IEEE CoG 2019 Topics and Tracks

Narrative and Interactive Entertainment

This track invites submissions related to narrative and interactive entertainment where narrative and interactive entertainment is any topic relating to constructing, telling, understanding, and responding to stories in interactive environments.

Topics include but are not limited to the following:

• Computational narrative in computer games.
• Interactive narrative in computer games.
• Novel technologies and systems for storytelling in computer games.
• Analysis and Evaluation of Interactive storytelling systems.
• Computational Models of Character Design and Interaction.
• Believable Interactions with Characters.
• Natural Language Processing for Games.
• Interactive Applications of Storytelling Systems.
• Intelligent Cinematography and Editing for Games.

Graphics and Animation

This track invites submissions related to graphics and animation in computer games.

Topics include but are not limited to the following:

• Modelling, Materials and Textures.
• Advances in Lighting, Illumination and Visual Effects in Games.
• Mixed-initiative systems for computer-aided design.
• AI in Computer Graphics and Animation.
• Advances in rendering and visualization techniques.

Sound and Music

This track invites submissions related to sound and music in digital games. Sound and music are defined broadly, ranging from topics in the computational modelling and simulation of music in games to AI-based sound synthesis and music composition. The goal is to foster an environment for sharing technical innovations related to sound, composition, and music as they relate to games.

Topics include but are not limited to the following:

• Procedurally generated sound or music.
• Computational musicology.
• Digital audio effects.
• Interfaces for sound and music.
• Information retrieval related to games.
• Mixed-initiative systems for sound and composition.
• Models for sound analysis and synthesis.

Game Interfaces and User Interaction

This track invites submissions related to the field of games user research and player-computer interaction.

We welcome submissions that explore issues related to player experience and interaction, including (but not limited to) the following:

• Methods for evaluating and studies of player interaction and experience.
• Player interaction with and experience of new technologies such as AR or VR.
• New control and input techniques for games and their effect on players.
• Analytics and visualization related to player behaviour.
• Social factors and dynamics of player communities.

Analytics & Player Modeling

This track is dedicated to players and the use of computational means for modeling them. We take player modeling to mean the detection, prediction and expression of human player characteristics that are manifested through cognitive, affective and behavioral patterns while playing games. Player modeling studies primarily the use of various methods for the construction of theory-based or data-driven models of players.

Topics include but are not limited to the following:

• Affective computing for modeling the emotion of players.
• Sensing (e.g. physiology, face tracking, etc) for player modeling.
• Game and player analytics methods for modeling players.
• Analytics and game data visualization.
• Learning from demonstrations for player modeling.
• Annotation approaches for player behavior and experience.
• Datasets of gameplaying and player experience.
• Models of experience (engagement, tension), behavior (monetization, churn, playtraces).
• AI-based automatic testing of games.
• Modeling users in games - players, students, teachers, practitioners.
• Ethical issues of player modeling.
• Generative player models.

Serious Games Technology

This track is dedicated to the study, design, development, technology and deployment of games for serious purposes such as education, training, and health.

Topics include but are not limited to the following:

• AI for serious games (e.g. expressive agents, interactive storytelling).
• Game design approaches for serious games.
• Multimodal interaction and user interfaces for serious games.
• Serious game development and testing.

Virtual and Augmented Reality

This track is dedicated to the study, design and development of games featuring virtual and augmented reality modes of interaction. We are interested in all aspects of interaction that extend the traditional screen-based games.

Topics include but are not limited to the following:

• VR/AR within the game design process.
• Multimodality and VR/AR (e.g. eye tracking, physiology).
• AI for assisting and/or enriching VR/AR games.
• VR/AR as assistive technologies (e.g. intelligent tutoring systems).

AI for Playing Games

This track invites submissions on all aspects of AI for playing games. Although the core focus of this track is single or multi agent performance on game playing, other related topics, such as forward model learning, are also invited.

All types of games are covered, including:

• Classic games (board games, card games etc).
• Real-time strategy (RTS) games.
• Puzzles.
• Single-player games, multi-player / multi-agent games.
• Competitive or collaborative games.
• Simulation games.
• General Game Playing (including General Video Game Playing).

Papers where the main contribution is a new game for testing AI agents should be submitted to the Benchmarking and Competitions track.

Benchmarks and Competitions

This track invites submissions where the main topic is a game or game-related benchmark or competition. Submission can be new competition proposals, novel approaches to existing competitions, or critical commentary on competitions.

Topics include but are not limited to the following:

• Evaluation of AI agents.
• Machine learning related to games (e.g. for predicting player or AI behaviour).
• Learning forward models.
• Assessment of procedural content generators.
• Analysis tools for existing competitions.
• Game Competitions to more general AI.

Game Theory and Multi-agent Systems

This track invites submissions related to any aspect of game theory and the more theoretical side of game-related multi-agent systems.

Topics include but are not limited to the following:

• Normal form games (i.e. games represented by a payoff matrix).
• Games and theories of mind.
• Modelling of human and animal decision-making.
• Game theory applied to economics, politics, business, social dynamics etc.
• Evolutionary game theory.
• Effects of representation on learned behaviours.

PCG, AI for Game Design

This track invites submissions related to the generation and evaluation of various kinds of game content, as well as AI systems which engage in game design. This includes procedural content generators and automated game designers, as well as assistive technology like mixed initiative game design tools.

Topics include but are not limited to the following:

• New algorithms for content generation, including PCG via Machine Learning.
• New application areas for content generation, such as targeting new kinds of game content.
• Tools for mixed-initiative or co-creative content generation.
• Tools for mixed-initiative or co-creative game design.
• Automated game design systems.
• Automated game 'tweaking'.
• Computational models of game design.
• Integrating auto-playtesting and PCG systems.

Game Design

This track invites submissions related to game design and development in all types of games and other playful experiences (including analog and tabletop games). Papers should aim for high scholarly quality, either via an empirical evaluation of design process or outcomes, or with a strong foundation in relevant literature.

Topics include but are not limited to the following:

• Design approaches, practices, and methodologies.
• Design of games for entertainment, education, training, or other purposes.
• Design patterns, mechanics, dynamics, or aesthetics.
• Socio-cultural critique of game-making culture.
• Empirical analysis of game design and development processes.
• Post-mortems of game design or development processes and outcomes.
• Design process and validation of a new game.
• Best practices and critiques in game design and development.