Introduction to the interdisciplinary study of commercial videogames as texts through an examination of their cultural, educational, and social functions in contemporary settings. Students play and analyze videogames while reading current research and theory from a variety of sources in the sciences, social sciences, humanities, and industry. The expectation is that students will play through to completion a contemporary commercial videogame chosen in consultation with the instructor. Regular reading, writing, and presentation exercises; open to students from all disciplines and levels of experience. Students taking the graduate version complete additional assignments.