Women in Games Conference 2006
Location: University of Teesside, UK.
Date: 10th and 11th July 2006
Call for papers
Now entering its third year the Women in Games conference is seeking participants from both the academic, creative and industrial communities. Through this annual event we aim to disseminate the most recent, groundbreaking work into games (past, present and future), especially (but not exclusively) with reference to the experience of women playing, developing and responding to games and game culture. The conference will also provide networking opportunities for those within the industry as well as providing support for researchers and developers who are exploring and redressing the game industry’s gender imbalance.
This year we would like to address three broad themes:
Transformations:
“Looking backward” – for example, this might include accounts of previous or existing economically or politically motivated initiatives that have sought to transform some aspect of game production or consumption.
and
“Looking forward” – alternative games initiatives by artists or small development teams.
Mobility:
Contributions are invited which attend to the developments surrounding
mobile game production and/or consumption. This theme will include
work which relates to contemporary technological challenges and constraints as well as highlighting work which looks at the role of mobile gaming and everyday life (for both adults and children).
Differences:
Gameplay around the world – continuities and differences.
How are games produced and consumed differently in different geographical spaces and places? We are particularly interested in showcasing research into less dominant consumption and production cultures.
Contributions are invited as either individual papers, posters or panels which address these themes. Other areas of interest include (but are not limited to) the following:
Gaming and everyday life
Children’s gaming culture (industry and academic perspectives are
welcome)
Histories of play and game culture
Theoretical and Methodological Issues in Game Studies
Political games and gaming practices
Women and online gaming – including card games such as poker Female Avatar Construction – changes, continuities, developments & critique Marketing Games – building audiences without the booth babes? Game Art & Game Curation MMORPGs Advergaming.
Types of submission:
Submissions can be made within the following categories: full paper, short paper, poster, panel or student forum. All submissions will be anonymously peer-reviewed by the Women in Games steering committee.
Full papers
Full papers are reports of completed research and will be published in the conference proceedings. Papers may address any of the areas identified in the conference topics. Submissions should report original work, which has not been previously published. Full papers will not exceed 16 pages including all diagrams and be prepared using the format for Volume 1 of the conference proceedings.
Electronically submit a cover sheet, which includes the paper title, the name, address, phone and fax numbers, and email address of each author and a 30 word summary that will be suitable for inclusion in the programme and on the website to introduce the paper. Submit an abstract, not to exceed 1200 words, which must include – at the top of the first page – the paper title and a statement as to whether the research is completed or the anticipated date of completion (which must be PRIOR to the camera-ready submission date). Any paper proposal extending beyond the 1200 words will be excluded from consideration.
Short papers
Submissions are solicited of short papers that address any of the conference topics. Authors are encouraged to submit late-breaking research results and work in progress that show the latest innovative ideas. Short paper submissions should report original work and must not have been published previously nor be a condensed version of previously published papers. Short papers will not exceed 6 pages including all diagrams and be prepared using the format for Volume 2 of the conference proceedings.
Electronically submit a cover sheet, which includes the paper title, the name, address, phone and fax numbers, and email address of each author and a 30 word summary that will be suitable for inclusion in the programme and on the website to introduce the paper. Submit an abstract, not exceeding 600 words, which must include – at the top of the first page – the paper title and a statement as to whether the research is completed or a work-in-progress. Any paper proposal extending beyond the 600 words will be excluded from consideration.
Posters
Poster submissions addressing any of the areas identified in the conference topics are invited. Authors are encouraged to demonstrate work in progress and late-breaking research results that show the latest innovative ideas. Electronically submit a cover sheet, which includes the poster title, the name, address, phone and fax numbers, and email address of each author and a 30 word summary that will be suitable for inclusion in the programme and on the website to introduce the poster. Submit a two-page summary, which will be used as the basis for review. Posters will not be included in the proceedings.
Panel, Workshop, Masterclass
Suggestions from industry and academia are welcomed. Electronically submit a cover sheet, which includes the theme for the panel discussion, the name, address, phone and fax numbers, and email address of the chair for the panel and a 500 word statement explaining the panel with 250 word individual abstracts for each panellist. Successful candidates will be responsible for enlisting panel members and chairing the panel.
Student Forum
Under-graduate and Graduate students are encouraged to present at the student forum to be held during the conference. Electronically submit a cover sheet, which includes the presentation title, the name, address, phone and fax numbers, and email address of each author and a 30 word summary that will be suitable for inclusion in the programme and on the website to introduce the presentation. Submit an abstract no longer than 1000 words summarising the research activity, which will be used as the basis for review. Successful candidates will present their work at the conference.
Conference Language
WiG 2006 is an international conference and contributions are welcomed from all parts of the world. However, the official written and spoken language of the conference is English. Please remember that the delegation will include international representatives from industry and academia and appropriate (“jargon-free”) language should be used at all times.
Important dates:
March 20th, 2006 Deadline for submission in all categories
April 24th, 2006 Notification of acceptance
May 30th, 2006 Camera-ready deadline for FULL papers
June 16th, 2006 Camera-ready deadline for SHORT papers
June 2nd, 2006 Deadline for providing names and affiliations for panel members and chair
Submissions procedure
All abstracts will be reviewed anonymously.
Format your abstract according to the style sheet. To ensure anonymity please omit your name and contact details from the abstract that you submit for review. Complete the cover sheet (Word) or cover sheet (rtf) with your personal details and submit it, with your abstract, electronically to submissions@womeningames.com
Successful applicants only will be notified. Upon notification of acceptance please ensure that the paper you intend to submit for publication is written in accordance with the requirements listed on the style sheet and submitted to submissions@womeningames.com by the relevant deadline. Short papers are not to exceed 6 pages and full papers are not to exceed 16 pages, including references. Accepted papers will not be published unless the conference registration costs are paid by 30th May 2006.