CFP: 2014 DiGRA Australia Symposium – What is Game Studies in Australia?

 

We are delighted to announce the founding of DiGRA Australia (DiGRAA), and invite you to contribute to a one day game studies symposium on June 17th, 2014 to be held at The University of Melbourne.

 

Important Dates

• Abstract Submission Deadline – April 15
• Notification of Acceptance – May 1
• Symposium Date – June 17

 

Details

As has been the case for most game studies scholars, Australian academic work on games and play has been conducted within a wide variety of disciplines and from an even broader number of conceptual and analytical approaches. Even within universities, academics engaged in game studies are dispersed, reflecting lost opportunities for constructive criticisms, collaborations and communication. DiGRA Australia is thus delighted to announce the inaugural event of this local chapter, a one-day symposium aimed at bringing together those interested in the study of digital (and non-digital) games in Australia to discuss current and future work.

We organise such an event acknowledging that ‘game studies’ is not an exclusively academic endeavour – exciting and ground-breaking work is occurring in a wide variety of commercial, professional and amateur contexts. Consequently, we encourage non-academic game researchers, critics, designers, developers and artists to attend and contribute to the event. Submitted abstracts will not be evaluated harshly for not engaging with academic literature, as we see this as an opportunity for these disparate communities to engage and share knowledge.

The theme, ‘What is Game Studies in Australia’, invites two forms of submissions. The first is abstracts that describe projects completed or still under way, that prompt discussion, or report findings or arguments conducted by those in Australia. By attending and presenting works like these, your presence contributes to the theme of what Game Studies ‘is’ in Australia. In accordance with this, we particularly encourage authors to submit works on themes of diversity, gender and race. The second form of submission that aligns with the symposium theme is meta-discussions about what Game Studies ‘is’, in accordance with the critical turn in Game Studies currently under way. Discussions that highlight regional issues or specificities are encouraged.

Attendance at the event is also an opportunity to shape and be involved in the future direction of this regional DiGRA chapter.

The symposium will run all day on the 17th June, 2014 at The University of Melbourne, followed by an evening social event organised nearby. Attendance at the symposium is limited, and registration will be required.

 

Submission Process

We invite interested authors to submit 400-800 word abstracts, accompanied by a 100 word bio.

Submissions are required to use the DiGRA conference publication format. Accepted abstracts will be uploaded to the DiGRA Digital Library.

 

Submissions will be made online, via easy chair. Please click here.

 

Organizing Committee

 

TBC