DiGRA 2017: Call for Participation
Information for Authors
Workshops & Doctoral Consortium
Non-Traditional & Industry Contributions

DiGRA 2017: Call for Participation

*** Due Dates Updated Feb 20 ***

Call for Participation DiGRA2017: The 10^th Digital Games Research Association Conference, 3rd – 6th July, 2017.

The Digital Games Research Association (DiGRA) announces the Call for Participation for DiGRA 2017, to be held 3rd – 6th July, 2017, at Swinburne University of Technology in Melbourne, Australia.

DiGRA 2017 will bring together a diverse international community of interdisciplinary researchers engaged in cutting edge research in the field of game studies. DiGRA 2017 is supported by Swinburne University of Technology, RMIT University, the University of Sydney and the University of Melbourne.

The conference welcomes submissions on a wide range of topics associated with studies of games and play, including, but not limited to:

Game cultures
Games and other cultural forms
Communication in game worlds
Gender and games
Games as representation
Minority groups and games
Games and childhood
The games industry
Independent games
Games criticism
Gaming in non-leisure settings
Game studies in other domains
Hybrid and non-digital games
History of games
Game design
eSports and spectatorship
Platform studies
Game production studies

Tracks

Game histories and regional game studies (studies of particular historical and regional contexts of game development, cultures, and practices).
Player experience (studies of play, including empirically-driven observations of game interactions or interviews with players, as well as game interfaces, player metrics, modelling player experience).
Game cultures (including research based on social science methods of cultural forms, practices, and groups associated with games, play, identity, and spectatorship, including studies of the games industry, game studios or production cultures).
Game design (including, studies of game production, design technologies, techniques, practices, methods, design and development post-mortems).
Games media (humanities-informed research focused on games through representational analysis and close readings, theorization such as phenomenology of games or software studies and platform studies approaches, as well as political-economy of games industries).
Philosophy and critique of games and play (ontologies and frameworks, philosophical explorations).
Non-traditional & industry contributions (see Non-Traditional & Industry Contributions page for full information)

Submission Types

We welcome a range of contributions to DiGRA 2017. These include full papers, extended abstracts, panel and workshop proposals, and doctoral consortium participation, as well as proposals for events and other activities that fall outside the academic tradition.

Full papers will be peer-reviewed, published on the conference website and published in the conference proceedings available via open-access through the DiGRA digital library.

All other submissions will be reviewed by a panel of track chairs and the conference organisers for suitability for DiGRA 2017. These submissions will be published on the conference website, but will not be included in the conference proceedings published through the DiGRA Library.

Unless otherwise noted, submissions should be made via EasyChair.

Full Papers

No more than 16 pages (excluding references) using the DiGRA 2017 template
Submit as an anonymized pdf
Will be peer-reviewed
Must be original; it cannot be published or be under concurrent review elsewhere
Will be published on the conference website
Will be published in the open access DiGRA Digital Library
Must use the DiGRA 2017 full paper submission template

Full Papers are peer-reviewed publications of original Game Studies research. Full Papers represent mature, complete research. Authors must present accepted Full Papers at the DiGRA Conference. Accepted manuscripts will appear in the Proceedings of the 2017 DiGRA International Conference, which is published in the open access DiGRA Digital Library. Accepted Full Papers may come from any area of Game Studies research: academia or industry; science or humanities; analysis or design.

Authors with questions should contact the proceedings chairs, Casey O’Donnell and Martin Gibbs

Submissions are now open via EasyChair.

Extended Abstracts

The suggested length for an Extended Abstract is 500-800 words, with a maximum of 1000 words, excluding references
Key references should be included
Submit as a pdf
Will be peer-reviewed using a juried process by a panel of track chairs and the conference organisers
Will be published on the conference website
Will not be published in the DiGRA Digital Library
Give a short description in the abstract field of EasyChair (but there is no need for an Extended Abstract to have an abstract).
Use of the DiGRA 2017 Extended Abstract submission template is preferred but not required
Download the DiGRA 2017 extended abstract submission template (optional)

The Conference Program Committee recognizes that there are many and diverse ways to contribute to Game Studies research. The purpose of an Extended Abstract is to demonstrate a contribution interesting to a DiGRA audience. An Extended Abstract might describe a study or research program that is underway, but might also describe a pending program of research. It might outline findings, or it might establish and discuss a research question. It might describe the study’s method or methodology, or it might focus on outcomes and results. It might describe work that has been planned, work that is in progress, or work that has been completed.

Submissions are now open via EasyChair.

