Call for Papers

2nd Global Conference

Wednesday 7th July 2010 – Friday 9th July 2010
Mansfield College, Oxford

This inter- and multi-disciplinary conference aims to examine, explore and critically engage with the issues and implications created by the mass use of computers and videogames for entertainment and focus on the impact of innovative videogame titles and interfaces for human communication and ludic culture. In particular the conference will encourage equally theoretical and practical debates which surround the cultural contexts within which videogames flourish.

Papers, presentations, workshops and reports are invited on any of the following themes:

1. Videogames and Gaming
Theories and Concepts of Gaming. Identifying Key Features and Issues. Critical Theory for Videogames: Moving past the Narratology/Ludology Debate.

2. Videogame Cultures
Emerging Practices in Online and Offline Gaming. Social Dimension of Online Gaming and Presence in Virtual Worlds. Videogame Modifications.

3. Ethical Issues in Videogames
Videogames for children. Depiction of Violence, Sex, Morality and their relation to Maturity. Propaganda Games. Censorship.

4. Videogame Technologies and the Future of Interactive Entertainment
New Forms of Interaction, Immersion and Collaboration in Videogames. The Role of Innovative Interfaces.

5. Reception, Temporality and Video Games
Player Generations. Old Originals vs. Retro games. Indie Games and Low-Tech Aesthetic.

6. The Relations between Cinema and Videogames
Crossmedia and Transmedia Approach to Videogames. Cutscene Production. Machinimation. Interactive Storytelling.

7. Art and Experimental Games
The Aesthetic Aspects of Videogames. Performative Use of Videogames. Art-Mods.

8. Serious Games and Virtual Worlds
Social Impact Simulations. Educational Use of Videogames. Documentary Videogames. Political Issues.

The Steering Group welcomes the submission of pre-formed panel proposals. 300 word abstracts should be submitted by Friday 15th January 2010. If an abstract is accepted for the conference, a full draft paper should be submitted by Friday 28th May 2010.

300 word abstracts should be submitted simultaneously to both Organising Chairs; abstracts may be in Word, WordPerfect, or RTF formats with the following information and in this order:

a) author(s), b) affiliation, c) email address, d) title of abstract, e) body of abstract.

Please use plain text (Times Roman 12) and abstain from using footnotes and any special formatting, characters or emphasis (such as bold, italics or underline). We acknowledge receipt and answer to all paper proposals submitted. If you do not receive a reply from us in a week you should assume we did not receive your proposal; it might be lost in cyberspace! We suggest, then, to look for an alternative electronic route or resend.

The conference is part of the ‘Critical Issues’ series of research projects run by Inter-Disciplinary.Net. It aims to bring together people from different areas and interests to share ideas and explore various discussions which are innovative and challenging. All papers accepted for and presented at the conference are eligible for publication in an ISBN eBook. Selected papers may be invited to go forward for development into 20-25 page chapters for publication in a themed dialogic ISBN hard copy volume.

Style Sheets
In preparing your papers, please pay strict attention to the following style sheets

• Download Oxford Style Sheet – v7 (pdf)
• Download Oxford Reference Style Sheet 2 (pdf)
• Download Template document (Word)