Lesson Plan

• Describe the evolution of video games from the arcade era to modern VR/AR experiences.
• Analyse the characteristics of major game genres and their target audiences.
• Apply formal, ideological and audience‑reception frameworks to evaluate a game segment.
• Evaluate the cultural and economic impact of video games within the media landscape.
• Design a brief concept for an indie game, using appropriate media‑studies terminology.

• Projector and screen
• Computer with internet access
• Printed genre‑mapping worksheet
• Short video clip of a game segment (e.g., “The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild”)
• Case‑study handout
• Whiteboard and markers
• Assessment rubric / exit‑ticket slips

“Imagine stepping into a world where every choice you make reshapes the story.” Begin by asking students to share their favourite game and why it matters to them. Connect this to prior knowledge of narrative and visual media, and outline the success criteria: identify genres, apply critical lenses, and propose a simple game concept.

1. Do‑now (5') – Think‑pair‑share: “What makes your favourite game engaging?”
2. Mini‑lecture (10') – Timeline of video‑game history and industry structure (slides).
3. Genre‑mapping activity (15') – Groups create a visual map linking genres, audiences, and platforms using the worksheet.
4. Play‑through analysis (10') – Watch a 2‑minute clip; students note key mechanics and visual style.
5. Critical theory discussion (10') – Apply formal and ideological analysis to the clip.
6. Design brief introduction (10') – Students outline a simple indie‑game concept (narrative, mechanics, target market).
7. Exit ticket (5') – One‑sentence summary of the most important insight from today’s lesson.

Recap the evolution of games, key genres, and the critical lenses explored. Collect exit tickets to gauge understanding, and assign homework: research a game not covered in class and write a brief analysis using one of the critical approaches discussed.