Diversity

COM 1111 - Mediated Communication Systems

At the end of the semester, students will be asked to create a final blog entry of ~250 words focusing on the diverse nature of both the media we have used, as well as the audiences we have attempted to reach. Specifically, students will write about a specific example of a story or message they would want to tell, and how the medium and style would change depending on two specific demographics, cultures, etc.

COM 3322 - Character & User Interface Design

Students create a blog entry about stereotypes and tropes in video games. First, students engage in three specific readings/viewings: 1. “Tropes vs. Women in Video Games” (a video which discusses stereotypical representation of women in video games) 2. A reading on avoiding stereotypes in character development, and 3. a reading about “playing with tropes” which discusses numerous more ways to change a character stereotype into a more engaging character.

Students are then asked to look back at their original character designs and analyze if they have thought critically about the diverse cultures and backgrounds a character can have, determine if they have they relied upon cultural stereotypes, and suggest changes to their character designs to avoid those tropes.

COM 3352 - Game Development

Students review video game industry statistics and data to craft an argument for developing a certain type of game. For instance, most of my students begin saying that they want to develop a game that “everyone” will enjoy. The problem with that is the games that are developed for “everyone” aren’t actually purchased by “everyone”.

Students are forced to confront the diversity of the marketplace in video games, and to make a decision to choose to look at the different ages, game genres, genders, etc to make a financial case for developing a video game.

COM 3362 - Puzzle, Obstacle & Level Design

At the end of the semester, students will submit a writing specifically with the diverse nature of level design. Students will begin with a concept for a level design, and write out scenarios as to how that level concept will change if it is designed for a 2D platformer, multi-player deathmatch, multi-player team-based, puzzle game, or single-player game.

COM 4432 - 3D Modeling for Games

In our first major game asset modeling assignment, students are required to collect a diverse set of image references for whichever object they will model. The requirement of the image research ensures that students review diverse styles of objects they are researching, and will find examples they would have never thought of before.

COM 4492 - Collaborative Game Design/Development

Students are required to create a blog post where they discuss how their team considered “diversity” in their initial game design sessions, specifically how they consider user-interface design for differently-abled players, or how they will or won’t deal with diversity in character design.