Figure 1. Catmon worldbuilding (Source: Keavey, K., 2025).
Click on the Padlet link and consider the scenario: https://padlet.com/kkeavey/inspired-by-pok-mon-transformers-star-trek-and-captain-under-r8pboh5svv2kqgpl
Or use thr QR code below to get to the Padlet Activity:
A vast collection of classic PC games to download or play in browser.
Start exploring with these sections:
Reminder: Always check the copyright and terms of use before downloading from the Internet Archive. For more information, see their terms of use document.
UofC has a large video game collection - https://libguides.ucalgary.ca/c.php?g=255275&p=1703077
Games are limited to UofC users, but you can browse vintage console games through their collection.
A History & Retrospective of the Best Video Game Manuals of All Time
Books on video game history, design, and development can be found in several locations in the library. Below are some tips for locating such materials.
Subject Searches in MRU LibrarySearch | Physical call number ranges (for browsing in the library) |
Video game history/culture/general
Interaction design
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Other potentially useful titles
What: Authors with academic expertise in various areas explore game design theories, player interaction, technological innovation, and research studies. Can include analysis of how games engage players, influence culture, and evolve with technology. This kind of research can help you appreciate how games are designed, received, and critiqued within academic and industry contexts.
Why Use It: Offers theoretical and practical design insights, grounded in academic research, helping to refine design approaches and support game innovation.
What: Recorded playthroughs of video games, often featuring commentary or guidance.
Why Use It: Offers an efficient way to observe gameplay without having to play the game, allowing you to focus on design elements, progression, and storylines.
Search with Specific Game Titles and Keywords:
Add details to get more specific, such as if you are looking for a particular section, or level - add it to your search. .
Example: overcooked 2 world 4 level 2 guide
Not generally - viewing and citing such a video is considered fairly safe. To get more technical - in Canada there is a strong case to be made for fair dealing rights applying to walkthroughs, especially those that have additional commentary added. To learn more check out this recent article from a McGill law student Let’s Plays: A Copyright Conundrum. And there is a lot more about fair dealing on our copyright guide!
Custom MRU LibrarySearch for streaming video
A game that helped inform my design: Pitfall (1982)
Sources of information: youtube walkthrough wikipedia article & playing the game
Key inspirational elements:
How it was relevant to my game design:
Example - I was inspired by Pitfall for Atari 2600
If your ideas or inspiration come directly from playing the game, reference the game itself in your paper. In most citation styles a video game is treated similarly to other media, and you'll need to include the game's developer and release year.
In-text citations: Weaving references to your sources into your writing
Template: (Developer, year)
Reference list: Ensuring that your reader has all the details they need to track down the source
Template: Developer. (Year of Publication). Title of video game (v. Version number if known) [Platform]. Publisher Name if given. URL if available online.
If you're specifically drawing inspiration from a walkthrough on YouTube, you'll need to cite that walkthrough as a video source. Include the creator, title, and URL of the video.
In-text citations: Weaving references to your sources into your writing
Template: (Developer, year)
Reference list: Ensuring that your reader has all the details they need to track down the source
Template: Creator. (Date posted). Title of video. Site Name. URL for the webpage.
Note: Include both the real name and [screen name] of the person who posted the video as the author. If no real name is available, use the screen name without [ ].
APA Citation Examples: Citing Game Manuels
Template:
Author's Last Name, First Initial. Second Initial, if given. (Year of Publication). Name of board game/video game/game manual [Video game/Board game]. Publisher Name.
Examples:
*Cite as an online forum or discussion post (APA).
APA
Template: Lastname, F. M. or Name of Group [username]. (Year, Month Date). Title of post [Online forum post]. Publisher. URL
Even though several of your deliverables are pitch presentations, you still need to credit your original sources of information both in text in your presentation slides and include a reference list on the slide at the end of the presentation.
Resources for citing in PowerPoint presentations:
Purdue University has a helpful video presentation on how to use APA in your PowerPoint presentation: APA Style Formatting in PowerPoint
Resources for APA citation
For assistance with citation, you might want to refer to the MRU Guide to APA Style for Referencing handout.
You will find more information about APA citation and formatting on the APA tab on the MRU Library Cite Sources webpage.
There are two citation management tools you may consider using to organize your research:
Take a close look at them both and decide which one would work best for your research projects. To help you choose you might want to consider that Mendeley works best if you use Microsoft Word, and Zotero works best with Google Docs.
This video describes adding citations and building a bibliography using Zotero from University of Lynchburg - Knight-Capron Library: Using Zotero in Google Docs
The MRU Undergraduate Research Guide is an excellent resource for presenting your assignment and contains the following sections you might find especially helpful for:
There are also resources on the Copyright Library webpage for finding Copyright Friendly Images for your presentation