[Air-L] CFP: Game Studies: 2013 PCA/ACA National Conference.

[Gerald Voorhees]

The Game Studies area of the National Popular Culture Association and the
American Culture Association Conference invites proposals for papers,
panels and completed papers on games and game studies for the Popular
Culture Association/American Culture Association National Conference to be
held Wednesday, March 27, through Saturday March 30, 2013 in Washington, DC.

Below, please find:

 I. Topics of Interest

 II. Submission Process

 III. Information about the Conference

 IV. Contact Information

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*I. Topics of Interest*

The organizers seek proposals and papers covering all aspects of gaming,
gaming culture and game studies.  Proposals can address any game medium
(computer, social, console, tabletop, etc) and all theoretical and
methodological approaches are welcome.

Possible topics include but are not limited to:

 -- new game mediums and platforms (Facebook, iPhone/iPad/iPod, etc)

 -- representation or performance of race, class, gender and sexuality in
games

 -- gaming culture, game specific cultures, and multicultural and
cross-cultural issues

 -- game development, design, authorship and other industry issues



-- game advertising, reviews, packaging, promotion, integrated marketing
and other commercial concerns

 -- political and legal entailments such as regulation, censorship,
intellectual property

 -- ludology, textual criticism, media ecology, narratology, etc as
paradigms for games studies

 -- player generated content in MUDs and MMORPGs, Mods, maps and machinima

 -- game genres, platforms, consoles, console wars and connections to other
media

 -- serious games for education, business, healthcare, (military) training,
etc



-- space and place in games, play spaces, virtual/physical communities,
mobile gaming and localization

 -- digital literacy, discourse practices, social norms and norming, the
politics of play

 -- public discourse/controversy over violence, militarism, sex,
criminality, racism, etc in games

*II. Submission Process*

The Game Studies area of the National Popular Culture Association and the
American Culture Association Conference, which began as the Video Games
Studies area in 2003, has the most enduring footprint of any North American
academic organization that give serious attention to the social and
cultural impact of games and gaming. The area continues to grow and offers
two avenues for scholars to participate and present their work.

*A. Paper Proposals*

For individual paper proposal submissions, please submit a 250-word
(maximum) abstract by *November 30, 2012*.  Submissions must be made online
at http://ncp.pcaaca.org.  Detailed instructions for using the online
submission system can be found at
http://www.pcaaca.org/conference/instructions.php.

*B. Panel Proposals*

For panel submissions, please submit a 250-word (maximum) panel abstract,
as well as 100-word abstracts for each individual presentation, by *November
30, 2012*. Panel proposals must be emailed to digitalgames.pcaaca at gmail.com.
Be sure to include the proposed title of the panel, the organizer’s name,
affiliation, mailing address, and email, as well as this information for
all panelists. Panel submissions may take the form of debates, dialogs,
roundtable discussions, thematic panels, (or other format,) and should be
designed to last approximately eighty minutes.

*III. Information about the Conference*

*A.* So that there will be ample time for discussion, each individual paper
presentation should be designed to last approximately twelve to fifteen
minutes (there will typically be four presentations per session with time
for Q&A).

*B.* Technology for use during presentations may be limited. More
information about the conference can be found at http://www.pcaaca.org/**

*C.* Presenters will be required to join either the Popular Culture
Association or the American Culture Association prior to attending the
conference, as well as pay a registration fee for the conference.
Information about these fees can be found at
http://www.pcaaca.org/conference/membership_registration.php.

*D.* Awards and Travel Grants are offered, on a competitive basis, by the
National Popular Culture Association / American Culture Association

1. Travel Grants

The *Michael Schoenecke Travel Grant for Graduate Students* to the National
Conference (for 2012, 32 grants @ $300 each). For application requirements,
please visit http://www.pcaaca.org/grant/schoenecke.php

The *Peter Rollins Travel Grant for Early-Career Faculty* (for 2012, 12
grants @ $500). For application requirements, please visit
http://www.pcaaca.org/grant/rollins.php

The *Madonna Marsden International Travel Grant* for Individuals presenting
at the National Conference (for 2012, 10 grants @$500 each). For
application requirements, please visit
http://www.pcaaca.org/grant/marsden.php

**

*2. Graduate Student Awards*

**

*William E. Brigman Award for the Outstanding Graduate Student Paper* presented
at the National Conference in a specific year. Applications go to Brigman
Award, c/o Gary Hoppenstand, *Journal of Popular Culture*, 4C Morrill Hall,
Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824 . Please send three hard
copies of the paper (without author's name), as well as a copy on disc and
photocopy of your student identification card. Those concerned for their
privacy may obscure the Social Security number should it appear on the
card. Please also include a copy of the acceptance letter/email from the
PCA area chair who accepted the paper for presentation in the national
conference. Papers should address popular culture and be accepted for a PCA
panel. Submissions must be received by January 7th of the year the
conference is held. The winning paper must be presented at the upcoming
PCA/ACA meeting in the year it is accepted. Should the winning paper not be
presented in person, the award will be forfeited. The winning author is
invited to submit the essay to *The Journal of Popular Culture* and work
with the editor toward its publication. This award is selected by a panel
chosen by the editor of the journal. The winner receives a $500 travel
award to attend the national conference in the year the paper is selected.

* *

*William M. Jones Award for the Outstanding Graduate Student
Paper*presented at the National Conference in a specific year. Entries
are
submitted to Amy Dudley, Editorial Assistant, William M. Jones Graduate
Student Paper Award Selection Committee, the* Journal of American Culture*,
Virginia Wesleyan College, 1584 Wesleyan Drive, Norfolk, VA 23502. Papers
must be submitted by January 7th of the year the conference is held. Three
copies of the paper, as well as a photocopy of the applicant's student
identification card must be submitted. Papers should address American
culture. The winning paper must be presented at the PCA/ACA conference. The
winner receives a $500 travel award to attend the national conference in
the year the paper is selected. Should the winning paper not be presented
in person, the award will be forfeited. The winning author should also
submit the essay to the* Journal of American Culture* and work with the
editor toward its publication. This award is selected by a panel chosen by
the editor of the journal.

**

*IV. Contact Information*

Questions and concerns can be sent to digitalgames.pcaaca at gmail.com, or may
be directed to one of the area chairs listed below.

**

*Katie Whitlock*, Theatre Department, California State University, Chico

klwhitlock at csuchico.edu**

*Gerald Voorhees*, School of Art and Communication, Oregon State University

gerald.voorhees at oregonstate.edu**

**

*Joshua Call*, Department of English, Grand View University
jcall at grandviewl.edu