Digital Worlds, Real Impact - The Evolving Role of Games in Society

ECREA Digital Games Research Section symposium  

As games become more deeply integrated into everyday life, their cultural, societal, and political significance continues to evolve. Recent shifts in the game industry—including AI-generated content and the rise of platform monopolies—are reshaping how games are designed, distributed, and played. At the same time, societal debates around digital cultures, inclusivity, and the ethics of play highlight the need for critical engagement with games as a force beyond entertainment.  

We invite researchers, academics, and experts from diverse disciplines (e.g., Media and Communication, Media Psychology, Education, Sociology etc.) to submit their original contributions related to the evolving role of games in society. Possible topics include, but are not limited to:  

• Games as tools for education and game-based learning  
• E-sports and competitive gaming  
• Exploring the positive and negative impacts of games on mental health and well-being  
• Unveiling the profound meaning of games as a form of eudaimonic entertainment  
• Investigating the social benefits and challenges arising from online gaming  
• Examining toxicity and extremism within gaming cultures and their impact on society and individuals  
• Understanding the power of games for information dissemination and persuasion  
• The cultural and political impact of games  
• Possible negative effects of gaming on individuals (e.g., aggressiveness, addiction, social isolation)  
• Platformization in the game industry  
• Emerging technologies in game design  
• The role of games in shaping public discourse  
• Diversity and inclusion in game design and game communities  
• Environmental sustainability and ecological impact of game production and consumption  
• Analysing games as art and cultural heritage, and their representation of cultural legacies  
• Unpacking the applications of games in museums and exhibitions  
• Delving into the theory and philosophy of meaningfulness in gaming contexts  

We additionally welcome submissions on any other aspect of game studies or the intersection of game studies with the broader field of communication and media science. We welcome theoretical contributions, literature reviews, work-in-progress submissions, as well as qualitative and quantitative empirical studies. The submission of panel proposals consisting of 4 presentations is also possible.  

More information: https://www.ecrea.eu/event-6168567

The conference will feature a PhD panel for young scholars to give them the opportunity to present their (PhD-) projects and receive feedback from experienced researchers. Presentations of projects at any stage and on any topic related to game studies are welcome.  

Abstracts should be max. 300 words + bibliography. To apply for the PhD panel, add “PhD panel:” to the title of your submission.  

Panel proposals should include 1) a 300-word rationale for the panel, 2) a 150-word abstract describing each participant's contribution.  

Submission should be made through the online form available here: https://forms.gle/XQnMFEGFCFZfKkir6  

The submission deadline is 26th May 2025.  

Decisions on the proposals will be made by the middle of June 2025.  

The conference will be held at University of the Balearic Islands, Palma de Mallorca, Spain. The conference fee is 70 Euros (50 Euros for PhD students) and will include catering for lunch and coffee breaks. Each participant should cover their travel and accommodation costs.  

Ca n'Oleo. University of the Balearic Islands

Adress: Carrer de l'Almudaina, 4.

07011, Palma.

About Palma

Palma is the capital of the island of Mallorca, a coastal city that has nice weather all year round. The city has an attractive historic quarter and numerous sites worth visiting:

• The Cathedral of Santa María de Palma, known as La Seu, is located on the shores of the Bay of Palma, in the Paseo Marítimo and next to the Parque del Mar. Its construction began in the 14th century, and the famous Gaudi worked in its interior reconstruction. In addition, it has a spectacular rose window, one of the largest in the Gothic style.
• La Lonja de Palma de Mallorca, former headquarters of the College of Merchants, is one of the most beautiful works of Gothic architecture in Mallorca.
• La Almudaina, royal palace and one of the residences of the Spanish Royal Family.
• Bellver Castle, located in the surroundings of the historic center, was built to be a royal residence and stands out for its circular shape and its height, from where you can see the city. Constructed in Gothic style, it stands out next to the forest that surround it as a monument worth visiting.

 

More information in: https://www.visitpalma.com/es/

 

Recomended accommodation

Hotel Palladium ****

HM Jaime III ****

HM Balanguera ****

HM Palma Blanc ****

Hotel Continental ****

Hotel Nou Baleares ****

Protur Naisa Palma ****

UR Palacio Avenida ****

Innside Palma Center ****

Hotel Almudaina ****

Hotel Araxa ***

Hotel Abelay **

Hotel Abelux **

Hotel Born **

ECREA Digital Games Research Section management team:

• Felix Reer, felix.reer@uni-muenster.de  
• Teresa de la Hera, delahera@eshcc.eur.nl  
• Salvador Gómez-García, salvgome@ucm.es 

Local conference team: 

• Júlia Vilasís-Pamos, julia.vilasis@uib.es  
• Jorge Oceja, jorge.oceja@uib.es