The opinions expressed in this article are the author's own and do not reflect the views of her campus.
This article was written by a student writer from her campus chapter in San Francisco.
In fall 2022, San Francisco State University launched a new minor in Video Game Studies under the Department of Comparative World Literature. The purpose of the minor was to provide students with the skills and knowledge to identify, apply, and explain the multimedia-rich context of video games and their culture. The ultimate goal was to “train students in interdisciplinary and critical thinking for a variety of careers related to video games.” (breaking news)
I remember seeing the Spring 2022 CWL faculty staff sitting at tables on a clear day. On the table was a piece of paper advertising a minor along with an advertisement for the department itself. At the time, the Miners had just been formed, but the class listings published in the newspapers were exciting. It seemed like the answer to my academic prayer question and I was looking forward to seeing what the minor meant.
The degree roadmap is divided into three distinct areas, starting with CWL 180 – Introduction to Video Games: Comparative Perspectives, then Game Design, Interpretation and Theory, and finally Reception and Impact. The minor's website offers a wide range of different courses, and it seemed like a promising minor for interested students.
Fast forward three semesters into the minor, and video game studies feels like a social studies minor disguised as a game console. Due to a lack of professors and budget and class cuts, most of the classes in the bulletin were not possible. Of his four fields that make up the minor, only Field II – Game Design is concerned with the technical design of games. Three of his other books focus on the social, economic, and political role of video games in modern times. While I agree that the cultural phenomenon associated with gaming culture is very important, there is no need to take multiple classes on the same topic.
Perhaps the lack of design-oriented professors led the department to choose low-maintenance, discussion-based courses. I wanted to take more courses on the actual design of the game itself, such as sound design, 3D modeling, and scoring. But those classes were limited to Field II, which he had already completed in one semester, so my only option was to take them. more Discussion-based classes to achieve this. I discussed this with other students yesterday and came to the conclusion that the department is just creating classes to fill in minors to help students get by.
There is also talk of expanding the VGS minor into a major in fall 2025 and creating a specific VGS-centered space on campus where students in the minor can relax and recharge. This semester alone, he will open four new classes in the minor. Minor programs were also offered, but again only two of the four dealt with technical design, and his two only filled Field II – Game Design. I myself will be taking my final classes to fulfill my minor requirements in the fall. I hope that the department can expand this opportunity over time, but for the time being I could have chosen a more rewarding minor.
