[Air-l] First DiGRA conference CFP

[Charlie Breindahl]

Digital Games Research Association Conference 2003

4-6 November 2003
University of Utrecht, The Netherlands


The inaugural world conference of the Digital Games Research Association
(DiGRA) will take place at the University of Utrecht, The Netherlands. 

University of Utrecht, Faculty of Arts, Department of New Media and
Digital Culture, is collaborating with DiGRA and numerous academic and
other partners in the conference implementation. The conference will
include keynote lectures, paper sessions, posters, symposia, workshops
and other events.

Call for papers
The conference will be the first official event of the new
interdisciplinary association DiGRA, aiming to promote quality research
of games, interdisciplinary collaboration in games research, design and
development, and recognition of game studies as an academic field of
enquiry. A wide range of approaches is encouraged focussing on research,
design and development. We aim at a broad diversity of topics, such as:

Computer Games
On the history of games, game aesthetics (narrative, interactivity) and
game play (structure, time, multiplayer platforms). 

Design/production
Concerned with the relationship between the designer/producer and the
game (programming, project management). 

Reception
Reception focuses on the individual player’s relationship to the
computer game: the cognitive, social, psychological and therapeutic
effects of games.

Games as an aesthetic phenomenon
On games as art, game-genres and storytelling. On the similarities and
differences between computer games and other media 

Games as a cultural phenomenon
How games are interpreted, their meaning and significance to the player,
their contribution to an understanding of oneself, of relationships with
others, and of one’s world (gender, ethnicity, nationality). 

Games as a social phenomenon
Considers normative aspects of computer gaming and the effects of games
on social behavior. Issues include the effects of computer games on
(un)acceptable or (un)desirable behavior, such as aggression and
addiction, and partcipation and education.


There are possibilities to present a paper or poster, give a workshop,
organize a symposium or present a game concept/demo.

Papers
Papers will be limited to 30 minutes, which includes time for questions
and comments. Two or three paper presentations will be linked in one
session, every session will have a chairperson. 

Posters
Posters constist of a large print-out or cd-rom which shows a research
project. These are being presented in the main hall and possibly during
the Game Fair.

Symposia
Symposia will be limited to 1 hour and 45 minutes. With from two to four
presentations on a common theme, followed by discussion. 

Workshops
Workshops can be planned during 1-3 sessions of 1 hour and 45 minutes.
They should include instructional and working elements.

Game concepts
At a Game Fair, held during the conference, students and art/
non-commercial/ educational game designers can present their work (games
or demo’s). 

Participants who would like to present a paper or poster, give a
workshop or organize a symposium should submit an abstract in English.
Participants who would like to present a game or demo during the Game
Fair should submit the game and a short introduction in English.
Abstracts have a 300 words maximum and should include a short biography,
email and postal address. We encourage participation by students. 


Deadline for submitting abstracts: 1 May 2003. 

Abstracts can be submitted by e-mail to: abstracts at gamesconference.org


Your abstract or proposal will be reviewed by an international
scientific committee for its suitability to the conference. The authors
of the selected papers will be asked to write a full article to be
published beforehand in the Conference Proceedings.


Registration for the Digital Games Research Conference 2003 will open at
the end of May. Financial support may be available to participants for
whom registration fees and travel costs would present a hardship.


Contact/University of Utrecht: info at gamesconference.org

Prof. Dr. Jeffrey Goldstein

Dr. Joost Raessens, Associate Professor

Drs. Marinka Copier 


Contact/DiGRA:
Prof. Frans Mäyrä, President; frans.mayra at uta.fi
Dr. Jason Rutter, Vice-President; Jason.Rutter at man.ac.uk
Celia Peirce, Liaison Officer; celiap at uci.edu