Game Studies Colloquium set for Nov. 8-10

The Pioneer Valley Game Studies Colloquium, a series of events concerning academic game studies, is being held Nov. 8-10 at UMass Amherst, Smith College and the Modern Myths bookstore in Northampton.

 

The goal of the colloquium is to showcase recent research and expose faculty, students and community members to this ever-expanding field of study.

The scheduled events are as follows:

“Pervasive Games in Stockholm,” a lecture by and discussion with Annika Waern of Stockholm University, Thursday, Nov. 8, 7-9 p.m., Seelye Hall 101, Smith College.

“From Media Studies to Game Studies,” a panel on game studies projects moderated by Evan Torner of UMass Amherst and Smith College, Friday, Nov. 9, 2-4 p.m., 104 Thompson Hall.

 

The panel will include the following short presentations:

• “Press X to Look at Breast: Gender and the Investigatory Gaze in L.A. Noire,” Jen Malkowski, Smith College

• “Postal Mediation and Apocalyptic Game Studies,” Zachary McDowell, UMass Amherst

• “The Phenomenology of Immersion in Tabletop Role-Playing,” William J. White, Penn State Altoona

• “Role-Playing and Genre Analysis,” Emily Care Boss, Black & Green Games

• “Ideas at Play: Teaching Game Design at Hampshire College,” Joshua A.C. Newman, Hampshire College

“Immersive Gameplay: Essays on Participatory Media and Role-Playing,” a reading and book signing with William J. White, Emily Care Boss, Evan Torner and and Katherine Castiello Jones, also of UMass Amherst, Saturday, Nov.  10, 4-6 p.m., Modern Myths, Northampton.

This event is sponsored by the Interdepartmental Program in Film Studies, Department of Communication, German and Scandinavian Studies, the film studies program at Smith College, the Smith Science Fiction and Fantasy Society, ConBust and Modern Myths, Inc.

More information

 

Image: Evan Torner and his book "Immersive Gameplay"