Lets get mechanical! Games & Mechanisms

Maxim Shchapov
Institut für Kunst und Gesellschaft, Experimental Game Cultures
2026W, Vorlesung und Übungen (VU), 2.0 ECTS, 1.0 SemStd., LV-Nr. S05585

Beschreibung

Semester Topic:
Architectonics of Role-Play: Social, Spacial, and Narrative Mechanics in games

This Winter Semester at Let's Get Mechanical! we will again look at role-playing and storytelling games as a medium for artistic expression, research, and critical play.

The focus of this semester will be how game and narrative mechanics enable us to tell stories, create and assume roles, conjure and inhabit shared imaginary spaces, as well as negotiate rules of play and co-creation. 

We will play and experiment with tabletop role-playing games (TRPGS, as the most accessible form of imaginative gaming), experimental narrative games, hypertext poetry, ergodic literature, as well as some more mainstream digital games.

Rather than approaching games as rules systems or entertainment products, we will look at them as frameworks of social interaction that use game mechanics to create and convey meaning. Specifically,  we will treat ludic-role-play as a modern form of a communal folk storytelling tradition.

Finally, on a more practical side, will learn how game and narrative mechanics can be used for artistic projects and take a deep dive into how language specifically can be viewed as a tool for play.

Prüfungsmodalitäten

Attendance (70%) and participation

Submission of a game mechanic prototype or short essay

 

Anmerkungen

This course is held in English.

The class will take place at the Experimental Game Cultures main studio – GCP (former: PSK) Georg Coch Platz 2, 1st floor (studio 152).

Class capacity is limited, priority will be given to Experimental Game Cultures students. Please attend the first session to confirm your registration!

Schlagwörter

games, game design, game mechanics, game studies, game art, storytelling, narrative, role-play, interactive art, Literatur, Textkunst

Termine

Mo., 12. Oktober 2026, 16:00–17:30 Experimental Game Cultures Studio
Mo., 19. Oktober 2026, 16:00–19:00 Experimental Game Cultures Studio
Mo., 09. November 2026, 16:00–17:30 Experimental Game Cultures Studio
Mo., 16. November 2026, 16:00–17:30 Experimental Game Cultures Studio
Mo., 07. Dezember 2026, 16:00–17:30 Experimental Game Cultures Studio
Mo., 11. Jänner 2027, 16:00–19:00 Experimental Game Cultures Studio

LV-Anmeldung

Von 01. September 2026, 16:00 bis 05. Oktober 2026, 17:00
Per Online Anmeldung

Experimental Game Cultures (Master): Freie Wahlfächer: Freie Wahlfächer 536/2021UMA-080.80

Mitbelegung: möglich

Besuch einzelner Lehrveranstaltungen: möglich