Panels

A panel session will typically occupy a single conference session and have a duration of 90 minutes.
Panel proposals should have a maximum length of 1000 words, excluding references
Panel proposals should include: the focus or topic of the panel; a description of why the topic will be of interest or relevant to DiGRA attendees; a list of confirmed participants; and a description of their background and expertise
Will be published on the conference website
Will not be published in the DiGRA digital library
Use of the DiGRA 2017 submission template is preferred but not required
Download the DiGRA 2017 submission template (optional)

Submit panel proposals by email to the DiGRA 2017 General Chair, Marcus Carter

Workshops

The conference workshops are half-day or full-day sessions focused on particular game-related topics. Workshops provide an opportunity for new ideas, theories and trends to be presented and discussed. Workshops can also be practical tutorials or involve studio-based activities.

Concise workshop proposals of no more than 1000 words (excluding bibliography) should include:

the major objectives and expected outcomes of the workshop
justification for the workshop informed by current trends and research
the format and activities planned for the workshop
the organizers’ background
the duration (half- or full-day) of the workshop
the anticipated number of participants
how participants will be recruited and selected
any publication plans arising from the workshop activities
Will be published on the conference website
Will not be published in the DiGRA digital library
Download the DiGRA 2017 submission template (optional)

Submit workshop proposals by email to the Workshops Chairs, Douglas Wilson and Jussi Holopainen by (deadline extended) Monday, January 23, 2017.

Non-Traditional & Industry Contributions

The DiGRA 2017 planning committee believes that there is excellent research and scholarship happening in the spaces between/outside the traditional submission formats we offer. We also believe there is something valuable to be gained in putting researchers in conversation with developers, journalists, artists, activists, and other people working in games and related disciplines. If you don’t work full-time in the academy but would still like to present at DiGRA 2017, see the Non-Traditional & Industry Contributions page for more information.

Doctoral Consortium

Selection for the one-day doctoral consortium will be based on an extended abstract, with a maximum of 1000 words, excluding references
Key references should be included
Will be published on the conference website
Will not be published in the DiGRA digital library
Submit as a NON-anonymized pdf
Submit to the doctoral consortium track on EasyChair
Give a short description in the abstract field of EasyChair (but, there is no need for a Doctoral Consortium application to have an abstract).
Submissions must use the DiGRA 2017 submission template

Important Dates

Submission date (Workshops): [deadline extended] 23 January 2017
Acceptance/rejection notification (Workshops): 27 January 2017

Submission date (Full Papers, Abstracts, Panels, and Doctoral Consortium): 5 March 2017 [EXTENDED]
Acceptance/rejection notification (Full Papers, Abstracts, Panels, and Doctoral Consortiums): 8 April 2017

Submission date (Non-Traditional & Industry): 4 April 2017
Acceptance/rejection notification (Non-Traditional & Industry): 14 April 2017

Camera ready (all written submissions): 25 April 2017

Conference dates: 3rd – 6th July 2017

Questions? Email

Information for Authors

Tracks

DiGRA 2017 will bring together a diverse international community of interdisciplinary researchers engaged in cutting edge research in the field of game studies. In line with this, DiGRA 2017 is employing the following tracks, on a wide range of subjects associated with studies of games and play, to ensure a smooth and high-quality review process. We are delighted to have the support of the track chairs listed below who have been selected as exemplary researchers in the area of research encompassed by that track. These track chairs will be coordinating the reviewing for full-papers submitted to their track, including assigning reviews, reviewing reviews, and making decisions regarding paper acceptance. Consequently, questions regarding review standards for a track should be referred to the specific track chairs. If a track chair does not feel that your paper fits a particular track, it may be reassigned during the review process.

Game histories and regional game studies (studies of particular historical and regional contexts of game development, cultures, and practices).

Melanie Swalwell (Flinders University) and Maria B. Garda (The University of Lodz)
and

Player experience (studies of play, including empirically-driven observations of game interactions or interviews with players, as well as game interfaces, player metrics, modelling player experience).

Laura Crawford (Swinburne University), Jane Cocks (The University of the Sunshine Coast) and Gareth Schott (Waikato University)

Game cultures (including research based on social science methods of cultural forms, practices, and groups associated with games, play, identity, and spectatorship, including studies of the games industry, game studios or production cultures).

Tom Apperley (University of New South Wales) and Thiago Falcāo (Universidade Federal do Maranhão, Sao Luis, Brazil)
and

Game design (including, studies of game production, design technologies, techniques, practices, methods, design and development post-mortems).

Jussi Holopainen (RMIT University) and Annakaisa Kultima (University of Tampere)
and

Games media (humanities-informed research focused on games through representational analysis and close readings, theorization such as phenomenology of games or software studies and platform studies approaches, as well as political-economy of games industries).

Darshana Jayemanne (Abertay University) and Brendan Keogh (SAE Brisbane)
and

Philosophy and critique of games and play (ontologies and frameworks, philosophical explorations).

