[rohrpost] CFP: Philosophy of Computer Games 2008

[StGuenzel at aol.com]

THE PHILOSOPHY OF COMPUTER GAMES
CONFERENCE  IN POTSDAM MAY 8-10, 2008
1 of 2
Call for Papers
The Philosophy of  Computer Games Conference 2008
We hereby invite scholars in any field who  take a professional interest in 
the
phenomenon of computer games to submit  papers to the international
conference "The Philosophy of Computer Games  2008", to be held in Potsdam,
Germany, on May 8-10, 2008.
Accepted papers  will have a clear focus on philosophy and philosophical 
issues in
relation to  computer games. They will also attempt to use specific examples
rather than  merely invoke "computer games" in general terms. We invite
submissions  focusing on, but not limited to, the following three  headings:
Action|Space
Papers submitted under this heading should address  issues relating to the
experiential, interactional and cognitive dimensions  of computer game play.
What is the nature of perceptual experience in game  space? How should we
understand the relationship between action, interaction  and space in computer
game environments? How should we think about players'  aesthetic, emotive
and(/or) rational responses to what goes on inside the  game space?
Ethics / Politics
What are the ethical responsibilities of  game-makers in exerting influence on
individual gamers and society in  general? What role, if any, can games serve 
as
a critical cultural corrective  in relation to traditional forms of media and
communicative practices, for  example in economy and politics? Also: what is 
the
nature of the ethical  norms that apply within the gaming context, and what 
are
the factors that  allow or delimit philosophical justifications of their 
application
there or  elsewhere?
The Magic Circle
Terms such as "fictionality", "virtuality",  "simulation" or "representation" 
are
often used to indicate specific  functions of objects in games. But what is 
the
nature of the phenomena these  terms refer to in the interactive field of game
play? And what is the  structure of gaming-processes? What is the mediality of
digital games? We are  especially interested in discussions that aim at how 
the
notion of a  self-contained "magic circle" – representing an imagined border
between play  and reality, or the internal and external limits of 
game-programs –
is being  challenged by forms of individual action and social inter action 
which
tend  to transcend such limits.
THE PHILOSOPHY OF COMPUTER GAMES
CONFERENCE IN  POTSDAM MAY 8-10, 2008
2 of 2
Your paper should not exceed 25 000  characters (excluding blanks) and
be accompanied by an abstract of 300 words.  Please specify the primary
focus (topic) of your submission.
Deadline for  submissions is February 15, 2008. Send your paper and abstract
to _submissions at gamephilosophy.org_ (mailto:submissions at gamephilosophy.org) .
All  submitted papers will be subject to double blind peer review, and the
program  committee will make a final selection of papers for the conference on
the  basis of this.
Notification of accepted papers will be sent out by March 12,  2008.
------
Dieter Mersch
Olav Asheim
Patrick Coppock
Espen  Aarseth
The conference is a collaboration between the following  institutions:
• Institute for Arts and Media, European Media Studies at the  University of
Potsdam, Germany
• Department of Philosophy, Classics,  History of Art and Ideas at the
University of Oslo, Norway
• Department of  Social, Cognitive and Quantitative Science at the University
of Modena &  Reggio Emilia, Italy
• Center for Computer Games Research at the  IT-University of Copenhagen,
Denmark
• Philosophical Project Centre (FPS),  Oslo, Norway
For more information, visit _www.gamephilosophy.org_ 
(http://www.gamephilosophy.org)