The BGS is an international and informal group of academics and field researchers devoted to the history and development of board games throughout the world. Members meet and communicate regularly, largely via Google Groups. There is no formal membership structure, subscription, or central address. This unofficial BGS page is part of associate David Parlett's website (email: david at parlettgames dot uk).
The Association holds colloquia or research seminars every year, usually in April or May, meeting each time in a different country. They are occasions on which scholars, academics, curators, and others involved in games research in the international community share thoughts and findings on various aspects of board games and their study. Participants include archaeologists, anthropologists, historians, psychologists, educationalists, authors, game inventors, collectors, and representatives of games publishers and manufacturers. Papers arising out of the colloquia are published in its journal "Board Game Studies".
These events began as Board Games in Academia, following a preliminary gathering in 1990 in England hosted by Dr Irving Finkel, Assistant Keeper of the British Museum's Department of Western Asiatic Antiquities. In 2024 the Colloquium was held at Tampere, Finland. The next is scheduled for 8-11 April 2025 at the German Games Museum, Chemnitz. (This date awaits confirmation.)
For previous presentations and new articles see the Board Game Studies Online Journal at sciendo.com. An online forum is hosted by Google groups at bgs4ever.
See also