Olli Leino (City University Hong Kong) and Sebastian Möring (University of Potsdam)
and

Non-traditional & industry contributions (Including contributions from game developers, artists and activists and including game designs, exhibitions, art projects, workshop discussions, video projections, game demos, entertainment, performances). See Non-Traditional & Industry Contributions page.

Douglas Wilson (RMIT University) and Leena Van Deventer (Director, WiDGET)
and

Submission Types

Full papers will be peer-reviewed, published on the conference website and published in the conference proceedings available via open-access through the DiGRA digital library.

Unless otherwise noted, submissions should be made via EasyChair.

Full Papers

No more than 16 pages (excluding references) using the DiGRA 2017 template
Submit as an anonymized pdf
Will be peer-reviewed
Must be original; it cannot be published or be under concurrent review elsewhere
Will be published on the conference website
Will be published in the open access DiGRA Digital Library
Must use the DiGRA 2017 full paper submission template

Authors with questions should contact the proceedings chairs, Casey O’Donnell and Martin Gibbs

Submissions are now open via EasyChair.

Extended Abstracts

The suggested length for an Extended Abstract is 500-800 words, with a maximum of 1000 words, excluding references
Key references should be included
Submit as a pdf
Will be peer-reviewed using a juried process by a panel of track chairs and the conference organisers
Will be published on the conference website
Will not be published in the DiGRA Digital Library
Give a short description in the abstract field of EasyChair (but there is no need for an Extended Abstract to have an abstract).
Use of the DiGRA 2017 Extended Abstract submission template is preferred but not required
Download the DiGRA 2017 extended abstract submission template (optional)

Submissions are now open via EasyChair.

Panels

A panel session will typically occupy a single conference session and have a duration of 90 minutes.
Panel proposals should have a maximum length of 1000 words, excluding references
Panel proposals should include: the focus or topic of the panel; a description of why the topic will be of interest or relevant to DiGRA attendees; a list of confirmed participants; and a description of their background and expertise
Will be published on the conference website
Will not be published in the DiGRA digital library
Use of the DiGRA 2017 submission template is preferred but not required
Download the DiGRA 2017 submission template (optional)

Submit panel proposals by email to the DiGRA 2017 General Chair, Marcus Carter

Doctoral Consortium

Selection for the one-day doctoral consortium will be based on an extended abstract, with a maximum of 1000 words, excluding references
Key references should be included
Will be published on the conference website
Will not be published in the DiGRA digital library
Submit as a NON-anonymized pdf
Submit to the doctoral consortium track on EasyChair
Give a short description in the abstract field of EasyChair (but, there is no need for a Doctoral Consortium application to have an abstract).
Submissions must use the DiGRA 2017 submission template

Other Rules and Frequently Asked Questions

When do I have to register for the conference?

At least one author of an accepted paper or abstract must register for the conference by the early bird registration deadline, or the paper will be removed from the program.

How many papers can I present?

Authors cannot present more than two papers at DiGRA 2017. This does not include panels or workshops. Authors can be co-authors on as many papers as they like, but an individual cannot present more than twice. This is a firm limit.

Workshop & Doctoral Consortium

The DiGRA 2017 committee received nine workshop proposals and we’re happy to report that we are able to accommodate all of them. The workshops cover a wide variety of topics related to games. Please find workshop titles, calls for participants, and deadlines below.

For logistical information about the venues and getting to The University of Melbourne and RMIT campuses, see our Getting Around pages. Both campuses are right in the heart of the city and are accessible by public transportation.

Sunday July 2, 2017 – The University of Melbourne, PAR-Arts West North Wing-256

Gaming the Systems: Towards a More Inclusive DiGRA
Organisers: Darshana Jayemanne, Souvik Mukherjee and Alyea Sandovar
Planning committee: Sian Beavers, Mahli-Ann Butt, Kyrie Caldwell, Hanli Geyser, Alison Harvey, Rebecca Rouse, Adrienne Shaw
Facilitator: Adrienne Shaw
PDF: DiGRA_workshop_2017_Diversity_CFP
Time Block: 12pm – 5pm
Expression of Interest Deadline: March 31, 2017 (extended)
Attendance Policy: Open to all DiGRA attendees, but email organizers ()

Monday July 3, 2017 – Swinburne Hawthorne Campus, AGSE204

Doctoral Consortium
Organisers: Steven Conway & Souvik Mukherjee
Time Block: 9am – 1pm
Attendance by prior application only

Monday July 3, 2017 – RMIT University, City Campus, Building 9

Morning Block (9am to 1pm)

Gaming Beyond the Digital Divide: Video Games and Game Cultures of the Global South
Organisers: Phillip Penix-Tadsen
PDF: DiGRA_workshop_2017_Gaming_Beyond_the_Digital_Divide_CFP
Time Block: 9am – 1pm
Expression of Interest Deadline: Contact organisers

