MST 301 There and Back Again: Remediating Cinema, Lit and Comics Into Video Games

Ever wondered how stories leap from the pages of a novel, cinema, or comic books to become immersive worlds within videogames – and vice-versa? This course explores the exciting phenomenon of remediation, where videogames borrow, adapt, and transform narratives from other media. Students will analyze how narratives from cinema, literature, and comics are reimagined for the interactive format of videogames, as well as examine how gameplay mechanics, character development, and world-building are shaped by the source material. We will also dive into case studies of iconic games inspired by classics like The Lord of the Rings, Star Wars, and Batman, and debate the impact of remediation on both videogames and their source media, including fidelity, innovation, and audience expectations. In an inverse movement, we will see how game such as Super Mario, Uncharted and The Last of Us were adapted from the gaming systems into successful movies and TV shows. As a final course project, students will design a short game concept drawing inspiration from another medium, considering thematic choices, gameplay mechanics, and narrative possibilities.