ISS 210 Society, the Individual, & Video Games (W4)

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InternationalRelations_ReadMe.pdf

International Relations Module Instructions and Diary Questions

Introduction This module explores the themes of international relations in fictional settings. Students will become accustomed with two of four intricate worlds as they make key decisions that determine the fates of entire civilizations. Reading materials in this module help connect video games with real world application. With a wide range of gameplay styles and platform availability, this module is perfect for beginners and pros alike. Required Game (all need to play this) Papers, Please is an indie puzzle game where the player takes on the post of a border patrol agent in the country of Arstotzka. Players must balance their moral compasses with meeting basic needs like paying rent and feeding your family with the eye of the government monitoring your every move. With a daily list of rules for admission to the country, this game requires a significant degree of concentration to ensure the country is safe. This game is easily accessible for all levels of gaming experience. Game Choices (choose one) Civilization (≈ 15 hours) is a well-known turn-based strategy title where players grow a civilization from a single settler to an entire empire. Players are charged with development infrastructure, researching science, and keeping amicable diplomatic relationships with other players… or not! There are several paths to victory in this title. Players can win by having the most cultural points, establishing the largest religion, making the most scientific discoveries, or simply conquering the world the old-fashioned way. This title is excellent for both beginners and veterans alike. Fable 3 (≈ 15 hours) The Fable series has been known for bringing together whimsical fantasy settings and harsh moral consequences within the frame of a single character’s development. This franchise focuses on long-term effects of even the smallest decisions, while the player attempts to rescue his sister, stop a revenge-driven psychopath, and overthrow an abusive monarch. Students with very little gaming experience, since being “knocked down” in combat does not result in restarting from a checkpoint, but still enjoyable for experienced gamers alike. May interest students with interests in medieval/industrial time periods. Skyrim (≈ 15 hours) allows you to explore a massive open world drenched in deep historical background and political strife, while mercilessly slaying a highly endangered species: dragons. This gaming experience provides fictional accounts of real-world problems such as colonialism, civil war, ethnic cleavage, and complete societal erosion. Students with a reasonable background in gaming that enjoy an open world and the freedom to approach challenges in different ways. Readings All students should read the 5 PDFs in the “Everyone Reads” content folder for International Relations. These are named: A New Video Game…, Emotional responses to papers, please, The Hidden Politics…, Using Videogames to Teach International Relations…., Video Games and IR… In addition to these, you should also read the content included in the “X Gamers Read” folder,

where “X” is the name of the game you decide to play from your menu of options. For example, if you pick Skyrim, then you should do the two readings in that folder. There are two readings for Fable 3 and one reading for Civilization. Reading Diary Questions Your reading diary questions will depend upon which game you decide to play. Civilization Gamers Civilization offers immersive international relations scenarios that incorporate the perspectives of major political leaders throughout history. To fully appreciate the diversity of gameplay and its relationship to real-world international relations, play through the game with at least two civilizations. For the written portion of your diary, please complete the following: (35 points/each)

(1) Keep a journal of your two civilizations. Make sure to explain your decisions and the strategy behind them, including city placement, engaging in conflict or diplomacy, advantages of that particular civilization, and your path to victory.

(2) The second portion of your diary should be a reflection of your strategies and how they

developed across time, building on the elements described above.

(3) Compare your experience with real-world international relations, specifically what challenges faced by governments are not considered in the scope of Civilization?

(4) Reflect on the quote from the Sisler reading “When playing Civilization…, it doesn’t matter

if the civilization you choose to play is Babylon or China, Russia or Zululand, France or India. Whoever wins is America, in that the logic of the game itself is America.” Do you feel that the creators of Civilization have used a Western view of success in the series?

When crafting your responses, please cite the required readings for the module to bolster your arguments. Your answers should also consider how these themes relate to Papers, Please. Fable 3 Gamers Fable is widely known for its ability to force the player to make choices and then live with the consequences. Fable 3 goes even farther in that it requires the player to build alliances, and then forces them to pick and choose which promises to keep. For this diary entry, complete the following: (35 points/each)

(1) Upon finishing the game, reflect on the alliances you made to take the throne. Why were these alliances necessary? What sacrifices did you have to make along the way in order to gain support? How are these sacrifices relevant to those made in Papers, Please at both the individual AND national level of border security?

(2) Reflecting on your gameplay in Papers, Please, compare and contrast the costs and benefits of excluding individuals on the border and breaking promises made to those that supported

you along the way. Make sure that you acknowledge your role in both settings as the decision maker and the negative side effects from each choice.

(3) How did you manage the treasury once taking the throne? Do you think the game accurately represents the economic characteristics of monarchies as described in the supplemental readings?

(4) Fable 3 aims to demonstrate the long and difficult road to revolution. Given the examples

from the supplemental readings, what components of a rebellion do you believe were missing from the gameplay?

Be sure to include citations of the required readings for this module in crafting your response. Skyrim Gamers The Elder Scrolls series has a way of taking real world events and placing them in the middle of an entirely new world. While there are distinct differences between the origins and outcomes of the civil war in Skyrim and the US Civil War, similar themes emerge in unique ways. This diary entry should address these similarities and differences, as well as each event that you experience as either a Stormcloak or Imperial soldier. In doing so, please complete the following tasks:

(1) Between the battle of Whiterun and the battle of your opponent’s capital city, write a half- page (2-3 paragraphs) diary of your experiences in the war so far, and what you anticipate for the upcoming battles. Make sure to discuss topics such as personal loss (time, resources, etc), civilian impact, and chain of command. (45 points)

(2) Then, using your diary entry, compare and contrast your experience with those of the letters from the US civil war. Make sure to use the soldier and civilian narratives provided by the National Park Service to make your arguments. Your final diary entry should include both your personal “soldier diary” as well as the comparative discussion. This discussion should also reflect on some of the similarities between the political challenges of Skyrim, Civil War - Era United States, and Aristotzka. (50 points)

(3) Finally, based on your reading of the Richard article, do you believe that your game

experience was enhanced by the character you chose and the ability to customize your character in the first place? Make sure to consider how your character was treated when joining your chosen side, specifically regarding their race or gender. (45 points)

Your responses should include references from the readings as well as the game Papers, Please.