9th International Conference on the Philosophy of Computer Games

Meaning and Computer Games

Berlin, 14-17 October 2015

http://2015.gamephilosophy.org

We hereby invite scholars in any field of studies who take a professional interest in the philosophy of computer games to submit papers to the 9th International Conference on the Philosophy of Computer Games, to be held in Berlin, 14-17 October 2015.

This year’s conference is devoted to the philosophical exploration of how meaning phenomena contribute to the nature as well as the socio-cultural role of computer games.

Accepted contributions will deal with philosophical approaches to the various mechanisms and structures of meaning production that characterize computer games and game play practices. Ideally contributions address one or more of the perspectives indicated below.

Besides this central theme, the conference also features an open category for which we explicitly invite submissions that do not fit the conference topic but which are in any case clearly valuable contributions to the philosophy of computer games.

Regarding the central topic “meaning and computer games” we aim to emphasise the following four perspectives:

1. Computer games as carriers of representational meanings: How do games convey meaning? Which interpretation methods are most feasible for understanding computer games? Which theories, concepts, and models of meaning-making (e.g. semantics, semiotics, hermeneutics, rhetoric, logic) may apply in the case of computer games in general, or in individual games? How do computer games challenge standing theories of meaning?
2. Meaning production in game play: Is there a unique kind of meaning that applies specifically to the activity of game play? How does such meaning differ from semantic, semiotic, hermeneutic and logic-based conceptions of meaning? What characterises meaningful activities in games? How should we characterize the player’s interpretations of the activity of game play? How can the experience of meaning arise in computer game play?
3. Value and computer games: How do specific forms of meaning-production in computer games and game play contribute to their wider existential, social and cultural value? What is the meaning of in-game values in computer games, how do they relate to general values?
4. Designing for meaning in games: Which philosophies help us theorise the concept and practices of meaningful game design? How can philosophical approaches to meaning contribute to enriching game design in general?

Contributions will have a clear focus on philosophy and philosophical issues in relation to computer games. They will refer to specific examples of computer games rather than merely invoke them in more general terms.

Abstracts should have a maximum of 1000 words excluding bibliography. Please indicate if you intend your paper to fit in the “open” category. The deadline for submissions is Midnight GMT, 1 July, 2015. Please submit your abstract through review.gamephilosophy.org. All submitted abstracts will be subject to double blind peer review.

Notification of accepted submissions will be sent out by 15 August 2015. A full paper draft must then be submitted by 28 September 2015 and will be made available on the conference website.

We also invite proposals for thematic panels/workshops on October 14th. Please contact the programme committee chair if you are interested in organising one.

For information about the conference please visit 2015.gamephilosophy.org and gamephilosophy.org.

Gordon Calleja
Patrick Coppock
Stephan Günzel, organising committee chair
Rune Klevjer
Olli Tapio Leino
Sebastian Möring, programme committee chair
Christopher Thi Nguyen
John Richard Sageng