WiG 2008: Call for Speakers and Papers!

The Women in Games Conference 2008, which Microsoft is helping to organise, is now issuing a call for speakers and submission of papers!The conference will be held at Warwick University on the 10th – 12th September 2008. If you would like to know more, please visit the Women in Games website.

The goal of the conference is to promote careers for women within the games industry. If games are to become a true sibling medium to music and cinema, the industry needs greater balance in its audience and its workforce. How can more women be encouraged to get into games? How can female perspectives provide fresh gameplay experiences? The Women In Games Conference 2008 aims to answer these questions.

Keep reading for the Call for Papers:

Please keep in mind the themes when submitting papers.

Key Dates:
31/05/08 Submission deadline
15/07/08 Notification of acceptance to all contributors

Types of submission:
Submissions can be made within the following categories: full paper, short paper, poster, panel or student forum. All submissions will be anonymously peer-reviewed by the Women in Games steering committee.
The conference materials are intended to be published in two different ways this year. Firstly, we are hoping to secure a contract to publish a selection of papers that closely address our theme in an appropriate academic journal. Details should be available before the anticipated submission deadline so check the website regularly for updates. Secondly, we are gathering selected papers from this conference along with selected papers from the three preceding Women in Games events in order to publish these in a Women In Games digest again we are still working out the fine detail of where and when this will be published. There will be no automatic publication of conference papers but we are requesting that you follow a specific set of deadlines in relation to your research/contributions if you would like to be considered for either of these volumes.
Full papers
Full papers are reports of research that should be ongoing and complete or near to completion at the time of the conference. Submissions under this route will be entered in to a peer review process for both of the publications. Papers may address any of the areas identified in the conference topics. Previously published work is not eligible. You should expect to have around 20 minutes to present your work and 10 minutes for questions and discussion.
Electronically submit a cover sheet, which includes the paper title, the name, address, phone and fax numbers, and email address of each author and a 30 word summary that will be suitable for inclusion in the programme and on the website to introduce the paper. Submit an abstract, not to exceed 1200 words, which must include – at the top of the first page – the paper title and a statement as to whether the research is completed or the anticipated date of completion. Any paper proposal extending beyond the 1200 words will be excluded from consideration.

Short papers
Submissions are solicited of short papers that address any of the conference topics. Authors are encouraged to submit late-breaking research results and work in progress that show the latest innovative ideas. Short paper submissions should report original work and must not have been published previously nor be a condensed version of previously published papers. Short papers will be considered for inclusion in the Women In Games digest. You should expect to have around 10 minutes for the presentation of your work followed by around 5 – 10 minutes for question and discussion.
Electronically submit a cover sheet, which includes the paper title, the name, address, phone and fax numbers, and email address of each author and a 30 word summary that will be suitable for inclusion in the programme and on the website to introduce the paper. Submit an abstract, not exceeding 600 words, which must include – at the top of the first page – the paper title and a statement as to whether the research is completed or a work-in-progress. Any paper proposal extending beyond the 600 words will be excluded from consideration.

Posters
Poster submissions addressing any of the areas identified in the conference topics are invited. Authors are encouraged to demonstrate work in progress and late-breaking research results that show the latest innovative ideas. Electronically submit a cover sheet, which includes the poster title, the name, address, phone and fax numbers, and email address of each author and a 30 word summary that will be suitable for inclusion in the programme and on the website to introduce the poster.

Submit a two-page summary, which will be used as the basis for review. Posters will not be included in the proceedings.

Panel, Workshop, Masterclass
Suggestions from industry and academia are welcomed. Electronically submit a cover sheet, which includes the theme for the panel discussion, the name, address, phone and fax numbers, and email address of the chair for the panel and a 500 word statement explaining the panel with 250 word individual abstracts for each panellist. Successful candidates will be responsible for enlisting panel members and chairing the panel. Panel should normally involve 3 – 4 participants and you will have around 90 – 120 minutes for all presentations and discussion.
Student Forum
Under-graduate and Graduate students are encouraged to present at the student forum to be held during the conference. Electronically submit a cover sheet, which includes the presentation title, the name, address, phone and fax numbers, and email address of each author and a 30 word summary that will be suitable for inclusion in the programme and on the website to introduce the presentation. Submit an abstract no longer than 1000 words summarising the research activity, which will be used as the basis for review. Successful candidates will present their work at the conference.
Conference Language
WiG 2008 is an international conference and contributions are welcomed from all parts of the world. However, the official written and spoken language of the conference is English. Please remember that the delegation will include international representatives from industry and academia and appropriate (“jargon-free”) language should be used at all times.

Important dates:
31/05/08 Submission Deadline in all categories
15/07/08 Notification of Acceptance sent to all participants
22/08/08 Speakers/Contributors Registration Deadline
05/09/08 Deadline for Open Registration
10-12/09/08 Women in Games 2008

All participants will be provided with further details and guidelines on the publication procedures at the event. It is our hope that we will be able to provide a free copy of the digest/proceedings to all attendants but there is a possibility that there may be a small charge for this publication – again we will notify participants at the event.