**************************************************************************
**** FINAL REMINDER: DEADLINE / CALL FOR ABSTRACTS ******
INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE "THE SOCIAL SIDE OF GAMING"
************* CFA ENDS THIS MONDAY 28 FEBRUARY *************
**************************************************************************
Dear all,
this is the final reminder that the Call for Abstracts of the 
international conference "THE SOCIAL SIDE OF GAMING" (21-23 July) 
will end *** next MONDAY, 28 FEBRUARY ***. So please send in your 
abstract as soon as possible - there won't be an extension of the 
Call. For further information about the conference topics and the 
terms of submission please have a look at: 
https://sofoga.uni-hohenheim.de/85673.html
We are also glad to announce the confirmed keynote speakers. They are
RICHARD A. BARTLE (University Essex, UK, co-author of the world's 
first virtual world, MUD)
MIA CONSALVO (MIT, Boston, USA, current President of the Association 
of Internet Researchers, author of "Cheating")
MARK GRIFFITHS (Nottingham Trent University, UK, leading expert in 
research on digital games addiction)
We are also planning a panel discussion with high class industry 
representatives and some other events that will be announced soon. 
For more information regarding the conference, please head over to 
our conference site at:
https://sofoga.uni-hohenheim.de/conf2011.html
We updated the website to answer some of your questions regarding 
the call, the conference fee, the publication/proceedings volume, 
accomodation, flight connections, travel grants etc. (s. also our 
mini-FAQ below).
Please note that some people were experiencing difficulties 
registering via the registration form due to technical reasons. If 
you did register, but didn't receive a confirmation yet, please 
contact us directly via (gamescon2011 /at/ uni-hohenheim.de) .
We hope to see you in July!
With kind regards
Thorsten Quandt
(for the organization committee)
****** CONFERENCE FAQ *****
We also received several questions regarding the event. Here's a 
mini-FAQ - more answers can be found online at
https://sofoga.uni-hohenheim.de/conf2011.html .
* How much is the registration fee?
There is a very moderate registration fee of EUR 50,- for speakers 
and participants with a 100 % position.  The registration fee for 
researchers with a 50 % position is EUR 30,-. We try to keep the 
prices low so that everybody who wants to participate can 
participate. Science shouldn't be about money.
* How much do I have to pay for a flight to Stuttgart? Is it 
difficult to get there?
The international Airport of Stuttgart is just 10 minutes away from 
the University (via taxi). There are connections to all major 
European cities and even transatlantic connections. Furthermore, you 
can fly in via Frankfurt or Munich. There are some discount airlines 
flying to Stuttgart, including airberlin, germanwings and TUI (but 
also Lufthansa, SAS, British Airways, Delta etc.) - so return 
tickets to major European cities start around EUR 30,-. If you book 
early, then this might be your cheapest international conference ever!
* I am a PhD student and don't have the money to travel to your 
place. However, I have a fascinating abstract and would love to 
visit the conference!
Please consider sending in your abstract nonetheless. We will offer 
a limited number of travel suppurt grants for international PhD 
students and researchers on a 50 % position (or less). Preference is 
given to PhD students/researchers from developing/transitional 
countries with top abstracts. Please note that this option is 
subject to availability. The overall availability of funds is 
limited, so the actual grant size and number is depending on the 
number of applications and their quality. If you are a member of the 
named group and think about applying for a grant, please contact us 
directly via gamescon2011@uni- hohenheim.de. We can provide you with 
more information on a per case basis.
* Will there be a proceedings volume?
We plan to publish the best conference papers and some invited 
papers in an edited volume. It won't be your standard proceedings 
volume, but a coherent book on the social aspects of gaming, aiming 
at the worldwide book market. We are currently in talks with major 
international publishers about the details of the publication.