IMC 2025: Sessions

Session 1633: Learning the Middle Ages with Modern Games, II: Pedagogical Game Design

Thursday 10 July 2025, 11:15-12:45

Sponsor:	The Middle Ages in Modern Games
Organiser:	Robert Houghton, Centre for Medieval & Renaissance Research, University of Winchester
Moderator/Chair:	Robert Houghton, Centre for Medieval & Renaissance Research, University of Winchester
Paper 1633-a	DropCaps: A Word Game with a Medievalist Spin (Language: English) Jessie Contour, Design & Creative Technologies, University of Texas at Austin Kelcey Gray, Department of Design, University of Texas at Austin Index terms: Computing in Medieval Studies; Teaching the Middle Ages; Manuscripts and Palaeography
Paper 1633-b	From Player to Designer: The Pedagogy of Writing Medieval Role-Playing Games (Language: English) Kate Craig, Department of History, Auburn University, Alabama Index terms: Teaching the Middle Ages; Religious Life; Theology
Paper 1633-c	Fun with Primogeniture!: Designing the Heir (Language: English) Maureen Quigley, Department of Art & Design, University of Missouri, St Louis Index terms: Teaching the Middle Ages; Politics and Diplomacy
Paper 1633-d	Onboarding Users in Brendan's Voyage: Toward an Industry Standard (Language: English) Lynn Ramey, Department of French & Italian, Vanderbilt University, Tennessee Index terms: Language and Literature - French or Occitan; Teaching the Middle Ages; Technology
Abstract	Commercial games can be valuable teaching tools for medieval studies, but are inherently limited by their design goals and parameters. Developing bespoke games for educational purposes carries several difficulties, but can produce exceptional learning experiences for players and developers and can create unique outcomes in the classroom. The papers in this session consider the potential and pitfalls in the design of pedagogic games through a series of practical case studies.