Okanagan College students play games at Kelowna arcade as part of course

Students at Okanagan College paid a visit to a Kelowna arcade as part of their course.

The communications class spent last Tuesday night at Scandia Golf and Games as part of their Introduction to Video Games Studies module.

The students were told to play arcade games and then write up their reflections on the course blog.

They were encouraged to reflect on concepts including race, class, identity and gender.

“Scandia is something of a time capsule,” said second-year student Scott MacLaren.

“It offers a uniquely social experience, representative of the former cultural value of video games from back when arcades facilitated social gathering of like-minded individuals for the sole purpose of play in a shared space.”

Students also considered the idea that arcade games could be “meme machines.”

“Videogames are one of the fastest media industries to grow and develop in complexity,” said Raluca Fratiloiu, the communications department’s head.

“It is always nice to take advantage of the opportunities in Kelowna to take the students somewhere to play. This type of experience creates an immediate connection with the class material.”