We started GGA to fix the problem of game journalism - that big hole where games are still treated as entertainment consumer products. While we entertain ourselves readily with these consumables, we also believe that it's time to advance real criticism on games and gaming as a culture worthy of interest. It's happened to music, to movies, to television; but not yet to videogames. If you like, our immodest ambition is to establish the Rolling Stone of videogames; or the Cahiers du Jeux, perhaps. We want to bridge the gaps between critical theory, academia, and development; between a culture of creators and a culture of consumers; and we also want to document how games play out in our lives, not just by amusing us but also by informing our thinking, our experiences, and our civilization.

Submissions

Would you like to submit to GGA? If you're a talented writer with a perspective on videogames and videogame culture that goes beyond "sux" or "r0x0rs", we'd love to feature your work. We're looking for smart, sassy, funny, or serious pieces. We don't really do game reviews as such; we think there are plenty of other sites who do that admirably well, most notably Gamecritics.com. So if you're itching to write intelligently about your latest favorite game, we suggest you go check them out.

On the other hand, if you have something along the lines of a comparative esssay, an analysis of a videogame (see, for example, Wayne Bremser's "Matthew Barney versus Donkey Kong"), or a well-reasoned rant (like Richard Bartle's "Not Yet, you Fools!") then please pitch it to us.

We are currently soliciting submissions for three sections: the features, and the monthly issue, the "zine" section.

A feature is an essay, about 2000 words or more, with a coherent argument or thesis. The subject is up to you. It can be a profile of someone interesting, it can be an analysis of a trend, a prediction of the future, an invesitigation of a mystery. It can be light-hearted or serious, but we generally don't publish raving rants unless it's genius. If you have pictures, that's a huge plus. Please submit a text file or word document, not HTML, and include a photo of yourself and a brief bio.

The zine is a free-for-all. Got a poem about videogames? An art project? Awesome cosplay photos? This is the place to show it off.

In addition, we solicit short (2-3 lines) pieces about upcoming events, recent releases, or intriguing developments.

Once again, photos are much appreciated. And don't forget to include a photo of yourself and a brief bio.

Writing for GGA is a labor of love; the rewards are not monetary - for the time being, at least. You won't get any money for submitting but you'll get thanks, recognition for good work, and the chance to come out of the closet as a gamer among other intelligent gamers!

Publishing Schedule 2005

MARCH: "Debutante." It's an issue of firsts. The early game experiences that changed our lives. What was the first game you ever played, and how did it hook you?

MAY: "Celebrity". the E3 issue. What makes a game a blockbuster? What are the games we most hotly anticipate? Who are the game celebrities? Game competitions, game fan communities, and other spots where celebrity can bloom.