Games Research and Education (M.Sc. and Ph.D.)

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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.

David developed an innovative model for understanding board game involvement for his thesis.

It is an environment roaring with ideas, thoughts, games, prototypes, concepts. It was a period when I felt constantly inspired.

Rebecca is researching narrative in games. As part of her thesis, she developed a choice-driven video game.

Practice in the form of game project assignments and a supportive teaching staff really boost your confidence as a game designer!

The Institute feels like a little community that you're part of.

William's research explored the procedural generation of multi-floor levels for first-person shooters.

Being involved in the research process, I realised how passionate everyone at IDG is about their research.

David C.
Graduated in 2015
Rebecca P.
Graduated in 2017
William C.
Graduated in 2015

Blog What we have been up to lately

Using Machine Learning for Procedural Content Generation in …

February 26, 2020

The Institute of Digital Games is thrilled to have Prof. Julian Togelius from the New York University Tandon School of Engineering presenting speaking as part of our Game Seminar Series. He will be presenting his research and work in relation to … read more

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AI and Games - Procedural Content Generation and Narrative …

February 26, 2020

The Institute of Digital Games is thrilled to have Dr.ir. Rafael Bidarra from the Department of Intelligent Systems at TU Delft speaking as part of our Game Seminar Series. He will be covering procedural content generation and narrative on 28th February at … read more

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Rebooting the 21st Century - Notion of Challenge in Games - …

February 13, 2020

The Institute of Digital Games is thrilled to have Coline Pannier, lecturer at the Amsterdam University of Applied Science and former Ubisoft Producer, speaking as part of our Game Seminar Series. Coline Pannier is a regular guest for the Game Development … read more

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AI and Games at University of Malta – Modl.ai Start-up at …

February 13, 2020

Local Maltese start-up Modl.ai with a large contingent of Institute of Digital Games researchers has received a large investment from Propagator Ventures - an early-stage deep tech VC interested in ML/AI, quantum computing, robotics, new … read more

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The State of the Avatar DiGRA 2020 workshop

February 6, 2020

As part of the DiGRA 2020 Conference, being held at Tampere University, Finland, 2-6 June 2020, a workshop is being organized on the current state of avatar research. The workshop is being organized and chaired by Ea Christina Willumsen … read more

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Digra 2020 Game Citation Workshop (Digital and Beyond)

February 5, 2020

There is currently no consensus within game studies as to how games—the main objects of analysis in the field—ought to be cited in academic publications. While some journals and publishers do offer guidelines on this matter, these guidelines are not … read more

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