University News Last updated 16 May 2024
探花直播鈥�(BCU) is reinforcing its status as the鈥痟ome鈥痮f鈥痺orld-renowned鈥痸ideo game鈥痳esearch by鈥痟osting鈥痶wo international鈥痗onferences this summer.
It will stage the听History of Games conference from鈥�22-24 May, followed by the鈥� from鈥�12-14鈥疭eptember.鈥�
Nick Webber,鈥疊CU鈥疉ssociate Professor in Media, said:鈥�淗osting both conferences shows鈥痺e鈥檙e recognised as one of the best places in the UK for games鈥痳esearch -鈥痑nd鈥痠nternationally, too.听
鈥淥ur research鈥痵pecialisms span the鈥痟istories of games,鈥痟ow history is presented in games, fandom and online game communities,鈥痯olitics, and posthumanism.听
鈥淢any of our鈥痳esearchers publish books and鈥痗ontribute to鈥痭ationally and鈥痠nternationally funded projects in these areas.鈥�
鈥淚t鈥檚 rare for a university to have such broad yet deep鈥痚xpertise in video game research. Just like the Midlands games industry,鈥痠t鈥檚 one of 探花直播鈥檚 best-kept secrets!鈥澨�
One in 10鈥疷K鈥痸ideo鈥痝ame companies are based in the鈥疢idlands,鈥痯roducing鈥�13% of UK games.听
Among those Midlands companies are the world-renowned Rare and鈥疌odemasters.听
The region鈥痠s also the home of鈥疌entresoft, the鈥疷K鈥檚 leading video game distributor, and was鈥痑lso the base for鈥疦ewsfield Publications,鈥痺hich鈥痗irculated鈥痝aming magazines in the 1980s.听
The 11th 补苍苍耻补濒鈥�History of Games鈥痗onference鈥痺ill鈥痚xplore the relationship between games and families 鈥� which has particular resonance for the Midlands game industry given the number of prolific family enterprises.听
Dr Alex Wade,鈥疊CU Senior Research Fellow, explained: 鈥淔rom the Thomas family in Leicestershire鈥痶o the Stamper family at Rare via the Oliver Twins at鈥疌odemasters, families and games have an irresistible connection.听
鈥淲e鈥檙e interested in the way different games and media come together to create families. Families are full of relationships, contrasts,鈥痙iscourse and disagreement.鈥濃��
罢丑别鈥�痠s designed to be an inclusive academic and publishing project - and moves to BCU after last year鈥檚 event in the Austrian city of Klagenfurt.听
鈥淚n this conference, we鈥檙e鈥痗elebrating the culture of games in its broadest sense,鈥� said Dr Charlotte Stevens, BCU Media and Communications鈥痩ecturer.听
As part of鈥痚ach鈥痚vent, BCU鈥檚鈥�痺ill鈥痟ost鈥痑 forum for game鈥痚xperts and PhD鈥痵tudents to exchange ideas and make exciting connections.听