Game Studies: 2011 PCA/ACA National Conference. The Game Studies area of the National Popular Culture Association and the American Culture Association Conference invites proposals for papers and panels on games and game studies for the joint meeting of the National Popular Culture Association/American Culture Association and the Southwest/Texas Popular Culture and American Culture Associations Conference to be held Wednesday, April 20, through Saturday, April 23, 2010, at the Marriott Rivercenter San Antonio and the Marriott-San Antonio Riverwalk in San Antonio, TX The organizers seek proposals covering all aspects of gaming, gaming culture and game studies. Proposals can address any game medium (computer, social, console, tabletop, etc) and all theoretical and methodological approaches are welcome. Possible topics include but are not limited to: -- new game mediums and platforms (Facebook, iPhone/iPad/iPod, etc) -- representation or performance of race, class, gender and sexuality in games -- gaming culture, game specific cultures, and multicultural and cross-cultural issues -- game development, design, authorship and other industry issues -- game advertising, reviews, packaging, promotion, integrated marketing and other commercial concerns -- political and legal entailments such as regulation, censorship, intellectual property -- ludology, textual criticism, media ecology, narratology, etc as paradigms for games studies -- player generated content in MUDs and MMORPGs, Mods, maps and machinima -- game genres, platforms, consoles, console wars and connections to other media -- serious games for education, business, healthcare, (military) training, etc -- space and place in games, play spaces, virtual/physical communities, mobile gaming and localization -- digital literacy, discourse practices, social norms and norming, the politics of play -- public discourse/controversy over violence, militarism, sex, criminality, racism, etc in games So that there will be ample time for discussion, each individual paper presentation should be designed to last approximately fifteen minutes (there will be four presentations per session with time for Q&A). For individual paper submissions, your 250-word (maximum) abstract must be received by December 15, 2010. At the top of your proposal, please include the title of the paper, your name (and the name of any co-presenters), affiliation, mailing address, and e-mail address. This information will be used in the program and to mail your conference materials. At the end of your abstract, please include a list of 3 to 5 keywords. The Game Studies area of the National Popular Culture Association and the American Culture Association Conference also invites complete panel submissions, which may take the form of debates, dialogs, roundtable discussions, thematic panels, (or other format,) and be designed to last approximately eighty minutes. For complete panel submissions, please submit a 250-word panel abstract, as well as 100-word abstracts for each individual presentation. Be sure to include the proposed title of the panel, the organizer's name, affiliation, mailing address, and email, and include this information for all panelists. Panel submissions must be received by December 15, 2010. Technology for use during presentations may be limited. More information about the conference can be found at http://www.pcaaca.org/ <http://www.pcaaca.org/> Please also note that presenters will be required to join either the Popular Culture Association or the American Culture Association prior to attending the conference, as well as pay a registration fee for the conference. Please email all paper and panel proposals to digitalgames.pcaaca@gmail.com <mailto:digitalgames.pcaaca@gmail.com> . Questions and concerns can be sent to the address above, or may be directed to one of the area chairs listed below. Katie Whitlock, Theatre Department, California State University, Chico klwhitlock@csuchico.edu <mailto:klwhitlock@csuchico.edu> Gerald Voorhees, Nido Qubien School of Communication, High Point University gvoorhee@highpoint.edu <mailto:gvoorhee@highpoint.edu> Joshua Call, Department of English, Grand View University jcall@grandviewl.edu <mailto:jcall@grandviewl.edu> Tony Avruch, American Culture Studies Program, Bowling Green State University avruch.pca@gmail.com <mailto:avruch.pca@gmail.com> Gerald Voorhees, Ph.D. Assistant Professor of Games and Interactive Media Nido R. Qubein School of Communication Drawer 33 High Point University High Point, NC 27262-3598 Tel: 336.841.9174 Office: Qubein 356 www.communication.highpoint.edu/ Co-Chair, Game Studies Area Popular Culture Association National Conference http://www.pcaaca.org/ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ At High Point University, every student receives an extraordinary education in an inspiring environment with caring people.