[csaa-forum] CFP Games conference

[Patrick Crogan]

(apologies for cross-postings)

** DiGRA 2005: Call for Papers **

CFP: Papers and presentations for the Digital Games Research
Association's
2nd International Conference

** Changing Views: Worlds in Play **

June 16-20, 2005 Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada


We invite proposals for concurrent session presentations at the DIGRA
2nd
International Conference to be held in Vancouver, British Columbia,
Changing
Views: Worlds in Play.

The goal of the DIGRA conference in 2005 is to facilitate a rich,
comprehensive grasp of the present and future capabilities and
applications
of digital games through a framework which capably demonstrates the
values,
means and ends of "changing views" on digital games and games research.
Work
of this kind necessarily embraces interdisciplinarity and
internationalism,
as it bridges across worlds in play. To support and extend digital games
research, which both defines and crosses borders, featured symposia will
showcase international as well as interdisciplinary accomplishments that
are
currently defining the emerging field of digital games studies. A wide
range
of approaches and formats are encouraged, including paper presentations,
symposia, poster presentations, author sessions, workshops, senior
scholar
mentoring roundtables, and, especially, innovative formats which bring
together games researchers, developers and emerging user communities.

"Changing Views: Worlds in Play" is set to foster synergy between game
researchers, designers and developers, and the diverse and fast growing
communities of users of digital games for education, training, social
action, research, persuasion, and community-formation. Game studies, as
a
young and growing field of inquiry, in many ways lacks well-defined
intellectual and scientific foundations. To our emerging understandings
of
digital games and digital games research, Changing Views invites a
collision
and collusion of standpoints on the study of digital games, players and
play, and engages, in particular, the diverse conceptions, experiences,
purposes, and contexts of 'serious play' as a connective link between
game
design and game research. The central purpose of this meeting,
accordingly,
is the advancement of digital games research through interdisciplinary
dialogue both within but also across the many geographies and
communities of
interest for whom digital games today hold great promise. Our challenge
will
be to bridge traditionally distinct universes of discourse, purpose and
action by drawing together established forms and approaches to digital
games
research with the new needs and research orientations born from a
diverse
and growing international communities of inquiry and practice.

Conference proposal themes will include, but are not limited to, the
following topics and categories:

* Theoretical Perspectives: History, Theory, and Game Typology: The
history,
form and theory of games and gaming, including the exploration and
evaluation of theoretical frameworks, definitions, rules and other
formal
game elements. Typology of games, genres, sub-genres and blurred genres.
Games historiography. Who is game theory for? Who is served by it? What
are
the 'canons' of game studies today?

* Design and Game Architectures: Strategies and functions of design,
game
design foundations; structure and user experience, including research
surrounding AI and game learning. What makes a good game, and what makes
a
game good?

* Serious Games: (How) are games serious? Putting play to work in
social,
political, cultural, training, simulation and educational games. What
makes
for a meaningful game? What games matter, and how do games matter? What
is
the value of games theory to game studies education? To educational
games
studies?

* Research Methodologies and Case Studies: Current and completed
projects
and proposals in game research, research methods, and interdisciplinary
research. What should we focus on and why?

* Game Aesthetics and Storytelling: Audio, visual and narrative
dimensions
of digital games. Explorations into the game as art form, and the
pathbreaking roles of artists and the arts in illuminating possible
futures
for digital games.

* Identity in Gaming: Roles and role-playing, and re-definitions of
'self'
in and through digital games, including especially, issues related to
ethnicity, class, gender, sexuality and 'the Other.'

* Learning to Play: Playing to Learn: How we learn in and through game
play,
what we do/don't learn in playful environments, and extant and projected
designs for learning.

* From Player to Players: Social and Cultural aspects of games and game
play; games as social technologies; contexts and conditions of
reception;
collaboration, competition and community; cultural transformation and
resistance in gaming; and gaming as global phenomenon.

* Industry and the Academy: What is the relation of game studies to
games
industries? Is 'game studies' descriptive or anticipative? Academic and
industry collaboration/partnership; points of tension; business and
economic
aspects of games.

* Legal and Ethical Issues: Issues concerning intellectual property,
freedom
of speech, censorship, violence, rating systems; morality and
responsibility
in game design.

* Under Development: Exploding canons: Innovation and investigation into
new
forms and genres, games as transmedia, synaesthetic play, emerging
technologies, devices and peripherals.


-----------------------------------------------------------------------


Proposal Submission and Instructions:

All proposals will be peer-reviewed by at least two members of
scientific
committee specializing in the area of the paper topic, and authors will
be
provided with reviewers' critical comments as well as any suggestions
for
revision.

Full paper submissions (papers of 2500-3000 words) require a 1000 word
abstract of the paper to be presented at the conference, and short
papers
(papers of 1250-1500 words) require submission of a 500 word abstract
(excluding references). If you are proposing a symposium, a 500 word
overview of the session as a whole, and a 350 word abstract from each
symposium participant are required. In order to devise the best possible
program arrangements and to secure suitable chairs and respondents, we
are
requesting that completed papers be submitted by April 15/2005 for
review
for inclusion in the conference proceedings publication. All submissions
should include the name, occupation, institution, address, phone, fax,
e-mail, and brief biographical information on the presenter(s). Please
indicate in which of the thematic areas listed above you see your work
best
situated.

To encourage the widest possible range of alternative forms of work as
well
as work-in-progress, submissions of other kinds such as demos,
roundtables
and workshops are encouraged, and in each case a description of the
proposed
session should be submitted (up to 1000 words), with the type of session
proposed being clearly specified. Again, all submissions should include
the
name, occupation, institution, address, phone, fax, e-mail, and brief
biographical information on the presenter(s), and should indicate in
which
of the thematic areas listed above your symposium is best situated.

