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CfP: Research academic track at Develop: Brighton Annual Conference 2019

Develop: Research academic track at Develop: Brighton Annual Conference 2019, Hilton Brighton Metropole Hotel

Theme: Games for Good

Date of event: 9 July 2019

Deadline for submissions: 7 March 2019

The University of Brighton’s Connected Futures, led by Professor Karen Cham, is sponsoring the Develop: Research academic track, an applied research showcase at influential games industry conference, Develop: Brighton. The conference will be held between 9 –11 July 2019 at the Hilton Brighton Metropole in Brighton and will be an opportunity to demonstrate the impactful research and enterprise of our university community and our key collaborators.

Develop: Brighton is an industry-facing event which brings together people from the European gaming community, routinely attracting more than 2000 attendees from across the games industry. This expansive convention features a conference, workshops, networking events and an extremely well-attended exhibition hall. As such, this is an excellent opportunity to showcase industry-facing academic research, identify potential collaborators and gain insight into the breadth of technical and creative innovation shaping the sector.

This year, Develop: Research Chair, Helen Kennedy, is working closely with Professor Gregor White from Abertay University and esteemed colleagues from across the UK to address the gap in a dedicated, sector-facing, game conference where academics at UK universities can engage with industry to generate economic and cultural impact. We will curate critical research presentations, workshops and demonstrations that address the following “Games for Good” thematics:

  1. Games for Good – Sustaining the future of the games industry. What are the technological, aesthetic and cultural developments to be aware of in order to ensure the continued success of games in the immersive experience economy? What new partnerships are made possible, necessary, even vital to ensure the continuation of this creative sphere? What fields of artistry and innovation do contemporary developers draw upon in order to invigorate the industry?
  2. Games for Good – How can academic research and engagement enable games, games culture and the games industry to ‘clean up’ the toxic image it has as a space of employment, an immature art form and as an inclusive leisure activity? To what extent might researchers positively intervene in controversies surrounding game titles, cultures and practices? In what ways can criticism contribute to the creation of ethical games and ethical gaming?
  3. Games for Good – An opportunity to showcase the leading edge of academic research deploying the immersive and interactive potentials of games to promote innovation in relation to health, social engagement, political awareness or educational benefits.

Selected presentations will be considered for review and potential publication.

Conventional papers, panels, workshops and demonstrations are all welcome.

Please submit an abstract of no more than 300 words, a bio and keywords outlining your proposed session to: FuturesAdmin@brighton.ac.uk by the deadline of 7 March 2019.

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