The DiGRA 2026 conference on the theme ‘intersectional pleasures’ will be organised 14–18 June in Maynooth, Ireland. Our research group is well represented at the event – here we have collected a list of the 16 presentations featuring our team members!
Monday 15 June
- Hanne Grasmo and J. Tuomas Harviainen: Queer Resistance Through Sexual Role-play: BDSM Larp, Arousal, and Communal Resistance (09:30 AHI Sem)
- Thais Arrias Weiller: It’s all a skinner box? Typical core loop and Operant Conditioning (14:00 Arts Theatre)
- Usva Friman, Johan Kalmanlehto, Essi Taino and Mark Maletska: Intersectional Pleasures and Limits of Game Cultural Participation and Belonging in Finland (14:45 Classhall A)
- Joleen Blom and Rainforest Scully-Blaker: The Husbando Super-App: Troubling “Player Investment” with Love and Deepspace (16:15 Arts Theatre)
- Olli Sotamaa and Christopher Paul: Football Without Fans: Are Matches Just for Gambling? (16:45 Classhall E)
Tuesday 16 June
- Leland Masek, Mun Kuan Chan and Jukka Särkijärvi: The Pleasurable Stress of the VRAVG Beat Saber: A Mixed-Methods Study (10:00 Classhall J)
- Mark Maletska and Kseniia Harshina: Pleasure Not For Everyone: Epistemic Injustice Towards Ukrainian Game Studies (10:15 Classhall E)
- Johan Kalmanlehto and Haron Walliander: Bodily Pleasures of Repetitive Labour and Rhythm in Finnish Cottage Simulator (10:30 Classhall F)
- Maximilian Brückner and Matilda Ståhl: Between Diverse Industry and Game Characters – An Analysis of Tool-based Representation Design (14:30 AHI Sem)
- Mikko Meriläinen and Kristine Jørgensen: Towards a New Paradigm for Understanding Men and Masculinity in Gaming (16:00 Classhall A)
- Olli Sotamaa, Maximilian Brückner, Hanne Grasmo, Johanna Koljonen, Markus Kämäräinen, Jukka Särkijärvi, Essi Taino and Thais Weiller: How to Play Academia: Conceptual and methodological observations (16:45 Classhall E)
Wednesday 17 June
- Kalle Laakso, Tuuli Turja and Mikko Meriläinen: Game Streaming and Motives of Play (10:00 Classhall A)
- Matilda Ståhl, Aska Mayer, Robyn Hope, Rainforest Scully-Blaker and Nicholas Taylor: More man vs nature mechanics? Exploring romanticized notions of solitude in online forums on survival games (10:15 Classhall A)
- Niklas Nylund, Thomas Apperley, Heikki Jungman and Olli Sotamaa: The Institutionalization of the Nokia N-Gage as a National Symbol: From Corporate and Fan Heritage to Public Cultural Heritage (14:00 Classhall J)
- Essi Taino, Kalle Laakso, Taina Myöhänen, Usva Friman and Olli Sotamaa: Localized Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion: Challenges and Solutions in Game Culture Environments (14:15 Classhall J)
- Mark Maletska and Robin Zingarelli: Queer Games Studies Material Turn: Centering Trans Bodies in Video Games (14:45 AHI Sem)
In addition, our team members are involved in organising and presenting at several workshops. We are looking forward to presenting these recent research projects conducted within our group as well as learning more and discussing about the current game studies initiatives and insights from around the world!