The Society for Cinema and Media Studies’ Video Game Studies Scholarly Interest Group invites all game scholars to propose papers on game studies and related topics for the SCMS 2014 conference, March 19 through March 23 at the Sheraton Seattle Hotel in Seattle, WA. Information about the general call for papers can be found here: http://www.cmstudies.org/?page=call_for_submissions
In order to encourage game-related submissions to SCMS, the VGSSIG will be compiling a list of pre-constituted panels and workshops looking for for participants. Using the subject line “SCMS 2014,” please send your panel topic, a description, a deadline for submissions, and your contact info no later than Friday, July 12th to scms.vgssig@gmail.com.
We also encourage organizers to post their panel calls on the VGSSIG message board, where a “SCMS 2014 CFP” category will be created for this purpose.
Panel topics might include, but are not limited to
- Video game theory
- Video game history
- Close readings of specific games
- Race and ethnicity in games
- Sex and gender in games
- Games and sexuality
- Class in games
- Age and ability in games
- The game industry and labour
- Virtual worlds and environments
- Indie and alternative games
- Gaming cultures and subcultures
- Platform studies
- Software studies
- Code studies
- Teaching game studies
- Games and other media (film, television, comic books, music, etc.)
- Transmedia studies
Once we have collected the proposed panel topics, we will circulate the full list of proposed panels among our membership and on game studies listservs, no later than July 15th. In the event of overlapping panel topics, we will notify the organizers prior to distributing the CFP so that they may join up if they so choose.
It will be up to panel organizers to notify all applicants as to whether their paper proposals have been accepted by August 16th so that unsuccessful applicants may choose to submit proposals to the general call.
IMPORTANT NOTE: The VGSSIG is not responsible for submitting proposals to SCMS, and is not involved in the review process. Panel organizers must submit their panels via the SCMS Application Portal (http://scms.onlineapplicationportal.com/) before the final deadline of August 30th in order to be considered.
Once SCMS has vetted the applications and announced which panels have been accepted to the conference, the VGSSIG can sponsor up to 8 game-related panels, which will be highlighted in the program.
We hope that this process helps panel organizers find the best-suited participants, and encourages current and future VGSSIG members to submit their work to the conference.