The Tampere Game Research Lab has hosted an international spring seminar for work-in-progress papers annually since 2005. As all participants have been able to read each paper in advance, the seminar has offered a unique place for informed discussion and to receive worthwhile and relevant criticism. Each seminar has had a theme and two or more expert commentators. Professor Frans Mäyrä has chaired the seminars, with professor Olli Sotamaa and other senior researchers doing co-chairing since 2019.
2022 Gamebooks
Commentators: Souvik Mukherjee (Cultural Studies at the Centre for Studies in Social Sciences Calcutta), Hanna-Riikka Roine (Tampere University) & Raine Koskimaa (University of Jyväskylä)
2021 Monstrosity
Commentators: Aino-Kaisa Koistinen from University of Jyväskylä, Sarah Stang from York Univerity, and Jaroslav Švelch from Charles University.
2020 Immersive Experiences [cancelled]
Commentators: Aleena Chia from Simon Fraser University and Usva Inai from Goldsmiths, University of London, with an industry keynote by Johanna Koljonen.
2019 Urban Play
Commentators: Sybille Lammes from Leiden University and Dale Leorke from Tampere University.
2018 Making Games
Commentators: Casey O’Donnell from Michigan State University and Annakaisa Kultima from Aalto University.
2017 Spectating Play
Commentators: Tanja Sihvonen from University of Vaasa and Nick Taylor from NC State University, with an industry keynote by Rami Ismail.
2016 Money and Games
Commentators: Juho Hamari from University of Tampere and Pauliina Raento from University of Helsinki.
2015 Adult Play
Commentators: Ashley Brown from Brunel University London and Jaakko Stenrosfrom University of Tampere.
A selection of the papers from this seminar was published as a special issue in Games and Culture.
2014 Critical Evaluation of Game Studies
Commentators: Jesper Juul from The Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts and Bart Simon from Concordia University, with keynote by Espen Aarseth from IT University of Copenhagen.
A selection of the papers from this seminar have been published as a special issue in Games and Culture.
2013 Physical and Digital in Games and Play
Commentators: Annika Waern from Uppsala University and Katriina Heljakka from Aalto University.
A selection of the papers from this seminar have been published as a special issue of ToDiGRA.
2012 Role-Playing in Games
Commentators: Torill Mortensen from ITU Copenhagen and J. Tuomas Harviainen from University of Tampere.
2011 Games and Innovation
Commentators: F. Ted Tschang from Singapore Management University, Jason Della Rocca from Perimeter Partners, Montreal and Mirva Peltoniemi from Aalto University.
You can check out the proceedings here.
2010 Games Research Methods
Commentators: Mikael Jakobsson from Malmö University and Jussi Holopainen from Nokia Research Center.
A selection of the papers from this seminar have been published as a special issue of Simulation & Gaming.
2009 Playful Experiences
Commentators: Aki Järvinen from ITU Copenhagen and Oskar Juhlin from The Interactive Institute.
2008 Breaking the Magic Circle
Commentators: Markus Montola from University of Tampere and Simon Niedenthal from Malmö University.
2007 Games in Society
Commentators: T.L. Taylor from ITU Copenhagen and Daniel Pargman from Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm.
2006 Playing Roles
Commentators: Craig A. Lindley from University of Gotland and Lisbeth Klastrup from ITU Copenhagen.
The International Journal of Role-Playing was initiated at this seminar.
2005 Creative Gamers
Commentators: Henry Jenkins from MIT and Mikko Lehtonen from University of Tampere.
Party! 