Call for Papers

[bneuensc]

Please circulate this CFP to those who might be interested in it.


CALL FOR PAPERS

Ben Aldred and Bryn Neuenschwander are soliciting papers for an academic volume on role-playing games.

The purpose of the volume is to lay the foundation for future scholarly analysis of role-playing games.  Papers may be from any discipline (anthropology, folklore, sociology, literary criticism, popular culture etc.) and any theoretical framework, but should be analytical, rather than descriptive or "how-to" essays.  The volume will be organized into four broad sections:

GROUNDWORK
This opening section will include material basic to the ongoing study of role-playing games.  Examples: a history of the genre's development.  The relationship of RPGs to similar activities such as collectible card games, video games, improvisational theatre, historical re-enactment, dinner murder mysteries, etc.  A descriptive typology of games.  A critical overview of current RPG theory, and what theoretical frameworks from other disciplines might be of relevance.

RPGS AS NARRATIVE
The articles in this section will address the narrative aspects of RPGs.  Examples: the mechanics by which RPG narrative are created.  Analysis of the kinds of narrative structure seen in games.  Comparison of pre-written, published scenarios to individual scenarios.  Comparison of one-shot games to ongoing campaigns.  Character background narratives and their relationship to the ongoing narrative of the game.

RPGS AS GAME
This section will examine RPGs as a game-playing activity.  Examples: comparative analysis of systems and how they function in play.  Statistical analyses of probability in RPGs.  House rules and other modifications of system.  Player strategies for overcoming challenges.  In-group player dynamics (inter-PC conflict, power gamers, etc).

COMMUNITY
The final section of the book will step beyond the immediate matter of the games themselves to the social context in which they are produced, distributed, and played.  Examples: demographics of the gamer community.  Player identification as members of that community.  Conventions.  Authorial response to player reaction (playtest groups, revised editions, etc).  "Independent" games versus corporations.  The economic environment of games.


PROPOSALS ARE DUE NO LATER THAN MAY 1ST, 2005.  All proposals should contain the following: a brief description of the topic and tentative conclusions; a sample bibliography and/or description of fieldwork methods; an estimated word-count; and a short biography listing your relevant experience and academic or professional credentials.  Proposals and questions regarding this project should be sent to (bneuensc AT indiana DOT edu) and (baldred AT indiana DOT edu), within the body of the message ONLY (no attachments).

[bneuensc]

Just as a reminder to interested parties, proposals are due by May 1st.  If you're interested but uncertain of what to write on, drop us a line; we can offer feedback on what we're looking for.


--Bryn

[Victor Gijsbers]

Dear Bryn,

Could you expound a bit on the practical aspects of this project? As in: what kind of peer review process will the papers be put through? Is there an academic publisher interested in publishing this volume, or will you try to publish it yourselves? Are the authors of articles allowed to retain their copyright?

[bneuensc]

Dear Bryn,

Could you expound a bit on the practical aspects of this project? As in: what kind of peer review process will the papers be put through? Is there an academic publisher interested in publishing this volume, or will you try to publish it yourselves? Are the authors of articles allowed to retain their copyright?

McFarland Publishing is interested in the book, but we need to assemble a table of contents before we can submit a formal proposal to them, so that's still tentative.  If matters fall through with them, we'll seek out another academic publisher.  Whether or not the authors retain copyright will depend on the contract with the publisher; unfortunately, in the academic world, that's the exception rather than the norm.  (However, scholars are masters of remixing their own papers into something *just* different enough to print again elsewhere . . . .)

As for a peer review process, we're not going to have a full, formal review; the interdisciplinary nature of the book, combined with the unusual topic, means that really isn't feasible.  (The people most qualified to sit on such a review panel will probably already be in the book. :) )  We do have plans, though, for editing the papers, and will likely work with academics in various subfields to review individual papers as needed.


--Bryn

[Vaxalon]

...
RPGS AS NARRATIVE
...
RPGS AS GAME
...

Get Tony Lower-Basch to comment on this...

[bneuensc]

...
RPGS AS NARRATIVE
...
RPGS AS GAME
...

Get Tony Lower-Basch to comment on this...

My personal philosophy is that RPGs sit smack on top of the fence between game-land and story-land, and that while individual game designs and players may swing it toward one or the other, taken as a whole, the genre hybridizes the two.  Hence structuring the book in this manner.


--Bryn