Year: Two
Unit: BA5: Focus 2
Project Title Platform and Distribution
Project 3 of 3 within this unit
Start Date: 04/01/11
Study Hours: 60
Submission Date: 21/02/11
Tutor(s): TBC
Description
This unit considers the possibilities and limitations offered by different gaming platforms, their
place in the market, and how digital games are both marketed and distributed.
You will gain an understanding of platform studies, a strand of game studies that explores
the relationship between the hardware and software design of game-related computing
systems and the creative work produced upon them. You will explore the possibilities and
limitations that technological advances and restrictions present to game designers. The unit
further addresses the changing nature of gaming platforms, from static consoles to mobile
platforms and beyond. You will also study the way platforms and related content are
marketed, learning about games PR and advertising. Finally you will consider how these
changes impact the distribution of game content, from physical media to downloadable
content and web-streaming.
Working individually you will produce a online research blog that explores and applies
appropriate theories and concepts through critical analysis.
This project addresses the key areas of study as follows:
Studio Practice: Not applicable for this project.
Business and Professional Skills: You will learn theoretical elements essential to the
practical design process of a commercially or critically successful digital game. You will gain
further understanding of the development of game modes and industries, presenting findings
in a professional and appropriate manner.
Contextual Studies: You will undertake extensive primary and secondary research. Using
analogue (books, journals, etc.) and digital (websites, e-journals, academic blogs) sources to
evidence your understanding of theories and practices you will apply these through critical
analysis and integrate them into your practice. The tone of the research must be academic
and investigative, and should be communicated with clarity and creativity.
Personal Development and Planning: Not applicable for this project.
The table below lists the work you will need to submit and which areas of study each item relates to:
Work required for this project:
Area of study
Which Unit Assessment Requirement this work contributes to:
Research Blog, containing a variety of audio-visual media [Blogger / Wordpress converted to PDF]
Contextual Studies / Business and Professional Skills
BA 5 - A 2,500 word text
All work MUST be correctly formatted and submitted to the Digital 3D server. Folder structures and naming conventions must be adhered to precisely.
Contextual Studies / Business and Professional Skills
BA 5 - A 2,500 word text
Not assessed in this project:
Studio practice / PDP n/a
The table below shows which of the Unit Learning Outcomes are addressed by this project and what you will need to do to show that you have met them: Learning Outcome How you will be assessed:
LO1: Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the key principles of, and context for, your subject. We will look for evidence of an understanding of the key principles of platform studies and the distribution of game content.
LO2: Apply concepts and principles associated with the subject to a range of professional contexts and environments. We will look for evidence of an understanding of how technology, platform, and distribution impacts on the professional environment.
LO3: Evidence your capacity to evaluate the key questions facing the subject and articulate the means with which these questions have been pursued. We expect clear, concise, and appropriately communicated research and analysis, professionally presented in the correct format.
Reference material
Juul, J. (2010) A Casual Revolution: Reinventing Video Games and their Players. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press.
Kerr, A. (2008) The Business and Culture of Making Digital Games: Gamework and Gameplay. London: Sage Publications.
Montford, N. and Bogost, I. (2009) Racing the Beam: The Atari Video Computer System. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press
Schell, J. (2008) The Art of Game Design: A Book of Lenses. Burlington, MA: Morgan Kaufmann
The Entertainment Software Association. [Internet] Available from:
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