<div dir="ltr">Actually, it probably makes more sense to show those who haven't seen it a selection of the paperwork sent in our application (yay! paperwork!)<div><br></div><div>Here is a TL:DR version.</div><div><br></div>
<div>DiGRA UK has been set up to develop academic practice and research in the UK, emphasising networking across academic cultures and other aspects of gaming which include the industry, other practitioners and independent games developers</div>
<div><br></div><div>We are running a flexible programme of events which can include 'bolt on' events - so if you were already running something and wanted DiGRA's name attached in some way, the committee will discuss this. </div>
<div><br></div><div>- we want these events to be DIVERSE! Thus the launch event is not a series of seminar papers, it's a provocation session in which we can discuss core issues in games, with some flash moments from our guest speakers. We've also had suggestions of games jams, sandbox events and hackspaces for research. All ideas are welcome.</div>
<div><br></div><div>We encourage people to become members but at the moment you do not have to be one to attend or host an event. However, some caveats:</div><div><br></div><div>- this doesn't apply to 'big DiGRA'. If you go to the main international conference, you have to pay and this includes a membership fee. DiGRA UK membership is a separate thing. </div>
<div><br></div><div>- becoming a member means we can finance things like larger events. At the moment we can't because DiGRA UK is being run voluntarily. </div><div><br></div><div>- some events where DiGRA is present may charge a fee (for example, Under The Mask and Fascinate are conferences in their own right, with DiGRA associated to one or more aspects)</div>
<div><br></div><div>- at the June event we will be forming the committee. The prevailing feeling at the two preliminary meetings has been that we need some organisation, but that we should also try to run in as flexible as way as possible. If you want to run an event, you will be invited to sit on the committee, for example. So far this has been successful!</div>
<div><br></div><div>Here are the aims of DiGRA UK as sent to the main DiGRA Board:</div><div><div><br></div><div>
<p style="text-align:justify"><u><span style="font-family:Calibri">Rationale for Chapter Status:</span></u></p>
<p style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:Calibri">Having a UK Chapter would create greater coherence
between members of DiGRA based in the UK. It would give them a sense of
belonging and a strong network infrastructure to relate to. This is
particularly important for students and junior researchers. Furthermore, it
would provide an organisational framework for UK-based events, funding schemes,
industry partnerships and training. In the light of the recent economic state
of the UK and its educational establishments, DiGRA UK will also provide a
platform for those academics unable to attend DiGRA conferences overseas.</span></p>
<p style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:Calibri">Members will include a mixture of academics at
British Higher Education and Further Education institutions and industry
professionals.</span></p>
<p style="text-align:justify"><u><span style="font-family:Calibri">Geographical area</span></u><span style="font-family:Calibri"></span></p>
<p style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:Calibri">The chapter will serve the entire geographical area
of the United Kingdom. In the UK , these gaming communities are well
established and extensive, and we would aim to include groups from England,
Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales within the organisation. </span></p>
<p style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:Calibri"> <u>Outline of the chapter aims, objectives
and activities</u></span></p>
<p style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:Calibri">Like its umbrella organisation, DiGRA UK will act
as an international advocate and networking platform aiming to set teaching
standards and engage directly with the entertainment software industry. It
seeks to promote interdisciplinarity, networking between researchers, industry,
policy-makers and educators, student support and mentoring (e.g. through
student prizes, output and conferences), advocacy and visibility, educational
standards. </span></p>
<p style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:Calibri">The proposed committee at present also have a
further remit to introduce challenging ideas and concepts into the remit of
Game Studies, in order to further develop and critique existing theoretical and
practical stances towards games, gaming cultures and communities. </span></p>
<p style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:Calibri">We also wish to extend the understanding of ‘Game
Studies’ beyond videogaming practices, in line with much current research into
gaming. DiGRA UK events might also address aspects contingent with digital
games such as pervasive gaming, mobile gaming, boardgames, tabletop games, live
action roleplaying, card games and street games.</span></p>
<p style="text-align:justify"><b><span style="font-family:Calibri">Plan of Meetings and Activities</span></b></p>
<p style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:Calibri">The first year of the chapter will be dedicated to
running small core events at Universities and Research Centres across the UK,
with an emphasis on presenting key topics to each location, and ensuring that
these focus on both the expertise available, and the wider experiences of
gaming cultures in the UK. Each session will also be tailored to vary the
activities and presentation of these topics, again to showcase the diversity of
approaches to games and related cultures currently available. These events will
also be tailored to the requirements or expectations of the host institution,
in order to leverage as much support as possible.</span></p>
<div>
<p style="text-align:justify"><b><span style="font-family:Calibri">Organisation</span></b></p>
<p style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:Calibri">In the first instance, we aim to elect a committee
at the event in June 2014, at the University of the West of England, who will
oversee the running of each event, promote DiGRA UK in a wider sense., and
assist with the development of DiGRA across each organisation.</span></p>
<p style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:Calibri">However, we expect the members of this committee to
change in accordance with need and location; so this will be a floating group.
Organisers responsible for each individual event will be asked to join this
committee over its duration, in order to keep each group manage their
involvement with the chapter.</span></p>
<p style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:Calibri">The organisation will have its own mailing list and
forums for all members, and a smaller mailing list for the organising committee
only. We already have the domain name DiGRAUK.org, and prior to this, some work
has been done towards making the site live. In the first instance however, the
organisation will communicate through available social media whilst this site
is established. Proceedings, minutes and research findings will be made
available through the main DiGRA website.</span></p>
</div>-- <br><div dir="ltr"><div><br><br>Dr Esther MacCallum-Stewart</div><div><br></div><div>Senior Lecturer: Games, New Media and Online Communities (The University of Surrey)</div><div>Research Fellow (Digital Cultures Research Centre, UWE)</div>
<div><br></div></div>
</div></div></div>