Teaching with videogames: VCE Media narrative genre and style
As part of the unit 2 outcome ‘narrative genre and style’ in Media this unit aims to explore the codes and conventions, aesthetics and characteristics of videogame narratives.
We will study game mechanics as well as how narrative structure is changed through the interactive, playable nature of videogames.
Note: this lesson continues in Teaching with videogames: VCE Media Narrative and games with no rules
Year level: 10–11
Subject areas: VCE Media Unit 2 Outcome Narrative genre and style
Suggested duration: 2 lessons
Technology required:
- screen to watch videos together on YouTube
Download the full lesson plan
The lesson plan includes links to the Victorian Curriculum, indications of lesson timing, and ideas for differentiation and assessment.
In this lesson, students will
| 1. | Take a traditional, linear narrative and turn it into an interactive videogame narrative |
| 2. | Explore the way player choices in a videogame affect storytelling |
| 3. | Storyboard their game story, considering character perspectives for one or more players, visual design, branching or linear narrative structure |
| 4. | Play peers' videogame narratives |
By the end of this lesson, students should
| the unique characteristics that make game narratives distinct from other visual media forms |
| analyse game mechanics and design |
| adapt a traditional narrative to work as a game narrative |
| storyboard and plan a game |
| understanding of how interactive narratives are constructed |