Games Research and Education (M.Sc. and Ph.D.)
Welcome to the Institute of Digital Games, the research and education centre at the University of Malta, focusing on game design, game analysis, and game technology!
Our work is at the forefront of innovative games research. We explore games and play, uncovering new playful and generative possibilities in game design and technology. We delve into everything games can teach us about ourselves.
Our multidisciplinary academic team spans computer science, literature, game design, philosophy, media studies, and social sciences.
Click here to read our annual report for the year 2022/2023.
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"Studying at the IDG it’s been one of the best experiences of my life, and has been foundational to my academic growth. The game studies and game design courses provided me with a solid theoretical grounding, and the network of opportunities around academia."
"One of the most impactful aspects of the Institute on my career has been its emphasis on interdisciplinary research and collaboration. The lecturers have diverse backgrounds and expertise, and this fosters a stimulating environment for exploring the multifaceted aspects of game research and development. The research-driven approach has enabled me to contribute critically to discussions with my colleagues."
"Studying at the IDG has really been an experience better than I could have ever asked for. Not only because it aligns with my goals from as long as I remember, but also because the content and support I have received while studying there has always been stellar."
Blog What we have been up to lately
Fictional Games and Utopia: The Case of Azad
Prof. Stefano Gualeni's new scholarly article was just published on the latest issue of the Science Fiction Film & Television Journal! This was a special issue, meant to bring together game scholars and science fiction scholars and explore … read more
MSc in Digital Games at IndieCade
The Institute of Digital Games - University of Malta will be at IndieCade Horizons this weekend! Horizons is new, online, international event to showcase game students and schools, and connect them with tool creators, recruiters, one another, and the broader … read more
Artificial Intelligence Scholarships Available!
The Malta Digital Innovation Authority (MDIA) have allocated €100,000 toward scholarships for post-graduate students studying Artificial Intelligence at Masters' or PhD level. Students that pursue the technology stream of the M.Sc. in Digital Games or wish … read more
Global Game Jam NEXT - Games Education for the NEXT …
Similar to our GGJ® event for adults in January every year, GGJ NEXT is a game jam for students aged 11 to 17 and is designed to stimulate collaboration and teamwork; it is not a competition. It is a time to explore, learn, and … read more
Deep Learning Algorithms for Games - The Power of Pixels …
The pixels and sounds of emotion! What if we could detect emotions in a general, user-agnostic fashion? Is it possible to capture human emotion solely by looking at the pixels of the screen and hearing the sounds of the interaction? No … read more
IDG finalist at the 2021 ION Game Design Awards!
Construction BOOM!, a tile-laying board game developed at the Institute of Digital Games as a satire of the local construction industry has just been announced as a finalist of the Game Design Excellence prize at the American ION Awards (in Salt Lake City, … read more