I am very excited to announce that the Call for Papers for our collected volume Trophy Cases is now available. I am co-editing this volume with Dan Staines (Torrens University) and Sarah Christina Ganzon (Simon Fraser University).

Trophy Cases: The Theory, Design, & Cultural Politics of Video Game Trophies & Achievements

PlayStation Trophies, Xbox Achievements, and Steam Achievements (hereafter: “trophies”) are an essential part of contemporary video games that affect many aspects of design, distribution, and play. These frequently mandatory systems have been implemented in a variety of digital ecosystems, including industry-standards like PlayStation Store, Xbox Live, and Steam. Despite their ubiquity, there is currently limited scholarship focused directly on trophies specifically. The goal of this volume is to interrogate and analyze the theory, design, and player practices of trophies. We invite submissions from all academic disciplines focused on game studies and game design, as well as submissions from current and former game designers.

Proposed chapters can include but are not limited to:

-> Critical theoretical approaches to trophies

-> Demographic approaches to trophies (gender, race, class)

-> Trophies as game design practice

-> The ethics of trophy design and implementation

-> Industry perspectives of trophies

-> Political economy of trophies

-> Platform Studies of trophies

-> Player practices such as “trophy hunting”

-> Online communities dedicated to trophies

-> Trophies as paratexts

-> Historical forerunners to contemporary trophies

-> Case studies of specific/significant trophies

Submissions should be up to 500 words (+ references) and can be sent as PDF files to trophycasesbook@gmail.com by May 6, 2024. Questions regarding the volume can also be directed to trophycasesbook@gmail.com.

Please Note: This volume is under contract with Lexington Books with a proposed publishing date of November 2025.