Research outcomes

Edited books and periodicals

Bowman, Sarah Lynne, Evan Torner, and William J. White, eds. 2021. International Journal of Role-Playing 11. View publication here

Book chapters

Baird, Josephine. 2021. "The Missing’s Misdirect: Or How I Came to Study Transgender Exploration, Expression and Embodiment in Videogame-based-learning." In A Ludic Society, edited by Natalie Denk, Alexander Pfeiffer, Alesha Serada, Thomas Wernbacher. Krems, Austria: Edition Donau-Universität Krems. View publication here

Bowman, Sarah Lynne, and Kjell Hedgard Hugaas. 2021. “Magic is Real: How Role-playing Can Transform Our Identities, Our Communities, and Our Lives.” In Book of Magic: Vibrant Fragments of Larp Practices, edited by Kari Kvittingen Djukastein, Marcus Irgens, Nadja Lipsyc, and Lars Kristian Løveng Sunde. Oslo, Norway: Knutepunkt, 2021. View article here

Eklund, Lina, Björn Sjöblom, and Patrick Prax. 2018. Spel på museer: Erfarenheter från spelutställningar. In Dataspelens Världar: Digitala spel som kultur och kulturärv, edited by P. Du Rietz Tekniska Museet. Stockholm, Sweden.

Prax, Patrick, et. al. (Forthcoming). “Teaching Sustainable Development: On Systemic Issues and Fake Excuses.” In The Climate Catastrophe: A Creative and Critical Survival Guide, edited by D. Binns and R. Najdowski. Intellect Books.

Prax, Patrick, and Paulina Rajkowska. 2021. ”Spelstudier.” In Digitala metoder i humaniora och samhällsvetenskap, edited by J. Jarlbrink and F. Norén. Studentlitteratur. Lund, Sweden.

Prax, Patrick. 2018. ”Deltagande i produktion av digitala spel som alternative medier.” In Dataspelens Världar: Digitala spel som kultur och kulturärv. edited by P. Du Rietz. Tekniska Museet. Stockholm, Sweden.

Prax, Patrick, and Paulina Rajkowska. 2018. “Problem Gaming from the Perspective of Treatment.” In What’s the Problem in Problem Gaming? - Nordic Research Perspectives, edited by Jessica Enevold, Anne Metter Thorhage, and Andreas Gregersen, 91-106. Nordicom. Göteborg, Sweden. View publication here

Rusch, Doris C., and Andy Phelps. 2021. "Games of the Soul." In A Ludic Society, edited by Denk, et al., 102–126. Donau-Universität Krems, Universitätsbibliothek.

Rusch, Doris C. 2020. "Existential, Transformative Game Design.” Journal of Games, Self & Society 2, no. 1: 1-39. ETC Press.

Journal articles

Eklund, Lina, Björn Sjöblom, and Patrick Prax. 2019. “Lost in Translation: Video games Becoming Cultural Heritage?” Cultural Sociology 13, no. 4 (June 27).

Juvrud, Joshua, Gabriel Ansgariusson, Patrik Selleby & Magnus Johansson. 2021.
"Game or watch: The Effect of Interactivity on Arousal and Engagement in Video Game Media." In IEEE Transactions on Games (April 13).
View publication here

Nylund, Niklas, Prax, Patrick, and Olli Sotamaa. 2020. “Rethinking Game Heritage — Towards Reflexivity in Game Preservation.” International Journal of Heritage Studies: 268-280. View publication here

Prax, Patrick, Lina Eklund, and Björn Sjöblom. 2019. “‘More Like an Arcade’ – The Limitations of Playable Games in Museum Exhibitions.” Museum and Society 17, no. 3: 437-452.

Prax, Patrick, Niklas Nylund, Lina Eklund, Björn Sjöblom, and Olle Sköld. 2019. “Drawing Things Together: Understanding the Challenges and Opportunities of a Cross-LAM Approach to Digital Game Preservation and Exhibition.” The Nordic Journal of Cultural Policy 22, no. 2: 332-354. Download publication here

Prax, Patrick. 2018. “Between Global Competition, Marketing, Deviant Play, and Cheating – High-End Raiding in World of Warcraft.” Communication Sociali 1.

Prax, Patrick. 2017. “Co-Creativity in Online Games as Alternative Media.” Néothèque: 257-287. (In French).

Rusch, Doris C. 2020. "Existential, Transformative Game Design.” Journal of Games, Self & Society 2, no. 1: 1-39. ETC Press.

Rusch, Doris C., and Andy Phelps. 2021. "Games of the Soul." In A Ludic Society, edited by Denk, et al., 102–126. Donau-Universität Krems, Universitätsbibliothek.

