[Commlist] CfA: ECREA Digital Games Research Section symposium Digital Games at the Forefront of Change

Call for papers for the ECREA Digital Games Research Section symposium
*Digital Games at the Forefront of Change - On the Meaningfulness of 
Games and Game Studies*

Complutense University of Madrid, Spain, 9-10 November 2023

Recently, it was argued that digital games play such an important role 
in an increasingly convergent media culture that “the future of media 
studies is game studies” (Chess & Consalvo, 2022). Indeed, games 
generate more revenue than books and movies and they are more and more 
recognized as a cultural property that should be preserved. Some games 
undoubtedly have a high artistic value and can be considered a form of 
meaningful entertainment that is thought-provoking and provides new 
insights (Oliver et al., 2016). In fact, research has shown that digital 
games can have meaningful effects in many different areas of society. 
For example, it has been
shown that meaningful social relationships can develop in the context of 
online games.
Further, games can have positive effects on mental health and are 
considered useful tools in therapeutic contexts. The learning potentials 
of games have been examined extensively and the application of games for 
persuasion and information (newsgames) is becoming growingly important. 
On the downside, games take such an important role in the lives of some 
players that usage behaviours can become excessive and problematic. 
There are also debates on the question as to whether some gaming 
communities are toxic and serve as breeding grounds for sexist or 
extremist attitudes, representing a severe risk for society.
The symposium will focus on the many different facets of the 
meaningfulness of digital games. Further, we would like to stimulate a 
dialogue on what constitutes meaningfulness in the context of gaming and 
what relevance the field of games studies will have in the future. 
Contributions may focus on the meaningfulness of games in all areas of 
society and we are open    to contributions from all disciplines. 
Possible topics include, but are not limited to:
● The use of games in therapies and rehabilitation
● Games for education and learning (serious games, game-based learning)
● Games’ impact on mental health and well-being
● Pathological and excessive forms of game use (gaming disorder)
● Games as a form of meaningful (eudaimonic) entertainment
● Social benefits of online gaming
● Toxicity and extremism in gaming cultures
● The use of games for information and persuasion
● Games as art and cultural heritage; representation of cultural 
heritage in games
● The application of games in museums and exhibitions
● The design and production of meaningful games
● Theoretical perspectives on what constitutes meaningfulness in gaming 
contexts
● Discussions on the meaningfulness and the future of game studies as a 
research field
Although we would like to particularly encourage contributions that 
focus on the conference theme Meaningfulness of Games and Game Studies, 
we additionally welcome submissions on any other aspect of game studies 
or the intersection of game studies with the broader field of 
communication and media science. We welcome theoretical contributions, 
literature reviews, work-in-progress submissions, as well as qualitative 
and quantitative empirical studies. The submission of panel proposals 
consisting of 4 presentations is also possible.

There are plans to produce a journal theme issue based on selected 
presentations. We will provide detailed information on this project to 
all accepted presenters at a later date.

PhD panel
The symposium  will feature a PhD panel for young scholars to give them 
the opportunity to present their (PhD-) projects and receive feedback 
from experienced researchers. Presentations of projects at any stage and 
on any topic related to game studies are welcome. The PhD panel will be 
moderated by the sections’ YECREA representative.

*Application process*

Abstracts should be max. 300 words + bibliography.

To apply for the PhD panel, add “PhD panel:'' to the title of your 
submission.
Panel proposals should include 1) a 300-word rationale for the panel, 2) 
a 150-word abstract describing each participant's contribution.
*
*
*Submission *should be made through the online form available here:
https://forms.gle/8oaufepKyuo92R419 <https://forms.gle/8oaufepKyuo92R419>
The submission *deadline* is *30th April 2023.*

*Decisions* on the proposals will be made by the end of May 2023.

The conference will be held at the Faculty of Information Sciences, 
Complutense University of Madrid, Spain.
The *conference fee is 70 Euros* (50 Euros for PhD students) and will 
include catering for lunch and coffee breaks. Each participant should 
cover their travel and accommodation costs.

For further information contact:
Felix Reer: (felix.reer /at/ uni-muenster.de) <mailto:(felix.reer /at/ uni-muenster.de)>
(moritz.schweiger /at/ phil.uni-augsburg.de) 
<mailto:(moritz.schweiger /at/ phil.uni-augsburg.de)>

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