Logo UAB

Computer Game Genres

Code: 104737 ECTS Credits: 6
2025/2026
Degree Type Year
Interactive Communication OB 2

Contact

Name:
Carlos Llorens Maluquer
Email:
carles.llorens@uab.cat

Teachers

Pau Lluis Gumiel

Teaching groups languages

You can view this information at the end of this document.


Prerequisites

There are no prerequisites, even though curiosity and prior knowledge of fiction, videogames and narrative in general are valuable.


Objectives and Contextualisation

  1. Learn the concept of genre in fiction
  2. Studying genre in audiovisual products prior to videogames.
  3. Learn the basic concepts regarding videogames.
  4. Learn the basic concepts of videogames genre.
  5. Identify the characteristics of a videogame as a cultural artifact.
  6. Analyze the genre specificities of a videogame.

 


Competences

  • Act with ethical responsibility and respect for fundamental rights and duties, diversity and democratic values.
  • Act within one's own area of knowledge, evaluating sex/gender-based inequalities.
  • Devise, create, activate and integrate virtual and augmented-reality spaces, characters and objects.
  • Distinguish between and apply the principal theories, conceptual frameworks and approaches regulating interactive communication.
  • Integrate knowledge of design, language and photographic and audiovisual techniques to bring meaning to different types of content.
  • Introduce changes in the methods and processes of the field of knowledge to provide innovative responses to the needs and demands of society.
  • Manage time efficiently and plan for short-, medium- and long-term tasks.
  • Search for, select and rank any type of source and document that is useful for creating messages, academic papers, presentations, etc.
  • Students must be capable of applying their knowledge to their work or vocation in a professional way and they should have building arguments and problem resolution skills within their area of study.
  • Students must be capable of communicating information, ideas, problems and solutions to both specialised and non-specialised audiences.
  • Take account of social, economic and environmental impacts when operating within one's own area of knowledge.

Learning Outcomes

  1. Analyse a situation and identify its points for improvement.
  2. Analyse the sex-/gender-based inequalities and gender bias in one's own area of knowledge.
  3. Apply and adapt previous knowledge of the language of photography and its concepts to the composition and creation of meaning in video games.
  4. Communicate using language that is not sexist or discriminatory.
  5. Consider how gender stereotypes and roles impinge on the exercise of the profession.
  6. Cross-check information to establish its veracity, using evaluation criteria.
  7. Distinguish the salient features in all types of documents within the subject.
  8. Identify situations in which a change or improvement is needed.
  9. Identify the social, economic and environmental implications of academic and professional activities within one's own area of knowledge.
  10. Master the narrative resources and techniques for creating stories tailored to virtual worlds and ascribe them to a particular genre.
  11. Plan and execute narrative works.
  12. Present a summary of the studies made, orally and in writing.
  13. Propose new methods or well-founded alternative solutions.
  14. Propose projects and actions that are in accordance with the principles of ethical responsibility and respect for fundamental rights and obligations, diversity and democratic values.
  15. Propose projects and actions that incorporate the gender perspective.
  16. Propose viable projects and actions to boost social, economic and environmental benefits.
  17. Recognise the division of narrative theories by genre in the new virtual leisure media.
  18. Submit course assignments on time, showing the individual and/or group planning involved.
  19. Weigh up the risks and opportunities of both one's own and other people's proposals for improvement.

Content

1. What is genre?

2. Genre in fiction prior to videogames.

3. What is a videogame?

4. The concept of genre in videogames.

5. Historical references in videogames genre.

6. Genre in videogames nowadays.

7. What can happen in the future, in terms of genre?

The detailed calendar with the content of the different sessions will be provided on the first day in the classroom during the presentation of the subject. This planning will also be posted on the Virtual Campus where you will also find the detailed description of the exercises and practices, the different teaching materials, and any information necessary for the proper monitoring of the subject.

Note: The course content will be sensitive to issues related to gender perspective and the use of inclusive language.


Activities and Methodology

Title Hours ECTS Learning Outcomes
Type: Directed      
Lab practices 30 1.2 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 10, 12, 11, 18, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 5
Theory 33 1.32 2, 1, 4, 6, 7, 10, 8, 15, 17, 5
Type: Supervised      
Handout assessment activities 20 0.8 2, 3, 4, 6, 10, 12, 8, 11, 19, 18, 13, 14, 15, 17, 5
Type: Autonomous      
Reading and assignments 24 0.96 2, 1, 10, 8, 11, 18, 14, 16, 17, 5

The methodology of the subject is based on:

1. The theoretical sessions will be dedicated to presenting and discussing theoretical concepts.

2. The practical classes will be destined to present analysis cases and defending the ideas.

3. The tutorials will be intended to guide students in their video game analysis in terms of genre.

 

The analysis of the genres will be made through products' analysis, not only videogames but also media products prior to videogames.