Edited books and periodicals

Baird, Josephine. 2021. “Role-playing the Self: Trans Self-Expression, Exploration, and Embodiment in (Live Action) Role-playing Games.” International Journal of Role-Playing 11. View publication here

Juvrud, Joshua, Gabriel Ansgariusson, Patrik Selleby & Magnus Johansson. 2021.
"Game or watch: The effect of interactivity on arousal and engagement in video game media." In IEEE Transactions on Games.
View publication here

Eklund, Lina, Björn Sjöblom, and Patrick Prax. 2019. “Lost in Translation: Video games Becoming Cultural Heritage?” Cultural Sociology 13, no. 4 (June 27).

Prax, Patrick, Lina Eklund, and Björn Sjöblom. 2019. “‘More Like an Arcade’ – The Limitations of Playable Games in Museum Exhibitions.” Museum and Society 17, no. 3: 437-452.

Prax, Patrick. 2018. “Between Global Competition, Marketing, Deviant Play, and Cheating – High-End Raiding in World of Warcraft.” Communication Sociali 1.

Prax, Patrick. 2017. “Co-Creativity in Online Games as Alternative Media.” Néothèque: 257-287. (In French).

Rusch, Doris C., and Andy Phelps. 2021. "Games of the Soul." In A Ludic Society, edited by Denk, et al., 102–126. Donau-Universität Krems, Universitätsbibliothek.

Rusch, Doris C. 2020. "Existential, Transformative Game Design.” Journal of Games, Self & Society 2, no. 1: 1-39. ETC Press.

Rusch, Doris C., and Andrew M. Phelps. 2020. “Existential Transformational Game Design: Harnessing the ‘Psychomagic’ of Symbolic Enactment.” Frontiers in Psychology (November 4).
View publication here

Conference proceedings

Baird, Josephine and Sabine Harrer. 2021. "Challenging Systems of Play: Toward Game Design Ethics for Transgender Allyship." In The 16th International Conference on the Foundations of Digital Games (FDG) 2021 (FDG’21), August 03–06, 2021, Montreal, QC, Canada. ACM, New York, NY, USA, 6 pages. View publication here

Phelps, Andy, and Doris C. Rusch. 2020. “Navigating Existential, Transformative Game Design.” In Proceedings from DiGRA ’20 – Proceedings of the 2020 DiGRA International Conference: Play Everywhere: 1-4.
View publication here

Prax, Patrick. (Forthcoming). “Networked Player Participation Makes All the Difference – A Comparison of Warhammer 40k Analog and on Tabletop Simulator.” In Proceedings of the 2022 DiGRA International Conference: ‘Bringing Worlds Together,’ Krakow, Poland.

Prax, Patrick. 2020. “Boal on a Boat – Teaching Critical Game Making.” In Proceedings of the 2020 DiGRA International Conference: Play Everywhere. View publication here

Prax, Patrick. 2019. “Is This Still Participation? A Case Study of the Disempowerment of Player Labourers.” In Proceedings of the 2019 DiGRA International Conference: Game, Play and the Emerging Ludo Mix. Kyoto, Japan. View publication here

Sihvonen, Tanja, Harrer, Sabine and Khattab, Mona. 2020. "Narrative Transformations and Cultural Appropriation. Placemaking in Assassin’s Creed: Origins Discovery Tour Mode." In The 16th International Conference on the Foundations of Digital Games (FDG) 2021 (FDG’21), August 03–06, 2021, Montreal, QC, Canada. ACM, New York, NY, USA. View publication here

Keynote presentations

Prax, Patrick. 2019. “Nordic Interfaces – Gambling and Gaming from Research to Practice.” Keynote at the Preconference to The 12th SNSUS Conference, eSports, Loot Boxes, and (Ir)Responsible Gaming/Gambling. Workshop. Video linked here

Rusch, Doris C. 2021. “Of Magic, Witches and Neuroscience – Designing Games for Integrity and Personal Power.” Keynote presented at ICDIS, Talinn, Dec. 2021. Video linked here

Westborg, Josefin. 2021. “10 Years of Working Professionally with Edu-larp.” Keynote presented at the Knutepunkt Conference in Oslo, Norway, October 7, 2021. Video linked here

Conference presentations

Baird, Josephine. 2022. “Role-playing as Your Self: Designing a Live Action Role-playing Game for Trans Self-Expression, Exploration and Embodiment.” Paper presented at Popular Culture Association, April 13. Video linked here

Baird, Josephine. 2021. "Being Trans in Video Games." Paper presented at Humlab Share, Umeå University, September 8 2021.

