Tekijä: Maria Ruotsalainen

Pelitutkimuksen päivien kirjoituskutsu / CfP: Game Research Days: Celebrating the diversity of game research in Finland

Posted on by Maria Ruotsalainen

The studying of games, and everything that relates to games, is a wonderfully diverse field. From studies of tabletop games to gamification in businesses, from indigenous representation in video gaming to professional military simulations and game development cultures, the rich phenomena connecting to games and play in their different forms have drawn interest from scholars in a wide variety of fields. Finland is internationally renowned for its game-related research, and draws specialists from around the world not just to participate in seminars and conferences, but to work in Finnish institutions.

Even in a fairly small country, far too much research remains unseen to researchers for whom it would be relevant. Disciplinary borders, lack of communications, and disconnects between different fields of interest often means that even people working in the same institution are not aware of relevant research being conducted – even if it is literally down the hall. Because of historical trends and developments (see Stenros & Kultima, 2018), there are many divisions and subdivisions in the field, whether it is a divide between entertainment games and ‘serious’ games, analog games and digital games, or gaming and gambling, and information often does not travel across these divides. Furthermore, not all individuals who study games and game-related phenomena consider themselves game scholars, even if their work centrally features games.

The Finnish Society for Game Research has not been exempt from such divisions. Whereas the Finnish word pelitutkimus generally means research into games, it has previously sometimes been translated as ‘game studies’ – a particular research discipline. Although the English name of the association has featured the word ‘research’, previous yearly events have been labeled ‘Game studies day’. In recent years, we have striven to better reflect in our communications that the association is dedicated to supporting all kinds of game-related research in Finland, not just a single tradition, and have steadily been taking steps to better acknowledge Finland’s diverse academic cultures. 

As part of these endeavours to connect researchers and acknowledge research conducted across different fields, we invite you to contribute to Game Research Days 2026! This year is the first time the event takes place over two days, with the explicit goal of showcasing and celebrating the diversity of research on games and related phenomena in Finland. We invite contributions from scholars who are either working in Finland, Finnish, or associated with Finnish institutions, on any and all topics that touch upon games, gaming, and phenomena related to them, regardless of discipline, methodology, or tradition. Examples include, but are not limited to, research on:

  • Games and their players
  • Game design and user experience
  • Game-based learning
  • Gamification
  • Business and military simulations
  • The game industry
  • Cultures around games and gaming
  • Esports 
  • Play and playful practises
  • Different theoretical approaches to games
  • Game-based health interventions
  • History of games and players

Event information

Game Research Days 2026 is a two-day event organised by the Finnish Society for Game Research and taking place at the University of Jyväskylä. The event is intended for all researchers working on and interested in games, gaming, and related phenomena, and the purpose is to showcase the wide range of scholarship conducted in Finland. 

Game Research Days 2026 is an in-person event and is held in English.

Presentations for the event are selected by the programme committee based on abstract review. A key selection criterion is diversity in terms of topics and disciplines. 

We invite abstracts of up to 500 words (excluding references).

Please submit your abstract to: gameresearchdays2026@jyu.onmicrosoft.com  

Important dates

Abstract submission deadline:  7.6.2026

Notification of acceptance:  15.6.2026

Event itself: 3.–4.11.2026

Programme committee: Jonne Arjoranta, Henry Korkeila, Mikko Meriläinen, Maria Ruotsalainen, Haron Walliander

Contact information: gameresearchdays2026@jyu.onmicrosoft.com   

References:

Stenros, J., & Kultima, A. (2018). On the Expanding Ludosphere. Simulation and Gaming, 49(3), 338–355. https://doi.org/10.1177/1046878118779640

Pelialan opinnäytetyökilpailu 2026

Posted on by Maria Ruotsalainen

Etsimme vuoden parhaita peli- ja leikkiaiheisia korkeakoulujen lopputöitä! Jo neljättätoista kertaa järjestettävä pelialan opinnäytekilpailu tekee näkyväksi pelien ja leikin parissa tehtävää korkeatasoista suomalaista koulutus- ja tutkimustyötä. Kilpailun järjestää Suomen pelitutkimuksen seura ry. yhteistyössä Suomen pelialan keskusjärjestö Neogamesin kanssa.