There will be opportunities for presentation of papers in languages
other
than English, although initial proposals are requested in English where
possible.

All proposals are to be submitted to:

http://www3.educ.sfu.ca/conferences/digra2004/ocs . The online
submission
system is available from the beginning of September, 2004.

Particularly invited are papers and symposium proposals which directly
advance the conference themes of internationalism and
interdisciplinarity.

Please contact the conference chair directly for further information on
thematic paper and symposium submissions.

Reviewers will be selected and reviews overseen by the DIGRA's
International
Advisory Committee (listed below). Every effort will be made to ensure
that
suitably qualified reviewers are found for all areas of specialization
(including reviewers who are industry-based), at minimum two reviewers
will
be assigned to each paper, and review feedback will be shared with
proposal
authors.

Acceptance of a proposal for presentation, either full papers, posters
or
any alternative forms, does not guarantee publication of papers in the
conference proceedings, which require, in addition, a second stage peer
review process of completed, fully edited, camera-ready copy of original
manuscripts which have not been published elsewhere. Papers for
publication
may be up to 6000 words.

Authors whose proposals are accepted for presentation are required to
register for the conference. Only papers that are presented at the
conference will be included in the publication.


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

Timelines:

Conference Proposal submission, short papers (500 word abstracts) and
full
papers (1000 word abstracts): November 15/04

Notification of Acceptance: January 15/05

Completed Papers submitted: March 15/05

Authors of accepted proposals, who wish to have their short or full
papers
peer-reviewed for publication in the proceedings, should submit fully
edited
camera-ready copy by April 15/05. Please note that short papers for
publication should be 3000 words maximum and full papers for publication
should be 6000 words maximum.

Notification of acceptance for publication in the DIGRA 2005
Proceedings:
May 15/05


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Publications:

Conference schedule (printed) will include short abstracts of daily
presentations. Conference proceedings (dvd), which will be available on
the
first day of the conference, will include full abstracts of accepted
presentations, as well as selected peer reviewed full and short papers,
and
selected additional media. DVD proceedings will be included in
conference
registration fees. Those registrants who would prefer traditional
printed
proceedings may order these at a cost of $40. All conference proceedings
will be archived on the Digital Games Research Association website


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For Graduate Students:

A greatly reduced conference fee ($100.00) for student delegates makes
participation more accessible. In addition, limited financial support is
available to those, but especially graduate students and independent
scholars, for whom registration fees and travel costs impede
participation.

Please submit your request for financial consideration before January
31st,
2005, to: Cher Hill, chill at sfu.ca Please include an overview of your
costs,
your institutional status (especially if you are a graduate student,
independent scholar or junior researcher), whether you are presenting at
the
conference, and a brief justification for your request.

Resources are limited, however. After all applications have been
received,
the conference committee will determine allocations of financial
support,
and decisions will be communicated by email to applicants by February
15th/2005.

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Mentoring Roundtable Session Submission:

For graduate students who would like to present their work in-progress
in a
consultative framework, a series of roundtables will be dedicated to
providing graduate students mentorship by senior researchers in their
field.

Interested students should submit a 2-page description of their work, so
that a suitable mentor can be identified. They will then be invited to
submit 10-15 page drafts of work to their assigned chair. There will be
2-3
graduate students presenting and one senior researcher commenting and
chairing each concurrent session, and sessions will be open or closed
depending on the preferences of the participants. A symposium by
mentoring
senior researchers, "Games Studies Now, and in the Future" will conclude
the
day, highlighting what each sees as the most promising innovations and
new
directions in digital games research, making particular reference to the
emerging work of graduate students with whom they have been and are
currently working.


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

Student Involvement Opportunities:

Our intent is to provide the greatest possible support to graduate
students.

We can offer some limited paid work for students who can provide
translations of key texts and materials, or subsidized registration to
those
who can otherwise support the organization and execution of this
international scholarly event. Students interested in conference work
should
email chill at sfu.ca to pursue these prospects.

Diverse student organizations and associations across the university are
invited to submit proposals for social events and other student-driven
events at the conference, which will feature a graduate student
reception
following the mentoring roundtable sessions. An award will be made for
"best
student paper/presentation".


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

International Advisory Board:

Serving as review and editorial board for the conference program and
publications:

Dr. Suzanne de Castell, (Conference Chair), Professor in New Media and
Technology Studies, Faculty of Education, Simon Fraser University,
British
Columbia, Canada

Dr. John Waterworth, Professor of Informatics, Umea University, Sweden,
and
Research Manager, Tools for Creativity Studio, Interactive Institute

Sara Diamond, Artistic Director, Media and Visual Arts and Executive
Producer, Television and New Media at The Banff Centre for the Arts,
Executive Director of the Banff Institute for new media research

Dr. Catherine Beavis, Senior Lecturer, Deakin Centre for Education and
Change and School Of Social and Cultural Studies, Faculty of Education,
Deakin University, Australia

Gonzalo Frasca, Game Designer, Publisher of www.ludology.org, and PhD
program, Center for Computer Games Research at the IT University in
Copenhagen

Dr. Henry Jenkins, Director, Comparative Media Studies Program, MIT,
U.S.A.

Dr. Frans Mäyrä, DiGRA President, Research Director, Hypermedia
Laboratory,
University of Tampere, Finland
-- 
Dr Patrick Crogan
Lecturer in Film and Media
Discipline of Media 
The University of Adelaide, AUSTRALIA 5005
Ph    : +61 8 8303 5620
Fax   : +61 8 8303 5601
e-mail: patrick.crogan at adelaide.edu.au

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