University News Last updated 16 May
Birmingham City University (BCU) is reinforcing its status as the home of world-renowned video game research by hosting two international conferences this summer.
It will stage the History of Games conference from 22-24 May, followed by the Video Game Cultures conference from 12-14 September.
Nick Webber, BCU Associate Professor in Media, said: “Hosting both conferences shows we’re recognised as one of the best places in the UK for games research - and internationally, too.
“Our research specialisms span the histories of games, how history is presented in games, fandom and online game communities, politics, and posthumanism.
“Many of our researchers publish books and contribute to nationally and internationally funded projects in these areas.
“It’s rare for a university to have such broad yet deep expertise in video game research. Just like the Midlands games industry, it’s one of Birmingham’s best-kept secrets!”
One in 10 UK video game companies are based in the Midlands, producing 13% of UK games.
Among those Midlands companies are the world-renowned Rare and Codemasters.
The region is also the home of Centresoft, the UK’s leading video game distributor, and was also the base for Newsfield Publications, which circulated gaming magazines in the 1980s.
The 11th annual History of Games conference will explore the relationship between games and families – which has particular resonance for the Midlands game industry given the number of prolific family enterprises.
Dr Alex Wade, BCU Senior Research Fellow, explained: “From the Thomas family in Leicestershire to the Stamper family at Rare via the Oliver Twins at Codemasters, families and games have an irresistible connection.
“We’re interested in the way different games and media come together to create families. Families are full of relationships, contrasts, discourse and disagreement.”
The Video Game Cultures conference is designed to be an inclusive academic and publishing project - and moves to BCU after last year’s event in the Austrian city of Klagenfurt.
“In this conference, we’re celebrating the culture of games in its broadest sense,” said Dr Charlotte Stevens, BCU Media and Communications lecturer.
As part of each event, BCU’s Birmingham Centre for Media and Cultural Research will host a forum for game experts and PhD students to exchange ideas and make exciting connections.