 in the final exam / equivalent test of recovery to pass the subject. The activities carried out in class will not be able to recover, will only allow the delivery of works realized in house no presented, the works presented will not be able to realize again and the note of the examination of recovery will do average with all of them with the same percentages.

Rules for carrying out the activities

  • The vehicular and only language of this subject will be English, and it will be used obligatorily as much to give the classes as to participate in class and to realize the activities demanded without exception. It will also be used for any written communication with the teacher, both by email and by any other means. Repeated and intentional use of another language may be penalized.

REFERENCES


Basic

Hewings, M. (2005). Advanced grammar in use: a self-study reference and practice book for advanced learners of English; with answers. Ernst Klett Sprachen.

Skolnick, Evan (2014). Video Game Storytelling. Berkeley: Watson-Guptill Publications.

Anthropy, Anna and Clark, Naomi (2014). Exploring the Foundational Principles Behind Good Game Design. Addison-Wesley Professional