Essay 1250ct

For our second major essay, we will be writing a review of a video game. You can review any game that you like, for any computer system or cell phone. Over the course of this assignment, we will think about the nature of digital texts, their relation to narrative, and the characteristics of the "review" essay.

You will need to cite (3) sources for this assignment. We will be using direct quotations, no paraphrasing is allowed for this topic. Your sources can be other reviewers or writers, but not just simple facts about your topic; your sources must be intellectually engaging, and you must enter into a conversation with them as well. It is likely that (in lieu of specific writing about your chosen game) you will need to find philosophical discussions about the nature video games in general, and then apply that information to your particular topic.

The best video game reviews go beyond the simple formula of "assign each aspect of the game a number" and include information about the writer's personal experience playing the game. This is where your creativity can really shine; you might want to think of this project as half-review, and half-personal essay. You might, for example, dramatize yourself playing the game or attempting to get a high score.

You will also need to provide some background information on your game. Do not use sources for this aspect of the assignment. You should not have paragraphs that sound like they were lifted from Wikipedia. You need to use audience awareness to decide how much background information to provide, how to provide said information, and how to refrain from providing too many uninteresting facts.

Writing a successful review essay is not an easy task without guidance. We are not simply looking at each aspect of your text in a vacuum; we will be composing a complex, organic piece of writing that combines facts, art, observations, technology, personal experience, philosophy, culture, narrative, writing techniques, rhetoric, and style. Your essay should go beyond simply assessing a game as "good or bad" and seek to explore the nature of digital media in general. Your thesis statement should explain why your topic is important, interesting, and exciting.