IEEE Annals of the History of Computing will publish a special issue for July 2009 on the history of computer games.

The term “computer game” is understood in the broadest sense of including any form of digital game based on computer hardware or software, playable on a range of devices and networks from game consoles to the Internet. Essays covering this subject area from a variety of perspectives are welcome. These perspectives might include historical studies of hardware platforms, interfaces, artificial intelligence, programming, player interfaces, virtual reality, military simulation, commercial games, player-generated content, social networks, case studies of game development, or the evolution of the game industry. Perspectives on both development and use of computer games are welcome. Please keep in mind that every essay in this volume should contribute to the journal’s intention of “recording, analyzing, and debating the history of computing.”

It is expected that the issue will contain four or five original essays, along with two or three classic papers that document the impact of games on the development of computer science or computing technology. The original essays should not exceed 7,500 words in length, including all text, the abstract, keywords, bibliography, biography and captions.

Interested authors should contact the guest editor of this issue, Henry Lowood, at lowood@stanford.edu. Authors should send a one or two paragraph abstract of their proposed paper by 15 May 2008. Authors will be notified around 1 June 2008 and those selected for inclusion in the issue will receive editorial guidelines at that time. Complete essay drafts are due for initial editorial comment on 15 October 2008. Completed drafts must be submitted for editorial review and subsequent revision on 1 December 2008.

All papers in the journal will be refereed following the Annals standard procedures and will have to conform to the standards described in the instructions for authors.

Key Dates:

• Proposals due: 15 May 2008
• Response to authors: 1 June 2008
• Drafts due: 15 October 2008
• Submissions due for editorial review: 1 December 2008