On 21 November 2024 the Dutch DiGRA Symposium will take place. This symposium is a collaboration between the Dutch DiGRA Chapter, the Virtual Environments, Games and Society Research Cluster (VEGAS) of the Erasmus Research Institute for Media, Culture, History & Society ERMeCHS and the Social Sciences and Humanities Dutch Sector Plan.
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.
- Submission deadline: September 25, 2024
- Notification of acceptance: October 7, 2024
- Symposium date: November 21, 2024
- It is mandatory to register to attend the symposium
- Registration is free of charge
- Registration is open to everyone with or without presentation
- Please be mindful that the number of participants is limited and the fact that your registration implies costs for the organization in the form of meals and resources provided, so please commit to attending the symposium in case you register.
The Symposium will be held at the Erasmus Education Lab at Erasmus University Rotterdam.
Polak Building (Link to Google Maps)
Campus Woudestein
Burgemeester Oudlaan 50
3062 PA Rotterdam
Netherlands
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
Full programme
Teresa de la Hera & Ruud Jacobs - Dutch DiGRA
Chair: Teresa de la Hera
Deconstructing Esports: Why We Need to Acknowledge Bodies in a Move Toward More Equitable Esports Practices
Tom Legierse, University of Bergen
Maria Ruotsalainen, University of Jyväskylä
Evolution of female heroines representations in RPGs and Action-Adventure games from 1990-2022
Morgane Ruiz, Klang Games
Analysing race and everyday racism in football related video gaming. Current findings and future plans
Jacco van Sterkenburg, Erasmus University Rotterdam
Chair: Jeroen Jansz
Parents in play for children in school: Serious gaming for language and digital proficiency of parents using primary school applications
Ruud Jacobs, University of Twente
First steps toward systematically studying the differences between physical robots and virtual characters in educational games
Jan de Wit, Tilburg University
The meaning of digital play for children in isolation
Teresa de la Hera, Erasmus University Rotterdam
Chair: Ruud Jacobs
Unspeakable: New Metaphors for Grief in Contemporary Video Games
Emma Reay, University of Southampton
Toxicity in Online Games: The Prevalence and Efficacy of Coping Strategies
Julian Frommel, Utrecht University
How To Tame a Toxic Player
Michel Wijkstra, Utrecht University
Character Bleed in Dungeons & Dragons: A Longitudinal Study on the Impact of Personality Design and Customization
Maxime Scholte Albers, Utrecht University
Games and Play Education: Innovations and collaboration
The future of the Dutch DiGRA Chapter
Chair: Aris Emmanouloudis
Dive Into the Past - Chinese Intangible Cultural Heritage Represented in Chinese Mobile Games
Yixiang Que, Erasmus University Rotterdam
Ancient Myths, Modern Games: The Future of the Past in Video Games
Alexander Vandewalle, Ghent University
Past play as political mobilization: towards a typology of historical game configurations vulnerable to rightwing extremist recruitment
Pieter van den Heede, Erasmus University Rotterdam
Chair: Vivian Chen
Eco-Innovators: A Serious Game to Foster Eco-Entrepreneurship and Sustainable Regional Development
Milad Abbasiharofteh, University of Groningen
Playing Everything but human: a case study for envisioning non-anthropocentric futures through critical gaming pedagogy
Kevin Marín-Rubio, University of Barcelona
The Nullified Ecology of Procedural Content Generation and GenAI in Game Design
David Harold ten Cate, Queensland University of Technology
Franchise-Hacking Magic: The Gathering as a Platform for Climate Communication and Resilience
Laura op de Beke and Timo Fluitsma, Utrecht University
Chair: Yixiang Que
Failing to protect the online consumer: Poor compliance with Dutch loot box and video game consumer protection guidelines
Leon Y. Xiao, IT University Copenhagen
The role of in-game communication in work resilience and relationship with co-workers
Vivian Chen, Erasmus University Rotterdam
In the Ring against the Company”: Communities of Professional Wrestling Video Games Challenging the Canon
Aris Emmanouloudis, Erasmus University Rotterdam
Narrative and storytelling in serious games: perception of higher education students
Alba Merino, University of Loyola
Jeroen Jansz & Julia Kneer – VEGAS
Call for abstracts (CLOSED)
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.
- 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
Symposium Committee
Programme Chairs
Teresa de la Hera
Jeroen Jansz
Julia Kneer
Programme and Organization Committee
Vivian Chen
Argyrios Emmanouloudis
Yixiang Que
Alba Merino
Martine Bos
