EasyChair Smart CFPUser Guide/Log in
CFP
BIPOCG2: BIPOC Game Studies 2027
University of Miami
Coral Gables, FL, United States, January 14-15, 2027
Conference websitehttps://bipocgames.com/
Submission linkhttps://easychair.org/conferences/?conf=bipocg2
Abstract registration deadlineJuly 1, 2026
Submission deadlineJuly 1, 2026

Call for Papers: BiPOC Games Conference Academic Track

Call for Submissions: The 2nd BIPOC Game Studies Conference

January 14–15, 2027 (due July 1, 2026), Miami, Florida

The committee for the second BIPOC Game Studies Conference invites paper and presentation submissions aligning with the conference's many themes. In this year’s edition, we seek inspiration, theory, and empirical research widely applied to BIPOC Game Studies. Work related to AAPI (Asian American and Pacific Islander), Black, and Gloal Indigenous scholarship in games, players, and related media are encouraged to submit work for peer review. Such work includes perspectives from creators, game studies scholars, and their allies examining these domains. The conference aims to create an inclusive environment that combines experienced and rising scholars. All areas of academic and professional specialty are invited to submit their work.

This year, the program supports, industry talks, creative showcase, panels, abstracts and full papers. Abstracts and accepted full papers will be published with Play Story Press in conference proceedings. Full and short papers will also be considered for publication in the ACM Games Research and Practice Journal after the conference. All submissions will be double-blind, peer-reviewed.  We encourage review of the prior conference for additional context.

We encourage scholarly and creative reflection on the ways in which the following conference themes intersect:

Conference Themes:

  • Representation and Identity in Video Games

    • Exploring how video games represent Indigenous, Black, AAPI, and allied communities.

    • Analyzing identity formation and expression within digital and analog games.

    • Case studies of impactful representation and the "model minority" myth in gaming.

  • Digital and Analog Games and Play as Cultural Artifact

    • Investigating games as cultural artifacts reflecting societal values, histories, and diasporic experiences.

    • Comparative analysis of digital versus analog gaming in various global and cultural contexts.

    • The role of traditional games in contemporary culture.

  • Fostering, Analyzing, and Critiquing Games From BIPOC Groups

    • Highlighting games created by Black, Indigenous, and AAPI developers.

    • Critical perspectives on the portrayal of Asian American and Pacific Islanders, Black and Global Indigenous experiences in gaming.

    • The impact of these games on broader cultural narratives.

  • Decolonizing Game Development and Design

    • Strategies for decolonizing game development practices and resisting Western-centric design paradigms.

    • Case studies of decolonized game design processes.

    • Theoretical frameworks for understanding decolonization in gaming.

  • Indigenous, Black, and AAPI Knowledge Systems and Gaming

    • Integration of Indigenous, Black, and Asian knowledge systems in game narratives and mechanics.

    • Games as a medium for preserving and transmitting cultural knowledge across generations.

    • Collaborative projects between game developers and cultural knowledge keepers.

  • Futurism and Gaming

    • The influence of Afrofuturism and Indigenous/Asian Futurisms in game design and storytelling.

    • Imagining future worlds through diverse cultural lenses in gaming.

  • Cultural Preservation and Digital Heritage

    • The role of gaming in preserving and promoting digital heritage for underrepresented and global majority communities.

    • Projects and initiatives focused on cultural preservation through games.

    • Ethical considerations in digitizing and gamifying cultural heritage.

  • Social Impact and Activism in Gaming

    • Games as tools for social change, activism, and addressing anti-BIPOC sentiment.

    • Case studies of games with significant social impact.

    • Analyzing the effectiveness of games in raising awareness and driving action.

  • Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Playful Technologies

    • Assessing the state of DEI in the gaming industry, including the specific challenges faced by AAPI, Black, and Indigenous professionals.

    • Best practices for fostering inclusive game development environments.

    • Challenges and solutions for achieving true equity in gaming.

Submission Guidelines

Submission Guidelines:

  • Abstract and Full Paper Submission Deadline: July 1, 2026
  • Creative Showcase Deadline: July 15, 2026
  • Industry Talk Deadline: July 15, 2026
  • Notification of Acceptance: September 1, 2026
  • Conference Dates: January 14–15, 2027
  • Conference Location: University of Miami, Coral Gables, Florida

Submission Requirements:

  • Abstracts should be between 500-800 words.
  • Full papers should be between 2,500 and 7,000 words, including references (not to exceed 10,000 words).
  • Submissions must be original and not under consideration for publication elsewhere.
  • Full papers, abstracts and panel proposals must folow Microsoft Word template. Please review Sample PDF submission.
  •  
    • Adhering to the recommended template supports equitable and timely review of papers as well as encouraging rapid publication upon acceptance.  

Submission Process:

  • Submit your abstracts and full papers through our online submission system at:
    • Easy chair placeholder URL (application pending) 
  • For any questions regarding the submission process, please contact us at chair@blackgamestudies.org 

We invite researchers, scholars, game developers, and practitioners to contribute to a vibrant and inclusive dialogue at the BiPOC Games Conference. Join us in exploring and shaping the future of gaming through diverse perspectives and innovative research via one of the following submission formats:

Abstract: A 500-800 word overview of your 15 minute presentation at the conference, focusing on core concepts to be discussed and citing and references as appropriate.  Abstracts are a great way to share prior experience, case study, or share a work-in-progress aiming for further development or feedback.  

Full Paper: A 2,500 - 5,000 word paper for a 20-30 minute presentation at the conference.  Full papers are the only format that will be considered for publication beyond proceedings.  

Panel: An approximately 800 word overview of topics to be discussed and panel members who have consented to be included in the panel. Panels should explore a specific area in the conference’s wider themes and panel submissions should not only list the 100-200 word biographies of the panelists, but also describe how this collection of experts will explore a specific theme. Panels are planned for 30-45 minutes of programming.  

Professional Presentations (no academic publication):  Industry professionals interested in speaking are encouraged to complete the following form instead of submitting through easy chair: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScIOcSMRHKui0BJgLl1Yn4VabfNsr1yyLB0VULya29lAXM3MQ/viewform 

Creative Showcase: Submit games and other playable media for live demo during the conference: https://forms.gle/jA7czhNSKPofaGRG9

  • Other submission formats will be considered, but require pre-approval by the conference chairs. Please send an email with a description of the submission type and content to chair@blackgamestudies.org at least 3 weeks prior to the submission deadline for feedback and instructions.

 

Submission Guidelines

A limited number of travel support grants will be provided to emerging scholars.  These 5 travel support grants will be given to accepted conference papers or industry speakers without corporate travel support. Please submit your work and await review decisions. Awards will be granted based on the merit of the work submitted. 

Conference Chairs:

  • Lindsay Grace, Knight Chair in Interactive Media at the University of Miami
  • Abbie Hamilton, AAPI in Gaming

 

Organizing and Program Committee:

  • Krystal Cooper, Rochester Institute of Technology IGME

  • Akil Fletcher, Cotsen Postdoctoral Fellow in the Society of Fellows and Lecturer in the Anthropology Department at Princeton University

  • Stephen Jacobs, Rochester Institute of Technology (emeritus)

  • Dr. Aaron Trammell, University of California-Irvine

  • Lien Tran, DePaul University

  • Allen Turner, Depaul University

  • Carl Varnado, Black In Gaming

  • Gerald Voorhees, University of Waterloo

 

Contact

All questions about submissions should be emailed to chair@blackgamestudies.org

Copyright © 2002 – 2026 EasyChair