(Academic) Writing on RPGs

[Kwalish Kid]

Hi everyone,

(This is essentially a cut and paste of a post I put up at Gleemax. Though these boards are fonder to me, I extended to WotC the dubious honor of posting there first.)

I'm trying to put together an undergraduate-level media studies course on role-playing games. I've put together a small list of references covering role-playing games, but the list is thinner than I'd like.

I'm looking for information and suggestions on sources for the study and history of role-playing games.

Any information or suggestions for articles, books, videos, or other media about role-playing games are welcome.

I'll start by saying that the two books that will probably be on the textbook list will be the 4E Players Handbook and Confessions of a Part-Time Sorceress by Shelly Mazzanoble. There will also be a course package with whatever academic articles I think are appropriate (I haven't settled on specifics yet) along with select pages from my collection of RPGs, Dragon, White Dwarf (before it went all Warhammer), and other gaming magazines.

Oh, and ENWorld will definitely be part of the course content. Not a big part, but it will definitely be part of the history of D&D section.

 

[dmccoy1693]

I highly recommend http://www.rpgstudies.net/. It lists a bunch of newspaper articles and studies that involve role playing games. One thing that might be a bit of a spot light is all the way at the bottom: Steve Jackson Games vs the U.S. Secret Service.

EDIT: Unfortunately, SJG v. USSS is not available to be read online if you follow the provided link, but if your college has a law school, you can find info on it there. If not, the local county law library will have everything you need to obtain info on it. I remember SJ being pissed about it back then.

 

[Kwalish Kid]

I highly recommend http://www.rpgstudies.net/. It lists a bunch of newspaper articles and studies that involve role playing games. One thing that might be a bit of a spot light is all the way at the bottom: Steve Jackson Games vs the U.S. Secret Service.

EDIT: Unfortunately, SJG v. USSS is not available to be read online if you follow the provided link, but if your college has a law school, you can find info on it there. If not, the local county law library will have everything you need to obtain info on it. I remember SJ being pissed about it back then.

I saw Steve Jackson give a talk about this case at a convention, not long after the incident. It is definitely an important moment in gaming history.

Thanks for the very excellent link.

By the way, I'll make my final bibliography available once I've got everything for the class finalized.

 

[CarlZog]

Early hobby development from wargames; the high profile fad years (Unfortunately, you can't forget Dallas Egbert, Rona Jaffee, Patricia Pulling, Jack Chick...); The rise of computer games and MMORGs; the influence of RPGs on movies and literature (particularly sf and fantasy).

Edit: Sorry, those are topics more than references, which is what is sounds like you're looking for.
Wargames Digest (Gygax article introducing D&D and explaining the concept)
Mazes and Monsters
Dark Dungeons
D&D, the cartoon
Role-Playing Mastery
Original Dragonlance trilogy
...

 

[RFisher]

Heroic Worlds by Lawrence Shick, 1991, Prometheus Books, ISBN 0-87975-653-5

& it's modern equivalent.

 

[questing gm]

Awesome!

 

[roguerouge]

Well, I've got a conference paper on the Buffy rpgs if you'd like. You can get it from me by going to http://www.emerson.edu/directory/ and typing in my last name, "Kociemba." That will give you my academic email address.

Sorry for the circular route, but I want to avoid spambots and I'm sure that you want to check my credential before emailing me.

 

[Kwalish Kid]

Early hobby development from wargames; the high profile fad years (Unfortunately, you can't forget Dallas Egbert, Rona Jaffee, Patricia Pulling, Jack Chick...); The rise of computer games and MMORGs; the influence of RPGs on movies and literature (particularly sf and fantasy).

Edit: Sorry, those are topics more than references, which is what is sounds like you're looking for.

Hey, no problem. I welcome ideas for the class.

I have a copy of Mazes and Monsters in my personal library. A steal at a used bookstore fro under $10.

And Jack Chick will definitely be discussed in the course!

Thanks.

 

[Kwalish Kid]

Heroic Worlds by Lawrence Shick, 1991, Prometheus Books, ISBN 0-87975-653-5

& it's modern equivalent.

Thanks. Heroic Worlds is definitely a good catch.

 

[Kwalish Kid]

Quick update: I'm pretty sure now that I have a solid academic foundation for the course. Readings suggestions are still welcome, of course.

I am still interested in any ideas that you might have for this kind of course. What might be a good assignment? What is an essential topic?

For example, I'm planning on having a section of the course on the "rules of morality" that one can find in RPGs. I'll be looking at the evolution of Alignment through D&D=>AD&D 1E=>Dragonlance=>Ravenloft (1E & 2E)=>3E and perhaps on to 4E. I'll also be looking at alternate "Alignment" systems like that in Palladium games. I'll also be discussing the various morality paths of the Vampire setting. Most class discussion will be on the extent to which these systems hinder or assist the game (or the moral aspect of the game). An assignment on this topic might be for a student to pick a game and write a short essay about how the rules encourage or discourage moral behaviour by the characters.

If you can think of some aspect of RPGs worth studying, tell me. You may help shape young minds. (OK, that might be a little too much to hope for.) You don't have to be detailed.