People who are interested in a mix of politics and games will be interested to hear that the Allied Media Conference in Detroit is having a Play track this year. Hand Eye member and Difference Engine participant/coordinator Una Lee has passed on this call for session proposals — deadline’s in two weeks.

About the Allied Media Conference
The AMC cultivates media strategies for a more just and creative world. From the unique intersection of media and communications, art, technology, education and social justice, we share and develop models for transforming ourselves and our communities. More info here: http://amc.alliedmedia.org/amc2012/about/amc-mission

Imagining Better Futures Through Play Track
We play games because they are fun! They let us inhabit different worlds and help us tell our stories. Designing and playing brings us together in spaces that encourage experimentation, collaborative problem-solving, and helps us understand and re-imagine the nuts and bolts of complex systems. This track is focused on building movements through creative play, questioning how games teach us, resisting the dominant narratives produced by the video game industry, and working together to learn and hone key creative and technical skills though hands on workshops. We will explore conventional games (such as board & video games), physical and movement games, and new forms of play like simulations and alternate reality. We will share how our communities are using gaming and simulation to collectively imagine — and build — a better world.

What are we looking for?
We’re looking for track sessions that do one (or more!) of these things: 1) teach/practice technical or creative skills; 2) address and brainstorm about conceptual issues; 3) allow space for playing together. These proposals can take the form of workshops, panel discussions, facilitations, skillshares, or something else altogether. We are also looking for projects in progress or finished games that fit the mission of the AMC to exhibit at a game fair session. We especially encourage sessions that are: appropriate for all ages or are youth-focused; accessible to people with disAbilities; intersect with other topics that are being addressed during this year’s AMC; or are oriented toward affinity groups traditionally excluded from the gaming community. Proposals are due March 14! Game on!

Proposals must be posted by March 14 to the Allied Media Projects website at http://talk.alliedmedia.org.

Example sessions

• Storytelling/scriptwriting
• Principles of rule design
• Cooperative game design
• Producing & distributing your finished project
• Combating/deconstructing hegemony of the video game industry
• Movement/theater games
• Alternate reality games
• 3D modeling concept/tools
• Open source VR and game building tools

Questions? Email playatamc@gmail.com
Follow us on Twitter at @PlayAtAMC