“Writing About Gaming” begins with the assumption that video games, like works of art, literature, and film, are worth writing about. Rather than debate whether games are “art” – whether they can be more than entertaining distractions from more worthwhile activities – we will consider what we as players and writers can say about them, do with them, and learn from them. Art can and does change the way people think, act, experience, and form communities. The perspectives that we will take together will be critical, exploratory, socially aware, humanist, inclusive, and creative. Games will be played in class. Collective and independent research, study, making, reading, interneting, focused recreation, unexpected detours, concept-mapping, and guided discussion will all take place.