Game Education Summit Europe

Paper Abstract:

Making a good game is hard, but it´s even harder to convince the press and finally the consumers, that it is good. 

This is often where PR- and Marketing-departments kicks in, but way to many game developers and gaming schools are neglecting the importance of Game Journalism. 

It is crucial to understand the press and journalistic virtues in order to learn how to spread the right message at the right moment at the right time.

IT-University of Copenhagen ran - as a world premiere - a course in "Games & Journalism" last fall, and in this talk the external lecturer and longtime Danish Game Journalist Thomas Vigild will talk about the course, his ambitions and experiences with Game Journalism in a University-setting and why this field should be mandatory for every new Game Developer. 

The course had the following agenda and goals:

                      • Explain the main principles of Journalism in relation to the Games Industry - as observed in both the mainstream press and more fanbased /hardcore media.

                      • Analyse and reflect on the different journalistic practices in relation to target media of the Game Journalist - what are the main differences between writing for a newspaper compared to a magazine or website?

                      • Write articles that fits into the basic journalistic disciplines such as news, interviews, features, reviews, previews and blogs - and prove how to target them to a specific media/target audience.

                      • Describe how the gaming press works and why - and thereby be able to dissect the game industry as seen through the eyes of both a game developer, a game journalist or educator.

                      • Reflect on the ethics (or lack of same) inherent in (Game) Journalism.