Baird, Josephine. 2021. “The Mislead of The Missing: A Queer Videogame Narrative through Misdirection of Gameplay, Player Presumption and Storytelling.” Paper presented at International Conference on Games and Narrative, University of Waterloo, U.K., June 11 - 16, 2021.

Baird, Josephine. 2021. "The Missing’s Reverse Revelation: A Videogame Attempt at Trans Empathy by Playing Counter Chrononormativity." Paper presented at Queer Temporalities in Literature, Cinema, and Video Games International Conference, December 2 2021, Murcia, Spain.

Baird, Josephine. 2021. “The Missing Trans(gender) Subject: Trans Exploration, Expression and Embodiment in Video game-based-learning.” Paper presented at NordMedia 2021 Conference, Reykjavik, Iceland, August 18–20th 2021.

Baird, Josephine 2021. "Role-playing the Real: Designing for Trans and Nonbinary Experiences and Explorations in Larps." Paper presented at Knutepunkt 2021, Oslo, Norway, October 6 2021. Video linked here.

Baird, Josephine. 2020. “The Mechanics and Misdirection of The Missing: Trans Exploration, Expression and Embodiment in Videogame-Based-Learning.” Paper presented at FROG: Future and Reality of Gaming 2020, Vienna, Austria.

Baird, Josephine and Sabine Harrer. 2021. "Challenging Systems of Play: Towards Game Design Ethics for Transgender Allyship." Paper presented at FDG21: Foundations of Digital Games 2021, Montreal, QC, Canada, August 3-6 2021.

Bowman, Sarah Lynne. 2022. “Introduction to Identity and Role-Playing Games.” Paper presented at La Red de Investigadores de Juegos de Rol (RIJR) y la Universidad Autónoma de Baja California (UABC), Feb. 26. Video linked here

Bowman, Sarah Lynne. 2022. “Finding the Self in Role-playing Games: Weaving Myth, Narrative, and Identity.” Paper presented at Evolution of Story II: Unravelling the Hero's Journey, June 23, 2022. (Forthcoming).

Bowman, Sarah Lynne. 2022. “‘Let's Play a Love Game: Role-playing Intimacy and Relationships in Games.” Paper presented at Popular Culture Association, April 13. Video linked here

Bowman, Sarah Lynne. 2021. “Games of Personal Horror: Shadow Work and Role-playing Experiences.” Paper presented at Monstrosity Seminar at Tampere University, Finland, April 22, 2021.

Bowman, Sarah Lynne, Kjell Hedgard Hugaas, and Áron Birtalan. 2021. “Role-playing for Transformation.” Knutepunkt Magic Book Program, March 13, 2021.

Bowman, Sarah Lynne, Josephine Baird, Kjell Hedgard Hugaas. 2021. “Liminal Intimacy: Role-playing Games as Catalysts for Interpersonal Growth and Relating.” Paper presented at Future and Reality of Gaming 2021, 15th Vienna Games Conference, Vienna Austria, November, 26th & 27th 2021. Video linked here

Bowman, Sarah Lynne, Josefin Westborg, Kjell Hedgard Hugaas, Josephine Baird. 2021. “Agents of Empowerment: A Role-playing Game in Service of Cultivating a Soulful and Sustainable Academia.” Presented at the Gamification for Sustainable Development at Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, Scotland, December 15, 2021. Video linked here

Carletto-Leon, Francesca, Marina Diez, Monica Fan, Lindsay Grace, Kate Gray, Sabine Harrer, Aubrey Isaacman, Josie Robo, Aubrey Scott. 2021. “Sexy Microtalks: Making with Emotion.” Artist talk at GDC 2021. Video linked here

Custodio, Leonardo, and Sabine Harrer. “Anti-Racist Literacy in Games? A Conversation.” Presented at Clash of Realities: 12th International Conference on the Art, Technology, and Theory of Digital Games, November 18-19, 2021. Online.

Diakolambrianou, Elektra, Josephine Baird, Josephine Westborg, and Sarah Lynne Bowman. 2021. “The Therapeutic Potential of Larp: Cognitive Considerations.” Poster/video presented at MET Conference: Neuroscience and Theater Therapy, Bucharest, Romania, May 28, 2021. Video linked here

Harrer, Sabine. 2021. “Artist Talk.” Artist talk at UCLA Game Lab, Design Media Arts Department, February 2021.

Harrer, Sabine. 2021. “Performing Whiteness through Play.” Invited lecture at Critical Perspectives on Technology, March 4, 2021.

