Call for Chapter Proposals, Book Project on Video Games
“Rated M for Mature: Sex and Sexuality in Video Games” (tentative title)
The word sex has many implications when it is used in connection with video games. As game studies scholars have argued, games are player-driven experienced. Players must participate in processes of play to move the game forward. You must contribute to keep the game moving forward. The addition of content that incorporates sex and/or sexuality adds complexity that other media do not share. This project seeks to further develop our understanding of the practices and activities of video games, specifically focusing on the intersection of games with sexual content. From the supposed scandal of ‘Hot Coffee’ to the emergence of same-sex romance options in RPGs, this book will explore the concepts of sex and sexuality in the area of video games. The chapters presented in it are intended to consider a range of ideas.
Possible chapters/ideas to investigate include:
- How do players explore freedom of choice with regard to sexuality?
- How do different genres impact the presentation of sex and sexuality?
- How might sexuality impact questions of design?
- How might questions of design impact sexuality?
- How might sexual content in games’ narratives or game play impact the player or the game?
- How does controlling sexuality in the virtual world of games influence sexuality in the non-virtual world?
- How might we re-conceptualize “performing” sex thanks to new forms of video game controllers like the Wii or Xbox’s Kinect?
If you would like to propose a chapter for this project, please send a short author(s) bio as well as a 750 word abstract along with title to Matthew Wysocki (mwysocki@flagler.edu) or Evan W. Lauteria (ewlauteria@ucdavis.edu). The deadline for receipt of all proposals is July 30, 2013. We will attempt to notify all correspondents by September 15 regarding the status of their submission. Completed draft manuscripts will be due by January 15, 2014.
Matthew Wysocki
Assistant Professor
Department of Communication
Flagler College
Editor: CTRL-ALT-PLAY, Essays on Control in Video Games
McFarland Publishing