The city of London exists in our imagination and experience simultaneously as a site of marvel, change, progress and danger - perhaps more than any other European metropolis. Countless texts have reworked the city’s influence, from literature and the visual arts to film and TV series, from podcasts to comic books. Computer games are no exception of course; however, this medium adds another dimension to the textual re-negotiation of the city due to the interactive nature of gameplay. Where noninteractive texts can only depict the goings-on of the metropolis, players can dive into the many gameworlds representing London themselves and interact with these spaces.

In this class, we will first build the theoretical framework of video game analysis, with a special focus on the dynamics of (semi-)open worlds and the politics of the representation of urban space. Then we will conduct analyses of many different computer games set in London by looking at how they engage with urban spatialities. For instance, we will work with "The Order: 1886" and "Dishonored" to map out the negotiation of class divides and overpopulation in the Victorian city, we will discuss gendered mobility in urban space using "Assassin’s Creed Syndicate", and we will examine the depiction of urban surveillance in the post-Brexit dystopia of "Watch Dogs: Legion". There will be screenings of all relevant games in the evening, where we can play these games together in order to prepare for in-class discussions, i.e., you will not have to buy these games yourself.

Please note: Even though you do not necessarily have to be used to playing computer games yourself on a regular basis, you still need to have some experiences with them in order to participate in this seminar. Just as you would not register for a class on film without ever having seen a film, there is no point in attending this class if you have never played a video game yourself, or have at least watched a game being played (in-person or online). Thank you!