IMPORTANT DATES
(all times are 23:59 Anywhere on Earth or AoE)
Connections is a re-imagination of the track formerly known as “Masterclass” in an effort to better reflect the diverse connections across industry, independent game designers, and research that the track itself has long represented.
The Connections track is an opportunity for CHI PLAY community members to propose and host an event during the CHI PLAY 2024 conference. We welcome proposals for engaging and interactive events, such as Courses, Panels, Fireside chats, Workshops, and more! Our goal is to provide a channel for our community to engage in knowledge sharing and discussion advancing the games and play field. We provide some examples below, but we encourage prospective organizers to contact the Connections Chairs (connections@chiplay.acm.org) to discuss their plan.
Connections organizers have the flexibility to decide on the format and duration that best suits their vision. Organizers should complete a proposal form on PCS, including a PDF proposal of up to 6 pages (single column, excluding references) (see outline below). We will support organizers of accepted submissions to finalise their proposal and create a publication-ready PDF for distribution and archival in the ACM Digital Library as part of the Companion Proceedings.
Courses allow participants to learn hands-on knowledge about topics relevant to CHI PLAY attendees. Courses can be proposed as one to three hour in-person or hybrid sessions on Day 0 of CHI PLAY (Oct 14). Courses are great opportunities to disseminate knowledge to an interested audience and allow interdisciplinary knowledge development between practitioners and researchers. If you work in game education, research, or development, and are eager to teach a course at CHI PLAY, we look forward to your submission.
Workshops are a gathering place for attendees with shared interests to meet in the context of a focused and interactive discussion. Workshops are an opportunity to move a field forward and build community: a chance to find people who care about the same issues, questions, and research agendas as the organizers. Workshops can be proposed as a full or half day, in-person or hybrid session, commensurate with the proposed activities, on Day 0 of CHI PLAY (Oct 14).
Panels represent an opportunity to propose a dialogue about topic areas pertinent to the CHI PLAY community. In this format, a panel host will guide live discussion with 3 – 4 panelists who are knowledgeable or experienced in the selected area of interest, often followed by an interactive Q&A with the audience for one hour during the main conference. Ideally, each panelist will offer a differing perspective on the topic. Panels will be organized during the core conference days (Oct 15-17) as hybrid events.
Fireside chats are an opportunity to propose a conversation between a host and speaker to have a casual but in-depth discussion on topic(s) relevant to CHI PLAY attendees for one hour during the main conference days (Oct 15-17). In this format, the host guides a live, conversational discussion with a single speaker often followed by an interactive Q&A with the audience.
We are especially enthusiastic about submissions that will stimulate conversation on equity, diversity, and inclusion in games contexts; sustainability; connection with industry; game development best practice; grand design challenges; tangible games; research methodologies and practices; and novel or useful perspectives on games scholarship.
All accepted Connections will be open to everyone registered to attend CHI PLAY 2024. There are no additional registration fees for attending Connections. However, organisers may request participants to sign up to express interest in attending workshops or courses by a certain deadline so that they can plan accordingly.
Connections organizers are required to register and expected to attend the conference. The conference may be able to provide limited financial support to facilitate connections organizer(s)’ participation at the conference.
SUBMISSION FORMAT
- 2-6 pages in ACM Journals Primary Article Template, single-column manuscript style (excluding references)
- Submissions are NOT anonymous; detailed instructions on formatting and submission can be found at Companion Proceedings Submission Guidelines.
- Submissions must also follow the Additional Submission Guidelines for this track, see below
Please use PCS to complete the Connection proposal form. At this stage, you can choose to use the Companion Proceedings Submission Guidelines when you submit or reformat your submission after it is accepted.
ADDITIONAL SUBMISSION GUIDELINES
Your submission PDF (2-6 pages in single-column format, excluding references) should include the following components, depending on your submission type:
- Abstract
- Introduction
- Objectives
- Planned activities or topics
- Plan for any interactive components
- Background/bios of the instructor(s)/panellist(s)/organiser(s)
- Call for participation (for workshops)
- References
Typically, a proposal for a fireside chat or panel will be at the shorter end (~2-3 pages) while a workshop or course proposal might need to be longer (~4-6 pages).
The proposal form in PCS also includes the following additional questions:
- Connections Submission Type (course, fireside chat, workshop, panel, other)
- Proposed format (hybrid, in-person) and duration
- A brief justification of the proposed submission type, format, and duration
- Any budget/support requested from the conference
- Any specific inclusion or accessibility needs for your session.
- For courses and workshops: Some indication of expected numbers attending and room requirements (this is to help us with planning, e.g., 10-15 people, 100+ people)
- [For courses and workshops]: Will people be required to sign up to attend the workshop or course? Do they need to make a submission or contact the organisers? (Note to organisers: Please keep any submissions straightforward and brief, e.g. ‘Up to 500 words about your research and why it is relevant for this workshop, plus a brief bio of up to 200 words.’)
REVIEW PROCESS
Connections are a curated track and highly selective.
UPON ACCEPTANCE
Tentatively accepted Connections organizers will receive email communications about the format of the Connections, as well as any delivery considerations.
Organizers of accepted Connections will receive instructions on how to submit a publication-ready copy of their Connections proposal for distribution and archival in the ACM Digital Library. Accepted submissions have to be prepared in the ACM template. Detailed instructions on formatting your accepted submission can be found at Companion Proceedings Submission Guidelines.
AFTER THE CONFERENCE
Accepted Connections proposals will be distributed in the CHI PLAY Extended Abstracts, available and archived in the ACM Digital Library.
QUESTIONS
Please contact the Connections Chairs at connections@chiplay.acm.org.
