[rohrpost] Call for Papers: The Philosophy of Computer Games, August 13 - 15, 2009 in Oslo

[Sebastian Möring | Digarec]

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THE PHILOSOPHY OF COMPUTER GAMES

INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE IN OSLO 2009

 

August 13-15, 2009

 

 

CALL FOR PAPERS

 

 

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 2009", to be held in Oslo,
Norway, on August 13-15, 2009.

 

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:

 

 

Fictionality and Interaction

 

Computer games are often conceived as a setting for fictional narratives,
facts, objects and events, although the interactive setting is thought to
give fictionality a special character and to be intertwined with
non-fictional aspects in various ways. We invite papers on relevant
discussions of fictionality, narrative, fictional objects, simulation,
virtuality, and kindred cognitive notions like make-believe, pretense, and
imagination.

 

 

Defining Computer Games

 

Is it possible to point to some defining characteristic(s) of computer
games? We are especially interested in discussions of formal definitions of
computer games in terms of characteristics such as rules, play,
representation, computation, affordances, interaction, negotiable
consequences, and so on. We welcome both constructive and critical
discussions, as long as they are directed at clearly articulated proposals.

 

 

Ethical and Political Issues

 

What are the ethical responsibilities of game-makers in relation to
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?

 

Your abstract should not exceed 1000 words. If your submission falls under
one of the three headings, please indicate which one. Send your abstract to
submissions at gamephilosophy.org. All submitted abstracts 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. Full
manuscripts must be submitted by August 8, and will be made available on the
conference website.

 

Deadline for submissions is June 1, 2009. Notification of accepted
submissions will be sent out by June 10, 2009.

 

 

Olav Asheim

Miguel Sicart

Frans Mäyrä

Patrick Coppock

Sten Ludvigsen

Ole Ertløv Hansen

Stephan Günzel

Runje Klevjer

John Richard Sageng

Ragnhild Tronstad

 

 

The conference is a collaboration between the following institutions:

 

• Department of Philosophy, Classics, History of Art and Ideas at the
University of Oslo, Norway • Department of Media and Communication,
University of Oslo, Norway • Digital Games Research Center, University of
Potsdam, Germany • Department of Social, Cognitive and Quantitative Science
at the University of Modena & Reggio Emilia, Italy • Nordic Game Research
Network • Intermedia, University of Oslo, Norway • Games Research Lab,
University of Tampere, Finland • Center for Computer Games Research at the
IT-University of Copenhagen, Denmark • Philosophical Project Centre (FPS),
Oslo, Norway • Department of Information Science and Media Studies,
University of Bergen, Norway

 

For more information and for pdf-version of the call, visit
www.gamephilosophy.org