Call for Papers

Society for Cinema and Media Studies (SCMS) 2015
Video Game Studies Scholarly Interest Group
Montreal, March 25-29, 2015

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 2015 conference, Wednesday, March 25th to Sunday, March 29th at the Queen Elizabeth Hotel in Montreal. 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 participants. Using the subject line “SCMS 2015,” please send your panel topic, a description, a deadline for submissions, and your contact info no later than Friday, July 18th to scms.vgssig@gmail.com.

We also encourage organizers to post their panel calls on the VGSSIG message board, where a “SCMS 2015 CFP” category will be created for this purpose.

Panel topics might include, but are not limited to:

• Age and ability in games
• Animation and games
• Avatar studies
• Class in games
• Close readings of specific games
• Code studies
• Feminist game studies
• Games and other media (film, television, comic books, music, etc.)
• Gaming cultures and subcultures
• Gender and sexuality in games
• Humor, comedy and games
• Indie and alternative games
• Interactivity and games
• Platform studies
• Queer game studies
• Race and ethnicity in games
• Software studies
• Teaching game studies
• The game industry and labor
• Transmedia studies
• Video game history
• Video game theory
• Virtual worlds and environments

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 21st. 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 18th 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 29th 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.

All the best,

Harrison Gish and Felan Parker
VGSSIG Co-Chairs

Diana Pozo and John Vanderhoef
VGSSIG Graduate Student Representatives