Time and Change Module
Instructions and Diary Questions
Introduction
The theme of time allows us to understand the cause and effect relationship between events, while
keeping in mind the social context in which these events occurred. The contents of this module
focus on examining historical and fictional institutions and both the intended and unintended
consequences of their functions. While the games in this module have several defining
characteristics, they are all laden with story rich backgrounds that emphasize the progress of their
respective characters and societies.
Game Choices (choose one)
Bioshock is inspired by the dystopian literature of the 20th century, it depicts consequences of an
attempted utopia. However, these consequences are often shown through an accelerated return to
the problems the utopia had set on overcoming. Throughout the series, the player is required to deal
with the aftermath as well as the responsible individuals as they deal with the consequences of their
actions. Recommended for students with at least some experience with gaming. Parts of the game
can become intense and difficult to pass without some prior knowledge of first person shooter
games.
The Cave is a visually light-hearted puzzle platformer with a series of incredibly dark subplots.
While each of the seven characters has distinct story lines, each hold valuable insights into various
topics such as changing preferences, consequences, and struggle for status. Recommended for: This
is a good choice for students with limited video game experience but a propensity for solving
puzzles. Very little startup cost is required, as versions exist for mobile devices as well as major
console and computer operating systems.
Fallout 4 illustrates post-apocalyptic scenarios nested in relevant social context. Spanning the series
is the powerful statement: “war never changes.” Throughout the games, developers craft a world
that combines aspects from both past and future civilizations, emphasizing the progress of society as
well as the consequences of a lack of foresight. Recommended for more experienced gamers
interested in the social implications of war and survival
Readings
All students should read the 3 PDFs in the “Everyone Reads” content folder for Time and Change.
These are named: Dystopian Video Games…, Engaging Apolitical Adolescents, The identity
paradox… In addition to these, you should also read the content included in the “X Gamers Read”
folder, where “X” is the name of the game you decide to play from your menu of options. For
example, if you pick Bioshock, then you should do the three readings in that folder. There are two
readings for Fallout 4. For gamers of The Cave, there are no additional readings, but you need to
watch “Something Ricked This Way Comes” from Rick and Morty, Season1, Episode 9 (available on
Hulu or Amazon).
Reading Diary Questions
Your reading diary questions will depend upon which game you decide to play.
Bioshock Gamers
Bioshock is the ultimate ‘what if’ that fans of dystopian authors such as Ayn Rand had been waiting
for. However, instead of projecting the future, Bioshock has projected the future of the proposed
correction: the city of Rapture. On the other end of the spectrum, ‘Harrison Bergeron’ offers an
insight into a possible outcome of current (or 1961) society. In this diary submission, please
complete the following:
(1) Take your experiences roaming the ruins of Rapture (and don’t forget the audio diaries!) and
compare and contrast what you observe with the world of ‘Harrison Bergeron.’ Specifically
consider how the development of the society of Rapture parallels and differs from the
government’s restrictions in ‘Harrison Bergeron.’ (50 points)
(2) Discuss the similarities/differences in the stability of the society, the people you encounter,
and any other themes that may stretch between the two works. One example may be the
level of technological development in each work (you can use this one, but make sure to
include others as well!). (45 points)
(3) As part of your reflection, consider a scenario where Rapture is governed in a way that limits
ADAM users similarly to the legal restrictions on Harrison Bergeron. Might this society
look like? Do you think the events of ‘Harrison Bergeron’ in such a society would have
occurred sooner than they did, later, or never?(45 points)
Make sure to reference the assigned readings in crafting your response.
The Cave Gamers
Personal preferences are always changing, and in some cases change only after we experience the
consequences of our actions. In this diary submission, please complete the following:
(1) Compare and contrast the characters’ stories and outcomes in the Cave with Mr. Needful’s
business in the Rick and Morty episode ‘Something Ricked This Way Comes’. As you do
this, make sure to discuss the intended and unintended consequences of each character’s
pursuit in relation to the cave’s/Mr. Needful’s goals. (50 points)
(2) Explain the connections between specific characters in Rick and Morty with the members of
the Cave. These should be somewhat meaningful, such as a similar backstory or a shared lifelong goal. Explain how these shared identities helped or hindered their personal
development. (45 points)
(3) Finally, identify at least one character from both Rick and Morty and the Cave that learned
some meaningful lesson on the path to their end goal. What was this lesson? Could this
lesson have been learned without gathering life experiences? (45 points)
Make sure to reference the assigned readings when crafting your response, especially those that
relate to personal identity within the gaming world. Please remember that gamers are expected
to play through all 7 characters, which requires playing the game 3 separate times.
Fallout 4 Gamers
The short story ‘There Will Come Soft Rains’ (as well as the poem by the same name) and the
Fallout franchise are so interconnected that Fallout’s developers have scattered references to the
poem, story, and Ray Bradbury throughout the games (Skeptical? Google it). While the scope of this
course doesn’t allow for the time to fully emerge into the network of quest lines that Fallout 4 has to
offer, use this diary entry to compare and contrast the infrastructure that you encounter during your
gameplay. For your diary, address the following questions:
(1) What do the buildings in Fallout 4 and ‘There Will Come Soft Rains’ tell us about society
prior to nuclear fallout and the development of society? Make sure to explain the
architecture and scenery described in both, as well as what narrative these descriptions tell.
(45 points)
(2) Next, compare your analysis with current civilization, given the 50-70 year gap between
today and the settings of these works. Specifically, how would these scenarios be different if
they occurred today? (50 points)
(3) Finally, in the context of both the game and short story, do you agree with the statement
“War Never Changes?” Explain your point using evidence from the readings as well as realworld examples. (45 points)
Make sure to refer to the readings when crafting your response and making your arguments.
‘Sample Solution
