“Ludologica. Videogames d’Autore” is pleased to announce its call for
papers for a book on soccer games that will be published in Spring 2004
in Italy.

Provisionally titled “Free Kick. Understanding Simulated Soccer”, this
interdisciplinary volume will explore a range of topics regarding the
aesthetics, politics and logics of the sport simulation. The editors are
looking for original contributions from a variety of fields, including
new media studies, game studies, cultural studies, sociology, and
anthropology.

Soccer is not only on the world’s most popular sports, but also one of
the most simulated. Series like Fifa Soccer and Pro Evolution Soccer are
among the best selling games in history. In some cases, digital soccer
franchises are central to the success of a specific game platform.
Soccer (also known as football and “calcio”), means big money and the
publishers are capitalizing on the potential. “Free Kick. Understanding
Simulated Soccer” is a special volume in the ongoing “Ludologica.
Videogames d’Autore” series that aims at discussing the conjunction of
two of the most powerful cultural forces of our times: sport and video
games.

How can simulated soccer texts be interpreted, and in what ways do they
influence and reflect the state of contemporary culture and society?
What is the impact of soccer on video games? What is the impact of video
games on soccer? What are the economic, political and professional
forces that shape the making of simulated soccer?

For consideration, please submit a 500-1000 word abstract (including 6
keywords) no later than November 30 2003 to Matteo Bittanti at
mbittanti_at_libero.it. A one-page curriculum vitae or short biography will
also be appreciated.

The selected authors will be notified by mid-December and asked to
submit a complete draft of their papers no later than February 15, 2004.
Manuscripts should be 3,000-7,000 words, double-spaced. MLA citations
preferred. All textual contributions must be written in English or
Italian. The submission should be fully referenced and may contain
endnotes. All contributions to Ludologica will be promptly reviewed.
Contributors will be kept up to date on the status of their
contributions via regular email correspondence.If you have any
questions, please email Matteo Bittanti at mbittanti_at_libero.it.

Possible topics may include (but are not limited to):

- The logic and aesthetics of soccer: "real" vs. "televised" vs.
"virtual" soccer
- East vs. West: Pro Evolution Soccer vs. Fifa Soccer
- A socio-historical approach to digital soccer
- A study of of the multiple incarnations of the soccer game
- The conventions of the soccer game genre (from interface to forms of
representations)
- Simulated soccer fandom: playing the games
- The role of product placement in soccer games
- Ideology and soccer games
- Interrelations between popular culture, globalization of sport culture
and electronic simulations
- Virtual soccer tournaments
- Phenomenology of virtual soccer playing

Grazie.

Matteo Bittanti
Libera Università di Lingue & Comunicazioni
Via Filippo da Liscate, 2
20143 MIlano
ITALY

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Received on Fri Oct 17 2003 - 14:16:16 EDT