FDG 2025: Call for Papers

Conference Theme & Vision

FDG 2025 will have the theme „Accessible Worlds, United Through Play.“ This theme underscores the vital role of gaming in fostering inclusive communities, strengthening work of diverse groups, and making games and gaming accessible for all. Works addressing this theme could look at the creation of accessible gaming environments, enhancing connectivity among varied gaming communities, and promoting equitable, interdisciplinary and sustainable collaboration in game development, game design, and game studies. The conference theme extends to diversity, equity and inclusivity in both the gaming experience and its creation, and we encourage papers that investigate these aspects in broad terms.

We welcome all contributions related to digital games and play, but particular emphasis will be placed on those that align with this year’s theme. Interpretations of the theme are flexible; if you feel your work resonates with „Accessible Worlds, United Through Play,“ please indicate this in your submission.

Paper Submissions

FDG invites authors to submit papers reporting new research.

• Full Papers: Typically up to ten pages in length, excluding references and appendices.
• Short Papers: Up to six pages (one column) or four pages (two columns) in length, including references.

Papers that are significantly longer than recommended page limits without clear justification may be desk rejected. Reviewers are not required to read material in appendices; full papers should not exceed 20 pages including appendices.

Anonymization

Submitted papers must be anonymized by authors, removing any identifying author and institution information.

Submission System and Template

Submissions are handled using the FDG 2025 EasyChair system.

Authors must select the track that most closely aligns with their submission.

The ACM Master Template with 2 columns should be used for submissions.

Abstract Submission (for Regular Papers)

For Regular Papers, an abstract submission is required by Thursday, October 17, 2024, AoE. The full paper submission deadline is Sunday, October 27, 2024, AoE.

Abstract Only Submissions

FDG also provides the option for "Abstract Only" submissions, which should be submitted to the "Abstract" track. Accepted abstracts will not be published in the proceedings but will offer an opportunity for an oral presentation.

ACM Open Access Fees

Authors may be required to pay an Article Processing Charge (APC) unless affiliated with an institution with an ACM Open agreement or if funding is available through their institution or grants. Reimbursement requests can be sent to Jim Whitehead (ejw@ucsc.edu) and Ahmed Khalifa (ahmed.khalifa@um.edu.mt) with specific documentation.

Subsidized APC Rates for 2025:

• ICPS Papers: $350
• Authors with ACM Membership: $250
• Corresponding author from lower-middle-income country: $175
• Corresponding author from lower-middle-income country & author with ACM Membership: $125
• Corresponding author from low-income country: No APC required.

Subsidized pricing applies to papers processed through the ACM eRights system from March 6, 2025, 12:00 noon (US Eastern time).

Important Dates

• Workshop, competition, and panel proposal submissions: Thursday, October 17, 2024, AoE
• Notifications for workshop, competition, and panel proposals: Thursday, October 31, 2024
• Abstract deadline (for Regular Papers): Thursday, October 17, 2024, AoE
• Regular Paper submission: Sunday, October 27, 2024, AoE
• Regular Review deadline: Thursday, November 28, 2024, AoE
• Meta-Review by Track Chair deadline: Thursday, December 5, 2024, AoE
• Authors Receive Preliminary Reviews: Tuesday, December 10, 2024 AoE
• Author Response deadline: Tuesday, December 17, 2024, AoE
• Revised Review based on Author Response deadline: Tuesday, January 7, 2025, AoE
• Regular Paper notifications: Thursday, January 9, 2025
• Games and Demos deadline: Thursday, January 16, 2025, AoE
• Late-Breaking Short Papers deadline: Thursday, January 23, 2025, AoE
• Doctoral Consortium deadline: Thursday, January 23, 2025, AoE
• Notifications for Late-Breaking Papers, Games and Demos and Doctoral Consortium: Thursday, February 10, 2025, AoE.
• Camera Ready: New date forthcoming

Review Process

FDG 2025 uses a double-anonymized reviewing process.

Track Information

• Technical Game Development & Novel Game Controllers: Focuses on advancements in game development practices, engines, graphics, networking, and interaction techniques.
• Game Design, Studio Practices, and Novel Player Experiences: Explores game design, development practices, mechanics, dynamics, aesthetics, and player experiences.
• Game Analytics and Visualization: Covers data science, game analytics, player behavior analysis, and data visualization techniques.
• Game Artificial Intelligence: Focuses on computational and artificial intelligence applications in game playing, design, development, and testing.
• Game Criticism and Analysis: Approaches game criticism and analysis from humanities-informed perspectives.
• Games Beyond Entertainment: Utilizes games for primary goals other than entertainment, such as serious games, educational games, and gamification.
• Games Pedagogy: Concerns the teaching of games, game development, and design at all educational levels.
• Lightning Talk Track: For sharing work without formal publication in proceedings; abstracts (up to 500 words) submitted anonymously.
• Late Breaking Short Papers: For smaller-scale studies, work in progress, vision studies, and tools/artifacts, presented as posters and included in proceedings (max 6 pages one column or 4 pages two columns).
• Games and Demos: Forum for demonstrations of games and technologies suited for interaction.
• Doctoral Consortium: For PhD students to discuss their research with peers and faculty.

Workshop Proposals

• Proposals should be 2-4 pages (excluding references) in the ACM SIGCONF template.
• Contents should include background, objectives, activities, organizer background, publication plans, anticipated participants, and selection means.
• Workshops can have a maximum length of 3:30.

Competition Proposals

• Maximum length of 2 pages (excluding references) in the ACM SIGCONF template.
• Proposal should include competition description, organizers, winner criteria, participant numbers, and submission methods.

Panel Proposals

• Maximum length of 2 pages (excluding references) in the ACM SIGCONF template.
• Proposal should include topic, participants, organization, and relevance statement.
• Panels addressing the conference theme are especially encouraged.

Statement of Values

The organizers are committed to scholarly integrity, collegiality, professionalism, and inclusivity. Please read the code of conduct for more details.

Registration Deadlines

• Early registration deadline: Mar 17, 2025
• Regular registration deadline: Apr 7, 2025
• After Apr 7, 2025, a limited number of late registrations are available.