In an increasingly interconnected world, the video game industry holds significant cultural and economic influence. As such, it is crucial to critically investigate game design and industry practices to see how they evolve in ways to promote diversity, inclusion, sustainability, and social well-being. Understanding and fostering these values can ensure that the gaming ecosystem becomes more representative, equitable, and environmentally conscious, while also supporting the mental and social health of players and developers alike. This symposium seeks to gather and share research that both analyses and drives these essential changes, contributing to a more inclusive and responsible future for the industry.
We are particularly interested in contributions that provide knowledge on diversity, sustainability, and social well-being game design and industry practices. However, we welcome submissions on a wide range of topics within the field of game studies.
Possible Topics Include (but are not limited to):
- Diversity and inclusion in game design and game communities
- Environmental sustainability and ecological impact of game production and consumption
- Social impact of games and their potential for positive change
- Ethical considerations in game production
- Representation and experiences of gender, race, and other identities in games
- Accessibility in games and gaming platforms
- Mental health and well-being in gaming communities
- Game pedagogy and educational games
- Player behavior and game communities
- Game design methodologies and innovation
- (Political-)Economic aspects of the game industry
- The past and its representation in games
- Narrative and storytelling in games
- Virtual and augmented reality in games
- E-sports and competitive gaming
- Game mechanics and player engagement
- User experience and interface design in games
- Legal issues in game development and intellectual property
- Game preservation and archiving
- Games as cultural artifacts and their role in society
- Politics and conflict in games
- Critical games
- Culture and ideology in games
- Methodologies for game research
Submission Guidelines:
- Abstracts should be between 300-500 words excluding references.
- Include a title, author(s) name(s), affiliation(s), and contact information.
Important Dates:
- Submission deadline: September 20, 2024
- Notification of acceptance: October 1, 2024
- Symposium date: November 21, 2024
Please submit your abstracts via the symposium’s submission portal https://forms.gle/L8RFSXJbkVjzCqWt7.
For any queries, please contact the symposium organizers at delahera@eshcc.eur.nl.
We look forward to your contributions and to a stimulating symposium at Erasmus University Rotterdam!
Teresa de la Hera, Julia Kneer, Jeroen Jansz
Programme Chairs of Dutch DiGRA 2024 Symposium
Please mind that the end and start time of the symposium are yet to be determined.