Vaatimukset: Kilpailuun hyväksytään suomalaisten yliopistojen ja ammattikorkeakoulujen peli- ja leikkiaiheiset opinnäytetyöt. Kilpailuun voi osallistua työllä, joka on hyväksytty kalenterivuoden 2025 aikana (1.1.–31.12.2025). Opinnäytteellä tarkoitetaan tässä yhteydessä korkeakoulun perustutkinnon valmistumiseen liittyvää lopputyötä – kilpailuun ei siis voi osallistua opintoihin muuten liittyvällä projektityöllä tai muulla vastaavalla suorituksella. Myös väitöskirjat on rajattu kilpailun ulkopuolelle. Opinnäytteen tulee tavalla tai toisella liittyä digitaalisiin tai ei-digitaalisiin peleihin, leikkiin tai pelillisiin ilmiöihin. Tutkimuskohteeksi voivat asettua pelit itsessään, niiden pelaaminen, niiden tekeminen tai jokin muu peleihin tai leikkiin elimellisesti liittyvä ilmiö. Työ voi olla otteeltaan esimerkiksi teoreettinen, empiirinen (laadullinen tai määrällinen) tai soveltava.

Kategoriat ja palkinnot: Palkintoja jaetaan kahdessa kategoriassa: yliopistosta valmistuneet työt (pro gradut ja diplomityöt) ja ammattikorkeakoulun lopputyöt. Tunnustukseen sisältyy rahapalkinto, joka voidaan jakaa yhden tai useamman palkitun kesken. Palkitut kutsutaan esittelemään työtään Suomen pelitutkimuksen seuran järjestämille pelitutkimuksen päiville.

Aikataulu: Opinnäyte tulee ilmoittaa ehdokkaaksi viimeistään 9.3.2026. Työn asettaa ehdolle ensisijaisesti työn tekijä. Jos työtä ehdottaa esimerkiksi työn ohjaaja, toivomme, että töitä ilmoitetaan yksi oppiainetta tai koulutusohjelmaa kohden.

Ilmoittautuminen: Täytä ilmoittautumiskaavake osoitteessa: https://forms.office.com/e/VAVTdNdbam. Raadilla on oikeus hylätä myöhässä tai puutteellisina toimitetut ehdotukset.

Yhteystiedot: Lisätietoja kilpailusta antaa raadin puheenjohtaja, tohtori Henry Korkeila (henry[.]korkeila[@]tuni.fi).

Game Studies Thesis Competition 2026

The search for the best Finnish theses on the topic of games and play is on again! The fourteenth annual game studies thesis competition aims to promote the highest quality education and research in Finland in the field of games and play. The competition is organised by The Finnish Society for Game Research in collaboration with Neogames – Hub of the Finnish Game Industry.

Requirements: A thesis related to games or play from any Finnish university or university of applied sciences will be accepted as a submission. The thesis must have been accepted by the university during the calendar year 2025 (1.1.–31.12.2025). In the context of the competition, a thesis refers to a work required for receiving an academic degree – it is not possible to participate in the contest with another type of study project work or any other similar submission. Doctoral dissertations are also excluded from the contest. Submitted thesis must be somehow connected to digital or non-digital games, play or other game-related phenomenon. Subjects of study can be games themselves, playing or making of games, or any other phenomenon which is fundamentally connected to games or play. The approach to the topic of games or play can be, for example, theoretical, empirical (qualitative or quantitative), or applied.

Categories and prizes: Acknowledgements are awarded in two categories: one for universities (master’s theses) and one for universities of applied sciences. The award includes a monetary prize, which can be divided between one or several award winners. Award winners will be invited to present in Game Research Days 2026.

Schedule: The thesis must be submitted by 9.3.2026. The work should primarily be submitted by its author. If the work is submitted by someone else (for example, the supervisor), we hope that only one work is submitted per discipline or degree programme.

Submissions: Fill out the submission form at: https://forms.office.com/e/VAVTdNdbam. The board holds the right to dismiss any late or incomplete submissions.

Contact Information: For further information please contact the chair of the evaluation board, doctor Henry Korkeila henry[.]korkeila[@]tuni.fi)