Also, students should be able to synthesize all the knowledge in the course through a videogame creation.

 

 

 

 

 

Annotation: Within the schedule set by the centre or degree programme, 15 minutes of one class will be reserved for students to evaluate their lecturers and their courses or modules through questionnaires.


Assessment

Continous Assessment Activities

Title Weighting Hours ECTS Learning Outcomes
[A] Videogame Idea 40 18 0.72 2, 1, 3, 4, 6, 7, 10, 12, 9, 8, 11, 19, 18, 13, 14, 16, 17
[B] Case Study 30 13 0.52 2, 1, 3, 4, 6, 7, 10, 12, 8, 11, 18, 14, 15, 17, 5
[C] Classroom discussion and activites 20 8 0.32 2, 1, 4, 6, 7, 10, 12, 8, 14, 15, 17, 5
[D] Class participation 10 4 0.16 2, 1, 4, 6, 7, 12, 9, 8, 14, 15, 17, 5

Evaluation

[A] -Videogame Idea: 40%. The ideas taught throughout the course should be reflected in this idea. Group activity.

[B] -Case Study: 30%. Analyze 3 fiction products, one of them has to be a videogame. Individual activity.

[C] -Classroom activities and debates: 20%. Individual activity.

[D] -Classroom participation: 5% in direct participation and 5% in ludification activities.

 

This course offers the possibility of a single assessment. The conditions for being assessed in this way will be explained on the first day of class.

Single assessment


Exam: 30%. Which includes all the contents in the subject

Case Study: 20%. Fictions prior to videogames.

Videogame analysis: 20%. Detailed analysis of a videogame.

Videogame idea: 30%. Idea and early development of a videogame.

  

a) According to regulation, in order to participate in the re-evaluation process, students must have been previously evaluated in at least 2/3 of the total assessable activities of the course.

b) The exam can only be retaken if the student has obtained a grade lower than 4.9. The recovery exam will consist of a written test assessing theoretical knowledge.

c) The grade obtained in the resolution of activities 2, 3 and 4 will be part of the total average of the final grade. Only in the case of failing this test, and if the student so wishes, they may choose to retake it with a test of the same nature.

d) Activities 2, 3 and 4 are not suitable for re-evaluation, and the grade obtained in each assignment (whether passed or not) will be part of the total average of the final grade.

For this course, the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies is permitted exclusively for specify tasks or other specific situations as considered appropriate. Students must clearly identify anyparts generated with these technologies, specify the tools used, and include a critical reflection on how AI has influenced the process and final outcome of the assignment. Failure to disclose the use of  AI in this assessed activity will be considered a breach of academic integrity and may result in a partial or total penalty to the assignment grade, or more serious sanctions in severe cases.

The non-assessable will be applied when the student has not appeared for at least 2/3 of the assessment tests.


Bibliography

The specific bibliography will be revealed throughout the semester.

 

Basic references:

Altman, R. (2000). Los géneros cinematográficos. Paidós Comunicación. Barcelona: Espasa.

Heussner, Tobias, Kristen Finley, Toya, Brandes Hepler, Jennifer, & Lemay, Anne (2015). The Game Narrative Toolbox

  

Complementary references:

· BISSELL, T. (2010). Extralives: Why Video Games Matter. New York: Pantheon Books.

· COLON, A. y ANYÓ, L. (2015). Argumentos para el clímax: estrategias narrativas en el vide- ojuego de acción y aventuras. En J. Cuesta y J. Sierra (Eds.), Videojuegos: arte y narrativa audiovisual (pp. 69-85). Madrid: ESNE.

· GONZÁLEZ, F. (2014) Super Control. Seria aproximación al mundo del videojuego. Star-t Magazine Books.

· LÓPEZ REDONDO, I. (2014). ¿Qué es un videojuego? Claves para entender el mayor fenómeno cultural del siglo XXI. Sevilla: Ediciones Arcade.

· PARKIN, S. (2015).  Death by video game. London: Serpent’s Tail.

· PÉREZ, Ó. (Tesis doctoral, 2010).  “Análisis de la significación del videojuego. Fundamentos teóricos del juego al mundo narrativo y la enunciación interactiva como perspectivas de estudio del discurso.” UPF: http://www.tdx.cat/handle/10803/7273 


Software

This course has no software prerequisites.


Groups and Languages

Please note that this information is provisional until 30 November 2025. You can check it through this link. To consult the language you will need to enter the CODE of the subject.

Name Group Language Semester Turn
(SEM) Seminars 61 Catalan first semester afternoon
(SEM) Seminars 62 Catalan first semester afternoon
(TE) Theory 6 Catalan first semester afternoon