JAN 202 - Choice: Can Video Games Teach Empathy?

IMPORTANT NOTE: Since not all games are available on all consoles, you will need either a Windows computer (not a Mac) or a Playstation 4 or 5 to play all three games. Students will be responsible for purchasing the games on their own.

Instructor(s):  Lee, Aaron
Email:  atl8@stmarys-ca.edu

Choose carefully. This action will have consequences. Storytelling is constantly evolving, taking the form of oral storytelling, writing, drama, films, and, most recently, video games. Each medium can convey a story in a specialized way. Modern video games offer a characteristic that no other medium has been able to provide: the ability of player choice. With choice, the player influences the outcome. The player becomes both a participant and an author. Narrative-based games center on this feature: there is no “game-over” screen or opportunity to try again with these games. Instead, players witness the consequences of their actions and choices, providing a unique experience for every player. These games place you in the shoes of a complete character–e.g., a Latino teenager on the run from the police (“Life is Strange 2”), a group of students desperately trying to survive based on incomplete information (“The Quarry”) or an android who gains sentience and wants to be human (“Detroit: Become Human”). The player is not a blank avatar. In this class, we explore whether narrative-based games can effectively allow players to feel the experiences and emotions of individuals with unique life experiences unlike their own. Together, we will play through these three narrative-based games and use readings from psychology, sociology, neuroscience, and the video game industry to understand whether games can effectively teach empathy. By exploring smaller games in class, through discussion, writing, and presentations, we will determine what role choice-based video games can and should play in our lives.

Prerequisites & Notes
None

Credits: 3-CU