Vienna’s annual Games Conference, “Future and Reality of Gaming” (FROG), offers an open and international platform for leading game studies researchers and scholars, game designers, researchers and scholars from various other fields, education professionals, and gamers from around the world. The main objective of FROG11 is to explore the phenomena of applied playfulness in regard to questions of media competence, media convergence, the sociability of play and the impacts of games on future and reality of our culture. FROG11 is jointly organized by the Austrian Federal Ministry of Economy, Family and Youth, the City of Vienna, wienXtra, the Singapore-MIT GAMBIT Game Lab, the University of Vienna, the Danube-University Krems and FAMUS. The Vienna Games Conference is a key element of the "Game-City". In 2011 the City of Vienna will host the high profile event "Game-City" for the fifth time, bringing together representatives of the games industry, non-profit organizations, academia and the general public to enjoy and discuss the current state of computer games, digital youth cultures and games research. Be a part when the magnificent Vienna Town hall converts into a vibrant playground for players, fans and games researchers.

FROG11 KEYNOTES
Mia Consalvo is a games and internet researcher and visiting professor at the Singapore-MIT GAMBIT Game Lab. She is also the author of "Cheating: Gaining Advantage in Videogames", and is co-editor of "Handbook of Internet Studies". Lawrence Kutner is an child psychologist and executive director of the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation. He is a founder of the Centre for Mental Health and Media at Massachusetts General Hospital and Co-Author of "Grand Theft Childhood". Jonas Linderoth is an educational game scholar and associated professor at the University of Gothenburg. He is Co-Author of "Living in World of Warcraft" and his research focuses on consumption of online games and the identification of "illusion of learning" in games. Cheryl K. Olson is an internationally known expert on how media influence children and teens, and using media to promote healthy behaviour and development. She was co-director and co-founder of the Centre for Mental Health and Media and Co-Author of "Grand Theft Childhood". Nathalie Pozzi is an architect and game designer whose projects cross the boundaries of art installation, architecture, and landscape. She explores the classical design of space and light while also incorporating social and ethnographic elements into her work. She has designed games as "Cross My Heart + Hope to Die", and "Sixteen Tons". Eric Zimmerman is game designer, artist, and academic at NYU exploring the theory and practice of game design. He has designed many different games, is Co-Author of "Rules of Play", and Co-Founder and Chief Design Officer of Gamelab.

FROG11 THEME: "Applied Playfulness. Competence, Media & Sociability of Play"
The study of players' experiences, competences and skill developed through playing games raises the following questions: How do we apply what we experience in games and through media to our everyday lives, to our culture, and society? How do different forms of media converge in our game spaces and impact our playfulness? What are the applicable potentials games offer in theory and practice? Today players use different forms of media to engage in games, thereby creating and establishing new forms of playfulness. Playing does not stay limited to the actions proceeding on the screens, but reaches beyond the screen into our everyday lives and cultures. The relation between play, society and culture is transforming giving rise to novel potentials and possibilities, but also questions, challenges and promises. FROG11 focuses on questions, challenges and innovation exploring the transition between different forms and activities of play, media and competences. The organizers seek proposals covering all aspects of cutting-edge research on digital gaming, game design, game culture, game studies, therapy and economy within or across academic disciplines.
We encourage participation from a wide range of disciplines including Game Studies, Education, Psychology, Computer Science, Game Design, Cultural Anthropology, Fine Arts, Human-Computer Interaction, Media and Communication Studies, Philosophy, Social Science, Digital Humanities etc ... The FROG Conference facilitates the exchange of ideas and current research findings in an engaging and convivial atmosphere. Submissions are welcome on a wide range of topics, such as:

... Game Studies & Game Design
· Innovative forms of gaming (e.g. Alternative Reality Games, Social Games, Unsocial Games...)
· Innovations and subversions in game design, development and production
· New forms of interactivity and revolutionary game interfaces

... Learning, Education & Competence
· Methodology of exploring learning, media literacy and media competence
· Novel challenges and problems arising through transforming (digital) cultures
· Teaching through digital games, serious games and purposeful games
· Questions of violence, addiction, isolation, etc. ...

... Consumption, Use & Culture
· Game, gaming and gamer cultures (e.g. eSports, Modding, Clans...)
· Community building and fan culture
· Games and social change
· Inclusion and exclusion and protection of minors (youth policies, age rating, addiction, violence...)
· Collation of different forms of play and media (e.g. Sport Games, Gamification, Body as Interface...)

... Economy & Industry
· Economical challenges and new trends
· The rise of independent games (e.g. casual games, art games)
· Games as Social Software (e.g. XBox Live, Facebook, Twitter...)


Abstract Submission:
All authors are invited to submit an abstract of research work relating to FROG11 subject of "APPLIED PLAYFULNESS" in either English or German and according to the specifications of the different forms of presentation. Authors are required to submit their abstracts online at: http://www.easychair.org/conferences/?conf=frog11 no later than 15 May 2011 in the forms of:

PRESENTATIONS: In assignment to FROG11 topics authors are required to submit a short mini-abstract (150 words) and a profound extended abstract outlining the topic, thesis and methodology of the paper abstracts (1000 words) for their talks (30 min.).

FROGA KUCHA: This is the Viennese Version of Pecha Kucha but limited to 2x4 mini-presentations in a row, in which you show 20 slides, each for 20 seconds (exactly 6'40'' in total). The images forward automatically and you talk along.... and the audience will give immediate feedback. (Abstracts 500 words + 150 word mini-abstract).

FROG POSTER, GAME & PROTOTYPE PRESENTATION: At FROG11 a poster, game and prototype session is providing space for classical Viennese Coffee Culture. You bring your ideas, games, prototypes concepts and research topics and results, we provide a unique atmosphere, a beautiful space, good coffee and time for you to discuss your ideas with colleagues (Abstracts 300-500 words + 150 words mini-abstract).


All abstracts will be reviewed and judged on originality, quality and relevance to the Conference. All accepted abstracts will be printed in a book of abstracts, which will be distributed during the Conference. Authors of accepted abstracts (for regular presentations) will be invited to prepare a full paper for publication in the printed proceedings of FROG11 at the traditional Viennese Braumüller Verlag (founded 1783). The Abstracts awarded with the FROG-TOP-PAPER-AWARD will be invited to submit their full papers for publication in the special edition of the "Eludamos. Journal for Computer Game Culture".