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About 2025 Conference Themes
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    BIPOC Game Studies
    Conference

    January 14–15, 2027 University of Miami · Coral Gables, FL
    Participant registration deadline, November 20th, 2027

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    Where BIPOC voices
    shape gaming’s future

    The Conference on BIPOC Game Studies (C-BIPOC) is a first-of-its-kind academic and professional gathering dedicated to amplifying the voices, scholarship, creativity, and lived experience of Black, Indigenous, Asian American and Pacific Islander, and People of Color communities within gaming — as players, creators, scholars, and subjects of study.

    C-BIPOC sits at the intersection of academic inquiry, creative practice, and industry leadership — bringing together peer-reviewed research, curated game showcases, dynamic keynotes, and open community conversations in service of a gaming culture that is more inclusive and representative.

    “This conference is the culmination of ongoing efforts to shine a light on existing work that has too often been overlooked and to preserve the stories and practices of BIPOC game creators for future generations.”
    Dr. Lindsay Grace — Conference Co-Chair, Knight Chair in Interactive Media, University of Miami
    2nd
    Annual conference, building on a landmark inaugural year
    9
    Conference themes spanning scholarship, creativity & industry
    5
    Travel grants available for emerging BIPOC scholars
    ACM
    Top papers considered for ACM Games: Research & Practice Journal
    BIPOC Games Conference at The Strong National Museum of Play, news coverage
    2025 Inaugural Conference · The Strong National Museum of Play · Rochester, NY

    Broad, urgent, and vital scholarship

    C-BIPOC 2027 welcomes scholarly and creative work across all of the following themes. You do not need to be a member of BIPOC communities to submit — allies and advocates are welcome.

    Theme 01

    Representation and Identity in Video Games

    Theme 02

    Digital and Analog Games as Cultural Artifact

    Theme 03

    Games By and About BIPOC Communities

    Theme 04

    Decolonizing Game Development and Design

    Theme 05

    Indigenous, Black, and AAPI Knowledge Systems and Gaming

    Theme 06

    Futurism and Gaming — Afrofuturism, Indigenous & Asian Futurisms

    Theme 07

    Cultural Preservation and Digital Heritage

    Theme 08

    Social Impact and Activism Through Games

    Theme 09

    Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Playful Technologies

    Share your work with
    a community that sees it

    Submission Type Deadline
    Presentation Abstract
    500–800 words
    July 15, 2026
    Full Paper
    2,500–8,000 words
    July 15, 2026
    Panel Proposal
    ~800 words
    July 15, 2026
    Industry / Professional Talk
    Form submission
    July 15, 2026
    Creative Showcase
    Games, playable media
    July 15, 2026
    Student Track
    Games, playable media
    September 12, 2026
    Acceptance notifications: September 1, 2026
    Five (5) travel grants for emerging scholars lacking institutional funding
    Full papers considered for the ACM Games: Research and Practice Journal
    All accepted work published in proceedings with Play Story Press
    Participant registration deadline: November 20th, 2027
    Academic Track
    Submit a Paper or Abstract
    Present peer-reviewed research on any of the 9 conference themes. Abstracts, full papers, and panel proposals all welcome. Deadline: July 1, 2026. July 15, 2026
    Industry & Professional Track
    Submit an Industry Talk
    Share your professional expertise, studio experience, or industry perspective. Deadline: July 15, 2026.
    Creative Track
    Submit to the Creative Showcase
    Show your digital or analog game to scholars, industry professionals, students, and the public. Deadline: July 15, 2026.

    Built by scholars and
    community leaders

    Conference Co-Chair
    Dr. Lindsay Grace
    Knight Chair in Interactive Media, University of Miami School of Communication
    Conference Co-Chair
    Abbie Hamilton
    Organizing & Program Committee
    Krystal Cooper
    Rochester Institute of Technology, IGME
    Dr. Toiya Kristen Finley
    Schnoodle Media, LLC
    Dr. Akil Fletcher
    Princeton University
    Stephen Jacobs
    Rochester Institute of Technology (emeritus)
    Theresa Loong
    Vassar College & FORM360
    Dr. TreaAndrea Russworm
    University of Southern California
    Dr. Aaron Trammell
    University of California–Irvine
    Lien Tran
    DePaul University
    Allen Turner
    DePaul University
    Carl Varnado
    Black In Gaming
    Dr. Gerald Voorhees
    University of Waterloo
    Program Committee (reviewers)
    Dr. Akil Fletcher
    Princeton University/City University of New York (CUNY)
    Dr. Alex Golub
    University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa
    Dr. Alexandra To
    Northeastern University
    Dr. Ashleigh Cassemere-Stanfield
    Colgate University
    Dr. Carly Kocurek
    Illinois Institute of Technology
    Clay Ewing (MFA)
    University of Miami
    Dr. Cody Mejeur
    University at Buffalo
    Diamond Beverly-Porter (MFA)
    Washington State University
    Dr. Erica Principe Cruz
    Carnegie Mellon University
    Dr. Evan Torner
    University of Cincinnati / Analog Game Studies
    Dr. Gerald Voorhees
    University of Waterloo
    Dr. Joseph Wei
    University of Georgia
    Dr. Kenneth Norwood
    University of Southampton / University of Potsdam
    Lien Tran (MFA)
    DePaul University, Jarvis College of Computing and Digital Media
    Dr. Lindsay Grace (MFA)
    University of Miami
    Dr. Matthew Jungsuk Howard
    Loyola University Chicago
    Myranda Bell
    The University of Alabama
    Naomi Clark
    New York University Game Center
    Dr. Sarah Ganzon
    Simon Fraser University
    Dr. Sarah Schoemann
    College of Charleston
    Dr. Souvik Mukherjee
    Centre for Studies in Social Sciences, Calcutta
    Dr. Stephanie Ortiz
    University of Massachusetts-Lowell
    Stephen Jacobs
    Scholar-in-Residence, The Strong National Museum of Play
    Dr. Steven Dashiell
    Morgan State University
    Dr. Taylore Woodhouse
    University of Georgia
    Dr. Toiya Finley
    Schnoodle Media
    Zihan Feng
    Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
    Showcase Judges
    Theresa Loong
    Vassar College
    Lien Tran
    DePaul University
    Dr. Anna Queiroz
    University of Miami
    Carl Varnado
    Blacks In Games Special Interest Group (SIG)
    Christine Jung
    University of Miami
    Stephen Jacobs
    Strong National Museum of Play