Critical Approaches to the Civilization Franchise

Undergraduate / Graduate

This course serves as an introduction to historical videogame studies through the franchise of Sid Meier's Civilization. We will play several iterations of the game and other members of the genre, including Crusader Kings, as well as other historical games like Pentiment. Readings will focus on historical game studies and game studies broadly (Chapman, Bogost, etc.), with particular emphasis on the use of systems as argument. We will investigate the purpose of history in these titles - its function, its relevance, and its status as historiography. A familiarity with 4X strategy games is recommended though not required.