Harrer, Sabine. 2021. “Playing With Grief: My PhD Journey.” Guest lecture at the University of the Witswatersrand, Digital Arts Department, May 5, 2021.

Harrer, Sabine. 2021. “Trauerarbeit mit Games (German).” Guest lecture at LAG Jugend und Film. YouTube, September 13. Video linked here

Harrer, Sabine, and Outi Laiti. 2021. “Outside the Racist Nostalgia Box: Rethinking Afrikan Tähti’s Cultural Depictions.” Paper presentation at Ropecon Academic Seminar, July 30-August 1, 2021.

Hugaas, Kjell Hedgard. 2021. “The Final Chapter: Practicing Dying Through Play.” Presented at the Knutepunkt Conference in Oslo, Norway, October 7, 2021.

Hugaas, Kjell Hedgard. 2022. “Death and Dying in Games: Exploring Age Old Questions of Mortality through Role-playing Games.” Paper presented at Popular Culture Association, April 13. Video linked here

Linnamäki, Jori. 2020. “An Approach to Board Game Design that Centres Allyship and Empowers Trans People.” Paper presented at FROG: Future and Reality of Gaming 2020, Vienna, Austria.

Jarrell, Marie, Outi Laiti, Mia Consalvo, and Sabine Harrer. 2020. “Is Trying Our Best Good Enough? Representation in Games Research and Development.” Panel at CHI Play 2020, November 2-5, 2020. Online.

Johansson, Magnus. 2021. “A Better Tomorrow.” Invited panel at BUFF international Film Festival 2021, LadyBug Festival and Sveriges Unga Akademi.

Linnamäki, Jori, and Josephine Baird. 2020. “A Reflection on the Ethical Decision-making Process during Participatory Game Design with and for Vulnerable Populations.” Paper presented at Gender Studies Conference 2020: Reclaiming Futures, Tampere University, Finland.

Prax, Patrick. (Forthcoming). “Gamechangers of 40k - The Professionalization and Commodification of Warhammer 40k.” In The 2022 DiGRA International Conference: “Bringing Worlds Together.” Krakow, Poland.

Prax, Patrick. 2021. “From Talking about Loot Boxes to Discussing Political Economy – Conceptualizing Critical Game Literacy.” Nordmedia 2021. Reykjavik, Iceland.

Prax, Patrick. 2021. “Networked Player Participation makes all the Difference – A Comparison of Warhammer 40k Analog and on Tabletop Simulator.” Ropecon 2021. Tampere, Finland.

Prax, Patrick. 2019. “Two Sides of the Same Game: Esports between Participatory Culture and Entrepreneurship.” Abstract presentation at 2019 DiGRA International Conference: Game, Play and the Emerging Ludo Mix. Kyoto, Japan.

Prax, Patrick. 2018. “Gaming vs. Gambling: Can They be Treated Together?” Presentation at DiGRA 2018. Turin, Italy.

Prax, Patrick. 2018. “Let´s kill it while the devs are sleeping!” – The Struggle for Defining the Game of High-End Raiding in “World of Warcraft”. Panel presentation at DiGRA 2018. Turin, Italy.

Prax, Patrick. 2018. “More like an Arcade” – The limitations of playable games in museum exhibitions. Pre-conference presentation at DiGRA 2018. Turin, Italy. View publication here

Prax, Patrick. 2018. “Where the Logics of Political Economy and Exhibition Meet: Towards an Explanation for the Lack of Subversive and Participatory Practices in Game Exhibitions.” Panel Participation at Nordic DiGRA 2018. Bergen, Norway. View slides here

Prax, Patrick. 2017. “Dimensions of Participatory Game Design in Online Games.” NordMedia: Mediated Realities - Global Challenges. Tampere, Finland.

Prax, Patrick. 2017. “Political Participation as a Lens for Understanding Co-creation and Exploitation Practices.” The ACM SIGCHI Annual Symposium on Computer-Human Interaction in Play (CHI PLAY). Amsterdam, Netherlands.

Prax, Patrick, and N. Carpentier. 2017. “The Multiples Struggles of Participatory Game Design.” IAMCR 2017: Transforming Culture, Politics & Communication: New Media, New Territories, New Discourses. Cartagena, Columbia.

Rusch, Doris C. 2020. “Symbolic Enactment in Digital Games.” Lecture presented at Gotland Higher Seminar Series, Department of Business Studies, Uppsala University, Campus Gotland, Feb. 13, 2020.

Rusch, Doris C. 2019. “Existential Game Design – Games that Contribute to a Meaningful Life.” Lecture presented at Forskarlunchen at Campus Gotland May 8th, 2019.

