Call for papers

SUBMISSION LINK

The 24th of February stands as a stark reminder of the devastating impact of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine by the Russian Federation—a tragedy that continues to reshape our world. Over 10 years of conflict, the largest war in the past 75 years has provided numerous lessons for humanity to learn, preserve, and share with future generations many of them reflected in video games.

The “Games of War” Conference offers a platform to explore how video games, as digital artifacts, reflect the themes of tragedy, resilience, and heroism. This event aims to deepen our understanding of how interactive media captures and interprets historic events, fostering nuanced discussions about the intersection of history, conflict, and digital storytelling.

We invite scholars, researchers, and game developers to join us in examining the intersection of war in Ukraine and the medium of video games.

Themes and Topics (focused on the Russian invasion of Ukraine):

  • Historical Representation
    Analyze how video games depict the events and consequences of the Russian Federation’s invasion of Ukraine. Explore the accuracy and depth of these representations.

  • Narrative and Metaphorical Content
    Investigate storytelling techniques used to convey the complexities of war and human emotions. Discuss how developers blend historical accuracy with creative expression.

  • Player Experience
    Examine the influence of war-themed games on players’ perceptions and attitudes. Consider the role of empathy, immersion, and interactivity in shaping an understanding of historical events.

  • Ethical Considerations
    Address the ethical challenges of representing real-world conflicts in games. Reflect on the responsibilities game creators bear when dealing with sensitive geopolitical issues.

  • Educational Potential
    Explore the role of war-themed games as educational tools. Discuss their potential to promote critical thinking, historical awareness, and understanding among players.

  • Other Relevant Topics
    Contributions addressing other aspects of the war in Ukraine as portrayed through games are also welcome.

Conference Highlights:

  1. Keynote Speakers

    • Leading figures in history, game development, and conflict studies will present keynote addresses, offering unique perspectives on the power of gaming narratives in understanding geopolitical realities.
  2. Panel Discussions

    • Participate in engaging discussions featuring experts exploring the historical, ethical, and educational dimensions of war-themed games.


Join us as we delve into the deep impact of games as a medium to reflect on and document the realities of war.

Submissions 

Talks submission abstract deadline: 23rd January 2025

Proposed talks have to be submitted as abstracts of approximately 500 words (400 words minimum and 600 words maximum). Each submission needs to be accompanied by a list of references cited within the abstract, which do not count towards the word limit. 

Some recommended sources:

  1. David Mullich speech from “Games of War” Conference 2024 https://davidmullich.com/2024/02/26/games-of-war/

  2. Video of Lecture at Digital Dragons Conference 15-16 of May 2023 by Dr. Yaraslau Kot “Games of War Games that were born from flames of russian aggression”  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ROfGimRK_hw

  3. Presentation (pdf) of the Lecture at University of Gdansk on 1st of December 2023 by Dr. Yaraslau Kot    https://drive.google.com/drive/u/0/search?q=after:2023-12-18

  4. Article from DOU.UA (2022) covers 15 games about Full Scale Invasion https://gamedev.dou.ua/articles/ukrainian-games-about-the-war-against-russia/?from=tg&utm_source=telegram&utm_medium=social

  5. Article from The Guardian (2022) on games about the Invasion  https://www.theguardian.com/games/2022/oct/07/meet-the-ukrainians-making-video-games-about-russias-invasion

  6. Article from Polygon.com (2022) overviewing several games about Invasion https://www.polygon.com/23157926/ukraine-russia-war-indie-games

  7. Article from Mezha.Media (2023) overviewing games developed in Ukraine during the Full Scale War  https://mezha.media/en/articles/made-in-ukraine-ukrainian-games-2023


Interactive Exhibitions:

Attendees will have the opportunity to explore interactive exhibitions showcasing relevant games and technologies, fostering a hands-on understanding of the conference themes.

To suggest your showcase item:

Call opens: 18th of December 2024

Showcase submission deadline: 10th of February 2025

Notification Deadline: within a week of submission

Event: 24th of February 2025

Where to submit: histgameconf@gmail.com

Important dates

  • 23rd January 2025 - abstract submission deadline
  • 6th February 2025 - notification of acceptance
  • 24th February 2025 - conference date