Gamers in Society Seminar Calls for Papers

Author: by Beth A.

Gamers in Society, Play in Culture, The Third Annual Game Studies Seminar organized by the University of Tampere Game Research Lab to take place April 17-18, 2007 in Tampere, Finland has announced its call for papers. The social aspects of digital gaming are gaining increasing attention by academics, game developers, and media alike. Popular controversy on the supposedly detrimental effects of games are countered by growing attention to the social value and cultural significance that contemporary games present to their players. New research is probing the precise roles games and playing occupy in the lives of various groups and individuals, producing interesting data about the multiple domains of life within information technology saturated societies. Simultaneously, this kind of socio-cultural studies of game players require novel approaches into existing theories and methodologies in human sciences, informed by dialogue within the emerging field of game studies. The two-day event, free of charge with a limited number of participants, consists of themed sessions that aim to introduce current research projects and discuss ongoing work in social and cultural study of players. The seminar will be chaired by professor Frans Mäyrä (Hypermedia Laboratory, University of Tampere). Paper commentators include associate professor T.L. Taylor, the author of Play Between Worlds: Exploring Online Game Culture (The MIT Press, 2006). Gamers in Society seminar invites presentations on this multidisciplinary and dynamic field; the seminar is third in the annual series of game studies working seminars organized by the Games Research Lab in the University of Tampere. The list of possible presentation topics includes, but is not limited to: - ethnographic studies of particular groups of game players - studies about social networks or communities created around, or within games - research into the social roles and dynamics within such game communities - inquiries into the everyday uses and social significance of games - studies into issues related with status, value and social norms that govern the position of games and gamers within the wider context of contemporary society - demographic studies mapping the time, money or other investments into games by various parts of the population - studies discussing the concept of game culture, or applying cultural and social approach into game studies The papers to be presented will be chosen based on abstract review with a deadline of January 15, 2007. Full papers are submitted prior the event to all participants in order to facilitate discussion with a deadline of March 31, 2007. For more information about submission guidelines, visit the Gamers in Society Seminar website.