Rolling Submissions

2022-11-19

From 2023, the Japanese Journal of Analog Role-Playing Game Studies (JARPS) will accept rolling submissions. Rolling submission means articles and papers not particularly geared toward the topic of a given year's special issue. Whenever you have an article or other submission ready, you can submit it via this website and start the review process. If your contribution passes review, the editors will include your work in the next issue it fits. Thus, please understand that publishing your contribution may take more time after acceptance.

The journal seeks original research and theoretical papers on analog role-roleplaying. We also welcome pieces focused on applied role-playing game studies and projects using analog RPGs in the classroom or in therapy. This journal invites the publication of calibration tools and educational material, including class syllabi.

Potential topics include but are not limited to:

  • Calibration techniques and tools
  • Accessibility (e.g., barrier-free larps)
  • Transparency vs. surprise plots
  • Bleed In/Bleed Out (e.g., Post-Play-Depression)
  • Youth protection/safe space to explore
  • Missing stairs (in communities; Yes means Yes/No means No)
  • Issues of racism/sexism/ableism
  • Playing minorities (LGBTQI, PoC, mental illness)
  • Transculturality vs. cultural appropriation
  • RPG methodologies in the classroom
  • Technical aspects of game mastering
  • Relationships between players and game masters/organizers (including power relations)
  • The hidden labor of entertaining
  • Legal aspects

Submission guidelines
The Japanese Journal of Analog Role-Playing Game Studies (JARPS, https://jarps.net) is a bilingual, peer-reviewed journal published by the Japanese Association for Role-Playing Game Studies. JARPS publishes articles under a Creative Commons license about (primarily) non-digital (“analog”) forms of role-playing, with a focus on table-top/table-talk role-playing games (TRPG) and live-action role-play (larp) in and from Japan but in a global context. JARPS welcomes academic articles of varying scope as well as other forms of contributions, such as educational material, best-practice guidelines, and practical case descriptions.

Original Article: New research. Peer reviewed, ca. 6,000 words (English) or 12-15,000 characters (Japanese).
Theoretical Article: Conceptual essay. Peer reviewed, ca. 6,000 words (English) or 12-15,000 characters (Japanese).
Explorative Paper: Experimental/ergodic essay. Peer reviewed, ca. 4,500 words (English) or 8-12,000 characters (Japanese).
Case Report: A hands-on report and/or best practice example. Peer reviewed, ca. 4,500 words (English) or 8-12,000 characters (Japanese).
Educational Material: Tools useful for teaching or calibration. Peer reviewed, ca. 4,500 words (English) or 8-12,000 characters (Japanese).
Essay: Non-academic article or symposium report. Editor review, ca. 3,000 words (English) or 4-6,000 characters (Japanese).
Book Review: Discussion of publications on RPGs Editor consultation, ca. 1,500 words (English) or 2-3,000 characters (Japanese).

Please visit JARPS’s website (https://jarps.net) for complete submission guidelines, or e-mail the editors with questions or inquiries at editors@jarps.net.

Due Dates: Rolling submissions have no due date. Please expect at least three to four months for the review process. We seek to start the review as soon as submissions come in. However, please understand that submissions to the current special issue take precedence. JARPS usually publishes issues in September. Please take this into account when considering a submission.

On the New Submission screen, please add the following to the "Comments for the Editor:"
'This is submitted outside the yearly special issue.'

After review and upon acceptance, we will discuss with you and issue editors where your contribution may fit. Thus, it may take some time for your submission to be published even if accepted.