The Game Studies area of the National Popular Culture Association and the American Culture Association Conference invites proposals for papers, panels and completed papers on games and game studies for the Popular Culture Association/American Culture Association National Conference to be held Wednesday, April 11, through Saturday, April 14, 2012, at the Boston Marriott Copley Place<http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/bosco-boston-marriott-copley-place/>in Boston, MA. Below, please find: I. Topics of Interest II. Submission Process III. Information about the Conference IV. Contact Information ---------------------------------------------------------------------- *I. Topics of Interest* The organizers seek proposals and papers 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 *II. Submission Process* The Game Studies area of the National Popular Culture Association and the American Culture Association Conference, which began as the Video Games Studies area in 2003, has the most enduring footprint of any North American academic organization that gives serious attention to the social and cultural impact of games and gaming. The area continues to grow and this year offers three avenues for scholars to participate and present their work. Please email all paper and panel proposals to digitalgames.pcaaca@gmail.com. *A. Paper Proposals* For individual paper proposal submissions, please submit a 250-word (maximum) abstract by *December 23, 2011*. 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. Submissions may also be made online at http://ncp.pcaaca.org. Detailed instructions for using the online submission system can be found at http://www.pcaaca.org/conference/instructions.php. *B. Panel Proposals* For panel submissions, please submit a 250-word panel abstract, as well as 100-word abstracts for each individual presentation, by December 23, 2011. Be sure to include the proposed title of the panel, the organizer’s name, affiliation, mailing address, and email, as well as this information for all panelists. Panel submissions may take the form of debates, dialogs, roundtable discussions, thematic panels, (or other format,) and should be designed to last approximately eighty minutes. Submissions may also be made online at http://ncp.pcaaca.org. Detailed instructions for using the online submission system can be found at http://www.pcaaca.org/conference/instructions.php. *C. Completed Papers* In an effort to reward the many promising scholarly offerings evident at this conference, the area will award a Game Studies area Top Paper (for faculty and professional members) and Top Student Paper (for graduate students). To facilitate this, we are requesting complete papers to allow for a blind review process which can be completed in time for the conference itself. If you are interested in being considered for this award, please submit a 3000 – 4500 word paper by *December 04, 2011*. Complete paper submissions should have a title page with a 250 word (maximum) abstract and 3 to 5 keywords. To facilitate blind review, please ensure there is no author identifying information in the paper or title page. In a separate document, include the title of the paper, your name (and the name of any co-presenters), affiliation, mailing address, and e-mail address. Students should clearly indicate on the title page that the paper is authored solely by a student or students. Those who elect to submit full papers should also consider submitting their work for other awards at the conference as noted below. *III. Information about the Conference* *A.* 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). *B.* Technology for use during presentations may be limited. More information about the conference can be found at http://www.pcaaca.org/** *C.* 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. Information about these fees can be found at http://www.pcaaca.org/conference/membership_registration.php. *D.* Awards and Travel Grants are offered, on a competitive basis, by the National Popular Culture Association / American Culture Association 1. Travel Grants The *Michael Schoenecke Travel Grant for Graduate Students* to the National Conference (for 2011, 32 grants @ $300 each). For application requirements, please visit http://www.pcaaca.org/grant/schoenecke.php The *Peter Rollins Travel Grant for Early-Career Faculty* (for 2011, 12 grants @ $500). For application requirements, please visit http://www.pcaaca.org/grant/rollins.php The *Madonna Marsden International Travel Grant* for Individuals presenting at the National Conference (for 2011, 10 grants @$500 each). For application requirements, please visit http://www.pcaaca.org/grant/marsden.php *2. Graduate Student Awards* *William E. Brigman Award for the Outstanding Graduate Student Paper* presented at the National Conference in a specific year. Applications go to Brigman Award, c/o Gary Hoppenstand, *Journal of Popular Culture*, 4C Morrill Hall, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824 . Please send three hard copies of the paper (without author's name), as well as a copy on disc and photocopy of your student identification card. Those concerned for their privacy may obscure the Social Security number should it appear on the card. Please also include a copy of the acceptance letter/email from the PCA area chair who accepted the paper for presentation in the national conference. Papers should address popular culture and be accepted for a PCA panel. Submissions must be received by January 7th of the year the conference is held. The winning paper must be presented at the upcoming PCA/ACA meeting in the year it is accepted. Should the winning paper not be presented in person, the award will be forfeited. The winning author is invited to submit the essay to *The Journal of Popular Culture* and work with the editor toward its publication. This award is selected by a panel chosen by the editor of the journal. The winner receives a $500 travel award to attend the national conference in the year the paper is selected. *William M. Jones Award for the Outstanding Graduate Student Paper*presented at the National Conference in a specific year. Entries are submitted to Amy Dudley, Editorial Assistant, William M. Jones Graduate Student Paper Award Selection Committee, the* Journal of American Culture*, Virginia Wesleyan College, 1584 Wesleyan Drive, Norfolk, VA 23502. Papers must be submitted by January 7th of the year the conference is held. Three copies of the paper, as well as a photocopy of the applicant's student identification card must be submitted. Papers should address American culture. The winning paper must be presented at the PCA/ACA conference. The winner receives a $500 travel award to attend the national conference in the year the paper is selected. Should the winning paper not be presented in person, the award will be forfeited. The winning author should also submit the essay to the* Journal of American Culture* and work with the editor toward its publication. This award is selected by a panel chosen by the editor of the journal. *IV. Contact Information* Questions and concerns can be sent to digitalgames.pcaaca@gmail.com, or may be directed to one of the area chairs listed below. *Katie Whitlock*, Theatre Department, California State University, Chico klwhitlock@csuchico.edu** *Gerald Voorhees*, School of Art and Communication, Oregon State University gerald.voorhees@oregonstate.edu** *Joshua Call*, Department of English, Grand View University jcall@grandviewl.edu *Tony Avruch*, American Culture Studies Program, Bowling Green State University avruch.pca@gmail.com