Locating the Child in Digital Games Research
Organisers: Jane Mavoa, Bjorn Nansen
PDF: DIGRA_workshop_2017_Childrens_Play_Workshop_CFP
Time Block: 9am – 1pm
Expression of Interest Deadline: April 7, 2017
Attendance Policy: Open to all DiGRA attendees, just show up on the day

~~Morality Play: The Design of Games for Moral Engagement~~ [cancelled]
Organisers: Malcolm Ryan
PDF: DIGRA_workshop_2017_Morality_Play_2017_CFP

~~Things Best Forgotten: An Introduction to Oral History for Game Scholars~~ [cancelled]
Organisers: Laine Nooney
PDF: DIGRA_workshop_2017_Oral_History_CFP

Afternoon Block (2pm – 6pm)

Boardgame Studies Round Table Workshop
Organisers: Melissa Rogerson, Dr Stewart Woods
PDF: DIGRA_workshop_2017_Boardgaming_Round Table_Workshop_CFP
Time Block: 2pm – 6pm
Expression of Interest Deadline: March 31, 2017
Attendance Policy: Open to all DiGRA attendees, but email organizers ([email protected])

Contemporary Videogames and the Museum: What’s Next?
Organisers: Sarah Brin, Michael McMaster, Helen Stuckey, Douglas Wilson
PDF: DIGRA_workshop_2017_Videogames_and_the_Museum_CFP
Time Block: 2pm – 6pm
Expression of Interest Deadline: April 7, 2017 (extended)
Attendance Policy: Open to all DiGRA attendees, but email organizers ([email protected])

~~Ludic Pasts: Game Simulations of Past Cultures and Places~~ [cancelled]
Organisers: Erik Champion, Michael Nitsche
PDF: DiGRA_workshop_2017_Ludic_Pasts_CFP

Regional eSports: Growth and Barriers
Organisers: Robbie Fordyce, Martin Gibbs, Emma Witkowski & Marcus Carter
PDF: DIGRA_workshop_2017_Regionalised_eSports_CFP
Time Block: 2pm – 6pm
Expression of Interest Deadline: April 27, 2017 (extended)
Attendance Policy: Open to all DiGRA attendees, but register online

Non-Traditional & Industry Contributions

Traditional submissions including Extended Abstracts, Full Papers, and Panels. See the Call for Participation for more information about submitting in those formats. There will be a “Non-traditional & industry” track if you’d like to categorize your submission as such.
Submissions that don’t easily fit within academic traditions, including (but not limited to): games, demos, exhibitions, art projects, postmortems, discussions, video projections, performances, and other ideas we haven’t even considered. Suitability for inclusion in DiGRA2017 will be decided by a panel of conference organizers. For non-traditional proposals, describe what the event/session would be, the required time, and necessary resources. Also provide names and backgrounds of the organizers. Email non-traditional submissions directly to the Non-Traditional & Industry Track Chairs: Douglas Wilson and Leena Van Deventer .

In both cases, all Non-Traditional & Industry submissions are due Tuesday April 4 (note: this is deliberately later than the due date for the other tracks).

FAQ:

1. What exactly happens at an academic conference like DiGRA?

DiGRA brings together game academics, mostly from the humanities and the social sciences, to talk about their research. A wide range of research is presented, including theoretical papers on the nature of games, in-depth studies of player cultures, analysis and criticism of particular games, and more. There is also time for questions and discussion.

2. Why would I want to present at an academic conference?

Help shape the scholarly discourse about games. Come tell us about what you’re doing and why you’re doing it! By presenting in the Non-Traditional & Industry track, you also get a reduced price ticket to attend the conference (see below), hear some of the latest research about games, and join the conversation.

3. If accepted, when will I present?

Unless otherwise requested, all Non-Traditional & Industry papers, events, and sessions will be scheduled to take place on Wednesday, July 5. However, if you want to or need to present a different day, let us know and we’ll see what we can do.

4. How much will it cost me?

Unlike industry conferences (e.g. GDC), DiGRA requires all its participants, even speakers, to pay to cover conference costs. However, we will have a special reduced price for Non-Traditional & Industry presenters. This ticket will include one-day access to the conference for the scheduled day of your presentation, as well as access to the pre-conference workshops on July 2 and 3. The registration will be $50 AUD. Stay tuned for final registration details.

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Presenting at DiGRA

Contents

DiGRA 2017: Call for Participation

Information for Authors

Workshop & Doctoral Consortium

Sunday July 2, 2017 – The University of Melbourne, PAR-Arts West North Wing-256

Monday July 3, 2017 – Swinburne Hawthorne Campus, AGSE204

Monday July 3, 2017 – RMIT University, City Campus, Building 9

Morning Block (9am to 1pm)

Afternoon Block (2pm – 6pm)

Non-Traditional & Industry Contributions

FAQ: