ABSTRACT. With: Jose Zagal, Jen Jenson, Aaron Trammell, William White, Suzanne de Castell and Espen Aarseth

This panel gathers many of the editors of the leading journals in game studies for a frank and open conversation of the current state of academic publishing in game studies. Each of the editors will briefly discuss what the publication process looks like for them, how things are managed and funded, and why things are the way they are. The panel-at-large will then articulate on some of the challenges they currently face, what they feel the current state of things is, and elaborate on where they think it should go. Is peer-review “broken” in game studies? What things need to be improved upon? What can authors do to help streamline the publication process?

This panel will offer a venue for students and early-career scholars, who often struggle with the challenges academic publishing often presents, to get a perspective of the culture and practice of publishing in game studies from “the other side”. More broadly, this panel provides an opportunity to reflect upon the publishing practices currently used in the field and to participate in a conversation regarding how things could or should change as game studies continues to grow and evolve.

This panel is expected to feature significant time for open questions from the audience. We imagine audience members raising questions and concerns on the following topics: the peer review process; responsibilities of authors, reviewers, editors, and publishers; timelines and schedules; academic integrity and conflicts of interest; impact factors and indices; funding and expenses; formatting and style guides; and more.