Rusch, Doris C. 2019. “Existential, Transformative Game Design.” Lecture presented at the Center of Excellence in Game Culture Studies, University of Tampere, Oct. 2019.

Rusch, Doris C. 2019. “Existential, Transformative Game Design.” Lecture presented at the Department of Public Health and Social Medicine / Social Medicine / CHAP (Child, Health and Parenting), Uppsala University, Dec. 12th, 2019.

Rusch, Doris, and Andy Phelps. 2020. “Games of the Soul.” Paper presented at FROG: Future and Reality of Gaming 2020, Vienna, Austria.

Toft, Ida, and Sabine Harrer. 2020. “Design Bleed: A Community Affirming Game Design Methodology.” Paper presented at QGCon: The Queerness and Games Conference, May 14, 2021. Video linked here

Westborg, Josefin. 2022. “Learning and Transfer through Role-playing and Edu-larp: A Cognitive Perspective.” Paper presented at Popular Culture Association, April 13. Video linked here

Westborg, Josefin, Josephine Baird, Kjell Hedgard Hugaas, Sarah Lynne Bowman. “Higher Education for Edu-Larpers: The Transformative Play Initiative” Presented at the Edu-Larp Conference in Oslo, Norway, October 4, 2021.

Westborg, Josefin, Josephine Baird, Kjell Hedgard Hugaas, Sarah Lynne Bowman. “The Transformative Play Initiative.” Presented at the Knutepunkt Conference in Oslo, Norway, October 8, 2021. Video linked here

Popular Interviews and Appearances

Harrer, Sabine. 2021. “Can Video Games Help Me or Harm Me?” Interview at BBC Sounds: CrowdScience, April 6, 2021. Audio linked here

Harrer, Sabine. 2021. “Forscherin: ‘Spiele aus den 50ern sind von Rassismus durchzogen.’” Kurier, August 31, 2021.

Invited Talks and Collaborations with Civic Society

Prax, Patrick. 2018. ”Klickfiske i spelvärlden – hur ser ansvarsfull speldesign ut?” Invited talk at Almedalsveckans. Organized by Svenska Spel. View event here

Prax, Patrick. 2018. ”Gaming disorder - Sjuk av dataspel.” Invited talk at Almedalsveckans. Organized by Stödlinjen; 2018. View event here

Prax, Patrick. 2018. “Expert in Swedish National TV on User Data Collection in Facebook and Social Media.” TV4 News Morning, March 4.

Prax, Patrick. 2019. ”Går det att prata sig till bättre psykisk hälsa?” Invited talk at Almedalsveckans. Organized by Suntprat. View event here

Prax, Patrick. 2019. “What is Problem Gaming and What Can We Do About It?” Invited talk at Nordsken. Video linked here

Prax, Patrick. 2018. ”What is the Problem with Gaming?" Invited talk at Gotland Municipality.

Service and General Education

Prax, Patrick. 2018. “Problem Gaming and Treatment.” Family Therapy Centre of Gotland.

Games

Hugaas, Kjell Hedgard, and Karijn van der Heij. 2021. If I Could See Your Face Again. Stockholm Scenario Festival 2021.

Rusch, Doris C., and Andy Phelps. 2021. The Witch’s Way. Itch.io.
Play The Witch's Way

Game Festival Exhibitions

Rusch, Doris, and Andy Phelps. 2021. "The Witch’s Way: A Transformational Story Adventure: Theorizing a Model for Existential, Transformative Game Design via the Creation and Analysis of an Experimental Sample Work." At Foundations of Digital Games 2021 Conference (FDG21). Games & Demos. Winner of 2nd place for best-of-show award.

Rusch, Doris, and Andy Phelps. 2021. "The Witch's Way: A Transformational Story Adventure." At The International Conference on Interactive Digital Storytelling (ICIDS) 2021 Art Show. Tallinn, Estonia.

Rusch, Doris, and Andy Phelps. 2021. "The Witch's Way." At the International Communication Association (ICA) 2022 Conference Interactive Artifacts Exhibition. Paris, France.

Workshops

Bowman, Sarah Lynne, Josefin Westborg, Josephine Baird, and Kjell Hedgard Hugaas. 2022. "Creating Order from Chaos: The Practice of Synthesizing Disparate Research Agendas into Coherence." Workshop and larp for CIRCUS, Uppsala University, April 29.

Bowman, Sarah Lynne, and Kjell Hedgard Hugaas. 2021. “The Batman Effect: Unlocking Your Inner Superhero.” Workshop at Knutepunkt 2021 Magic Book (online), March 13, 2021.

Research outcomes

Grants and Project Funding

Games & Society Lab